Agenda item

Report of the County Treasurer (CT/21/02) on the budget monitoring position at month 10, attached.

RESOLVED

(a) that the month 10 budget monitoring forecast position be noted; and

(b) that the Pandemic funding update, outlined in the Report, also be noted.

(Councillors Biederman, Connett, Dewhirst and Hannaford attended remotely in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 and spoke to this item). 

The Cabinet considered the Report of the County Treasurer (CT/21/02) outlining the financial position and forecast for the Authority at month 10, 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.

This Report outlined that an expected underspend of £3.7 millions had been anticipated, a reduction of £5.6 millions from the month 8 forecast. The Dedicated Schools Grant projected deficit, relating to Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), was forecast to be £30.1 millions. However, in line with Department of Education guidance this deficit would not be dealt with in the current financial year but carried forward to future years.

Revenue expenditure for Adult Care and Health Services was forecast to overspend by £921,000, a reduction of £1.5 millions from month 8.

In Children’s Services, an overspend of £2.2 millions was projected, a reduction of £1.4 millions from month 8 (not including the projected deficit of £30.1 millions on Special Education Needs and Disabilities (SEND)).

In Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste, there was a forecast underspend of £1.4 millions, which was a change from the reported breakeven position at month 8.

Communities, Public Health, Environment and Prosperity (COPHEP) were forecasting an underspend of just under £3 millions and Corporate Services an underspend of £187,000, a reduction of £324,000 from month 8.

Non- service items, which included capital financing charges, were forecast to underspend by £2.3 millions.

The approved capital programme for the Council was £198.4 millions. The year-end forecast was £162.6 millions, producing forecast slippage of £35.8 millions, mainly attributable to variations and programme delays in Highways, Planning and Transportation which reflected the complexity of the major schemes.

Corporate debt stood at £3.5 millions, being just over 2% of the annual value of invoices, against the annual target of 1.9%.

The Report then outlined that in response to the COVID-19 outbreak, Government had put in place a number of grant funding streams to help support Local Authorities in responding to the pandemic. The Council was in direct receipt of 13 different pandemic related grants with a confirmed value of £91 millions, of which £88.6 millions had been received and £53.7 millions spent.

The Cabinet noted that the level of uncertainty and pressures being faced by the public sector this year were unprecedented and continued to evolve. Whilst the projected underspend was welcomed there remained significant and far reaching risks associated with the impact of the pandemic, which could be financially destabilising as well as the ongoing pressures being experienced within the Dedicated Schools Grant.

The matter having been debated and the other relevant factors set out in the County Treasurer’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Hart, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the month 10 budget monitoring forecast position be noted; and

(b) that the Pandemic funding update, outlined in the Report, also be noted