Agenda item

Report from the Strategic Director of Finance and Customer Services.

Recommendations:

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast of a balanced budget.

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

3.    Note the Capital Programme update.

4.    Note the officer delegated decisions taken by the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, as detailed in sections 2.45 to 2.58 of the report.

5.    Note Governments base criteria for the new business support scheme, Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, as detailed in sections 2.59 to 2.65 and that the Council will administer the scheme in line with Government guidance.

6.    Note Governments announcement of a further top up to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), a discretionary grant to provide support packages to businesses impacted by the continuing pandemic, and that schemes will be approved via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), as detailed in sections 2.66 to 2.68.

7.    Note Governments base criteria for the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF), a discretionary fund to provide business rates relief to businesses impacted by the continuing pandemic, as detailed in sections 2.69 to 2.72 and that proposals for the scheme will be developed and recommended to Cabinet in February.

Consideration was given to the report which set out in detail the financial position as at the end of November 2021 and was based on the actual costs and income for the first 8 months of 2021/22 and forecasted 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 fourth 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 November 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 £8.5m 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. However, it was noted that the longer-term impacts of COVID-19, Public Health measures and the pace at which Services would return to normal, was unknown. This had been further exacerbated by the uncertainties brought about by the Omicron variant which could lead to further financial implications for the Council.

The Capital Programme for 2021/22 totalled £171.960m split between the General Fund (£117.021m) and the Housing Revenue Account (£54.939m.) This was a decrease of £20.618m from the position reported at the end of September 2021. The decrease mainly related to the reprofiling of schemes dues to delays caused be COVID-19 and the high volume of capital activity taking place nationally that was straining resources.

Officer delegated decisions had been taken by the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health in relation to infection control, rapid testing and vaccination fund(s). Details of these decisions were outlined in the report at sections 2.45 to 2.58.

The Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant scheme had been announced to support the business most impacted by Omicron. The allocation for Rotherham MBC had yet to be confirmed. The Council would run the application process for the scheme and ensure that businesses had meet the criteria; were trading on 30th December; did not breach subsidy rules and could provide a business unique identifier. The primary principle of the scheme was to support businesses that offered in-person services in fixed rate-paying premises in the hospitality, leisure and accommodation sectors. Grants of up to £6,000 could be paid. At the meeting it was confirmed that the deadline for submitting applications for the grant, which had been 28th February, 2022, as stated in Paragraph 2.63 of the report, had been extended to 18th March, 2022.

The Government had also announced a further top up of more than £100m to the Additional Restrictions Grant which aimed to provide support packages to businesses impacted by the continuing pandemic. The Council’s allocation was managed through the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority but the allocation was yet to be confirmed.

Cabinet was also asked to note the Government’s base criteria for the COVID Additional Relief Fund (CARF.) This discretionary fund aimed to provide business rates relief to business impacted by the continuing pandemic. The proposals for the scheme would be developed and recommended to Cabinet in February 2022.

The report had been considered by the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board as part of the pre-decision scrutiny process and they noted and agreed with the recommendations.

Resolved:-

That Cabinet:

1.    Note the current General Fund Revenue Budget forecast of a balanced budget;

2.    Note that actions will continue to be taken to ensure that a balanced financial outturn is delivered;

3.    Note the Capital Programme update;

4.    Note the officer delegated decisions taken by the Strategic Director of Adult Care, Housing and Public Health, as detailed in sections 2.45 to 2.58 of the report;

5.    Not the Government’s base criteria for the new Business Support Scheme, Omicron Hospitality and Leisure Grant, as detailed in sections 2.59 to 2.65 and that the Council will administer the scheme in line with Government guidance;

6.    Note the Government’s announcement of a further top-up to the Additional Restrictions Grant (ARG), a discretionary grant to provide support packages to businesses impacted by the continuing pandemic, and that the scheme will be approved via the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA), as detailed in sections 2.66 to 2.68; and

7.    Note the Government’s base criteria for the Covid Additional Relief Fund (CARF), a discretionary fund to provide business rates relief to businesses impacted by the continuing pandemic, as detailed in sections 2.69 to 2.72 and that proposals for the scheme will be developed and recommended to Cabinet in February.