Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2014/105

Contact: Kathy Wilcox, Chief Accountant Tel: (01865) 323981

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

The report focuses on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2014/15 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of October 2014.   Capital Programme monitoring is included at Part 3.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)            note the report and annexes including the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4 and changes set out in paragraphs 67 - 68;

(b)            recommend Council to approve the virement to reduce the in - year income and contribution to the Parking Account included in Annex 2a and paragraph 56;

(c)            approve the virement request relating to the Shared Lives budget set out in Annex 2a and paragraph 57;

(d)            approve the write off of rental income totalling £16,453 and £15,212 relating to a Section 106 agreement as set out in paragraphs 65 and 66.

(e)            approve the changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 7c;

(f)             approve the removal of the capital scheme at Bicester Market Square from the capital programme as set out in paragraph 96; and

(g)            approve the allocation of £1.250m S106 funding as a contribution towards the construction of the A40/Downs Road Junction by the West Witney developer (paragraph 97).

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered a report that focussed on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2014/15 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 included projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of October 2014.   Capital Programme monitoring was included at Part 3.

Councillor Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, noted the difficult position that faced Councillor Stratford and highlighted 3 areas in particular. Firstly the shortfall in the Environment & Economy parking income which meant that expected work would not now happen. Secondly he raised the whole area of adult social care. The Council could not afford to get this wrong. He drew particular attention to learning disabilities and the impact of personal budgets. Finally children’s social care was a huge challenge. He queried whether by giving more help to parents who are struggling it would be possible to keep children out of care, which would be cheaper and better for the child.

Councillor Tilley, Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families, gave an assurance that a lot of work was done to keep children with families.

Councillor Stratford, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report, highlighted the continuing pressures on children’s social care and learning disabilities and the actions being taken as a result. He noted that the figures did not include the money released at the full Council meeting on 9 December.

During discussion Cabinet recognised the efforts being made in adult social care to ensure that statutory and eligibility criteria were met. Councillor Hudspeth, Leader of the Council commented that it was about protecting vulnerable people. Cabinet noted that the additional pressures on adult social care had an impact on other aspects of the Council such as the increased numbers of calls to customer services.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)            note the report and annexes including the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 4 and changes set out in paragraphs 67 - 68;

(b)            recommend Council to approve the virement to reduce the in - year income and contribution to the Parking Account included in Annex 2a and paragraph 56;

(c)            approve the virement request relating to the Shared Lives budget set out in Annex 2a and paragraph 57;

(d)            approve the write off of rental income totalling £16,453 and £15,212 relating to a Section 106 agreement as set out in paragraphs 65 and 66.

(e)            approve the changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 7c;

(f)              approve the removal of the capital scheme at Bicester Market Square from the capital programme as set out in paragraph 96; and

(g)            approve the allocation of £1.250m S106 funding as a contribution towards the construction of the A40/Downs Road Junction by the West Witney developer (paragraph 97).