Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2015/013

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

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

The report gives the regular update on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of May 2015.   Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 sets out a changes to Fees and Charges. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)                              note the report;

(b)                             approve the virement requests set out in Annex 2a;

(c)                              approve the supplementary estimate request in Annex 2e;

(d)                             note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 3;

(e)                              approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 8 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 7c;

(f)                               approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a and Annex 7b;

(g)                             approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                             approve the inclusion of a £14.54m budget for the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund programme over three years 2015/16 to 2017/18;

(i)                               approve the Harwell Oxford Entrance City Deal project to proceed to detailed design and procurement with a total budget of £2m; and

(j)                               approve the Hagbourne Hill City Deal project to contractually commit to letting the contract, with a total budget of £6.015m.

Recommendations agreed, subject to the reference to Annex 7c in (e) being amended to read Annex 8c.

Cabinet had before them the regular update on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2015/16 – 2017/18. Parts 1 and 2 included projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of May 2015. Capital Programme monitoring and update is included at Part 3 and Part 4 set out changes to Fees and Charges.

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, thanked the Finance Team who were always very helpful. He referred to the pressure on Children, Education & Families (CEF) and Adult Social Care (ASC) and queried whether there was any indication that the position would ease. He also queried whether the postponement of the care cap was likely to have financial implications for the Council. He went on to highlight the position with regard to the capital programme (paragraph 75 onwards). Given there was an increase in projected capital spending he queried whether there were the necessary staff resources in place. Councillor Stratford responded to the points made, advising that he would monitor the situation closely.

Recommendations agreed, subject to the reference to Annex 7c in (e) being amended to read Annex 8c.

RESOLVED:           to:

(a)                              note the report;

(b)                              approve the virement requests set out in Annex 2a;

(c)                              approve the supplementary estimate request in Annex 2e;

(d)                              note the Treasury Management lending list at Annex 3;

(e)                              approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 8 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 8c;

(f)                               approve the fees and charges as set out in Part 4 and Annex 7a and Annex 7b;

(g)                              approve the updated capital programme in Annex 9 (changes to the Capital Programme set out in Annex 8c);

(h)                              approve the inclusion of a £14.54m budget for the Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund programme over three years 2015/16 to 2017/18;

(i)                                approve the Harwell Oxford Entrance City Deal project to proceed to detailed design and procurement with a total budget of £2m; and

(j)                                approve the Hagbourne Hill City Deal project to contractually commit to letting the contract, with a total budget of £6.015m.