Agenda item

Report of the Strategic Director for Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

1.          That the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast of a balanced budget be noted.

2.          That it be noted that actions will continue to be taken to ensure that a balanced financial outturn is delivered.

3.          That the Capital Programme update be noted.

4.          That the current position of the Councils Local Scheme for Self-Isolation Support Payments is noted, as per section 2.48.

Consideration was given to the report which set out the financial position as at the end of July 2021 and was based on the actual costs and income for the first 4 months of 2021/22 and forecast for the remainder of the financial year.

Members noted that financial performance was a key element within the assessment of the Council’s overall performance framework and was essential to achievement of the objectives within the Council’s Policy Agenda. The report was the second in a series of monitoring reports for the 2021/22 financial year which would continue to be brought forward to Cabinet on a regular basis.

As at July 2021, the Council expected to deliver the overall outturn within budget for the financial year 2021/22. However, it was noted that the Directorates had a forecast year-end overspend of £7.2m on the General Fund. This was mitigated by the Government’s provision of the COVID-19 Emergency Support Grant and Sales, Fees and Charges Income Compensation. The Cabinet Member confirmed that the longer term impacts of COVID-19, Public Health measures and the pace at which services would return to normal was unknown.

The Council had established the Local Self-Isolation Support Scheme which provided financial support to those needing to self-isolate but could not access the Government Test and Trace Self Isolation Support Schemes. It was confirmed that the Council’s scheme would end when the Government’s scheme ended, and this was expected to be the end of September 2021.

The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process. The Board was fully supportive of the recommendations. OSMB also requested that a report be circulated to them to provide further information on previously agreed budgetary savings.

Resolved:

1.    That the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast of a balanced budget be noted.

2.    That it be noted that actions will continue to be taken to ensure a balanced financial outturn is delivered.

3.    That the Capital Programme update be noted.

4.    That the current position of the Council’s Local Scheme for Self-Isolation Support Payments be noted as per section 2.48 of the report.

5.    That a report be circulated to members of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board in order to provide Members with information and assurance on the specific activities that are being carried out with, and by Directorates in order to ensure the timely delivery of previously agreed budgetary savings.