Agenda item

Mid-year report providing an overview of finance and performance, as well as highlighting key risks:-

 

-       (a) Service Delivery for Finance and Public Value, Transformation and Business Services, People and Culture, Legal and Democratic Services: In-Year Briefing Chief Executive, Chief Officers and Heads of Service to report;

 

-       (b) Service Delivery for Climate Change, Environment and Transport: In-Year Briefing Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/107), attached; and

 

-       (c) Service Delivery for Public Health, Communities, and Prosperity: In-Year Briefing Report of the Director of Public Health, Communities and Prosperity (PH/24/04), attached.

 

(a)  Service Delivery for Corporate Services

 

(Councillor Saywell attended under Standing Order 25(1)).

 

(i) The Director of Finance and Public Value verbal update included that the external auditors had signed off the council’s pension and main accounts at an early stage, an excellent achievement particularly when developing a new corporate finance system. She also reported on medium financial planning, strategic procurement, commissioning board best practice success.  The Future Finance Standing Overview Group was monitoring the development and implementation of the Future Finance system, on track for implementation by end January 2025.

 

Members discussion included:-

 

-financial assessment input for children and adult social care processes and procurement for adult social care systems;

 

-noting that a guarantee of timeline for Future Finance Project implementation could not be given.  Whilst this was on track, the integrity/security of the system was paramount.

 

(ii) The Director of Performance and Partnerships’ verbal update included:-  the Devon Housing strategy success; building a sustainable future for Exeter Science Park; the good record of Mathematics and English attainment; cost of living; and that the draft regulations Devon and Torbay Devolution had been laid in Parliament, anticipated to be established in February 2025.

 

(iii) The Director of Transformation and Business Services’ verbal updated included:-

-the original budget for 2024-25 was set at £20.020m (At month 6, the budget was £19,035m);

-the current forecasted outturn was £19,494m (from a £19,035m budget) equating to a £459k overspend,  attributable to vacancy management targets (an assumed level of staff turnover where vacant posts were not replaced immediately to contribute towards savings targets);

-that key priorities were: Organisational Resilience including IT infrastructure to support major IT systems replacement and resilience against high risks e.g. cyber security;  Change Programme; and Technology .

 

(iv) The Director of People and Culture’s verbal update included:- 

-the original budget for 2024-25 set at £7.215m;

-the current forecast outturn of £7,088m equating to a £127k underspend including delivery of £270k savings (combination of reduction in staffing costs and contract reductions); 

- that key priorities for People & Culture were:

1.    Delivery of People Strategy

2.    Financial Sustainability.

 

Members discussion included:-

-workforce absenteeism, productivity and staff surveys.

 

(v) The Director of Legal and Democratic Services’ verbal update included:-

-the original budget for 2024-25 set at £9,092m (in year transfers of additional services £12,592,000).  The Directorate had grown to include the information governance team, the SEND tribunals team, the education (attendance team), the external communications and customer relations.  In April 2024 all external legal disbursements budgets across the council were pooled and moved to the legal team to manage.  These budgets were overspent and would be substantially mitigated by the legal re structure;

 -the current forecasted outturn is £14,158,000m (from a £12,592m budget) equating to a £1.5m overspend;

 -the overspend was attributed to a number of reasons including:-

• Legal disbursements budgets for counsel, court issue fees, medical experts, JR’s etc
• Delayed re structures in legal and communications teams
• vacancy management targets (an assumed level of staff turnover where vacant posts are not replaced immediately to contribute towards savings targets).
• Additional PA support
• Additional costs for members allowances.

 The service was currently over performing in corners and Registration.

 -the key priorities for Legal and Democratic Services were: 

• Embed good governance across the council
• Ensure that the directorates structures were fit for purpose and the Council‘s business needs and was providing value of money and financial sustainability
• Reduction of legal spends, Grow our own
• Develop a strong member induction programme for May 2025.

 

 

(There was then a short adjournment of the meeting)

 

 

(b)  Service Delivery for Climate Change, Environment and Transport

 

(Councillor Davis attended under Standing Order 25(1)).

 

The Committee considered a Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/24/107) on the in-year briefing on service delivery within Climate Change, Environment and Transport.

 

Members discussion included:-

 

-further targeted work to encourage the reduction of food waste, noting the positive educational work to schools by the waste and recycling service;

 

-sustainability progress in bus transport fleets and in transport services to rural areas;

 

-climate initiatives external funding

 

-resilience against increased weather extremes such as the storms of 22-25 November 2024.

 

 (c)  Service Delivery for Public Health, Communities & Prosperity

 

(Councillor Croad attended under Standing Order 25(1)).

 

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Public Health, Communities and Prosperity (PH/24/04) on the mid-year update with regard to Public Health and health protection, Communities, and Prosperity.

 

Members’ discussion included:-

 

-stark data on the number of Devon residents struggling with food and fuel insecurity and robust processes followed to ensure funding reached those affected;

 

-ensuring timely and appropriate support and visits were available to all mothers of newborn babies;

 

-continued concern at the significant lack of NHS dentistry services in Devon, noting also the public health role in dental preventative measures; 

 

-work on vaping undertaken with the Police and Trading Standards, together with the public health role in supporting schools, educating parents and children on the risks of vaping, noting the concerning rise in children and young people vaping and that key government legislation on tobacco and vapes was anticipated in summer 2025;  

 

(d)  The Chair thanked the Officers for their Reports and discussion with

Members, with consideration to be given to any future Directorate masterclasses (as appropriate).

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Letch and SECONDED by Councillor Slade and

 

RESOLVED:

 

(a) that a Joint Adults and Children's Systems Replacement Project Standing Overview Group be established, with a briefing note to be provided to all Members in the interim period; and

 

(b) that an item on the People Survey and results be added to the future work programme;

 

(c) that the Committee thank staff for their efforts and hard work during the recent weather events of 22-25 November 2024;

 

(d) that an item on vaping be added to the work programme;

 

(e) that written reports be provided for all in-year service briefings in the future.