Issue - meetings

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/43) on the Revenue and Capital Budget Outturn position for 2017/2018, attached.

(Councillors Biederman, Dewhirst, Hannaford and Greenslade attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/18/43) circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 on the outturn position for 2017/2018.

The Cabinet were informed of the earlier reporting of the Outturn than in previous years, as the Accounts and Audit Regulations had changed the statutory deadline for preparation of the full Statement of Accounts from 30th June to 31st May with effect from this year. 

Regular budget monitoring reports had been received throughout 2017/18 in which budget pressures and risks had been identified. 

Members acknowledged that rigorous, effective financial and budgetary management had again enabled expenditure to be contained within the overall target budget. Overall, an underspend had been achieved in spite of the significant financial challenges that the Council had continued to face during the financial year.

The Report also contained a detailed breakdown of the position within specific service areas and other funding items showing all over and under-spendings and the reasons for that. 

The outturn for Adult Care and Health Services showed an overall net underspend of £7.5 millions after taking into account grants and contributions carry forward and any other carry forward requests (Adult Care Operations and Health showing an underspend of £6.7 millions and Adult Commissioning and Health underspending by £782,000).

The position for Children's Services was a £2.6 millions overspend (Children's Social Work and Child protection being an overspend of £2.3 millions, Education and Learning General Fund was an overspend of £260,000 and expenditure in Education and Learning relating to spending on schools, funded from the Dedicated schools grant, was shown as breakeven.

The outturn for Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity showed an overall underspend of £1.3 millions after taking into account grants and contributions carry forward and any other carry forward request. Economy Enterprise and Skills was underspent by £234,000, Planning, Transportation and Environment an underspend of £821,000 and Public Health underspent by £159,000.

In relation to Corporate Services, there was an overall underspend of £1.1 millions (Chief Executive, Legal and Communications were £145,000 underspent, Digital Transformation and Business Support were showing an underspend of £1.3 millions and the County Treasurer an underspend of £344,000.

The outturn position for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste was a £2.1 millions underspend.

The Report outlined other factors such as the budget of £1.5 millions set for the County Council elections; the outturn being an underspend of £249,000, the reduction in the insurance premium and claims, the improved ‘better care fund’ grant, capital financing costs being less than budgeted, interest receivable being more than budgeted, slippage in the capital programme and the carry forward of the infrastructure development budget.

The Leader on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Resources & Asset Management, who had submitted apologies for the meeting, again paid tribute to the County Treasurer and all staff  ...  view the full minutes text for item 178