Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/160

Contact: Louise Tustian, Head of Insight & Corporate Programmes, louise.tustian@oxfordshire.gov.uk / Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy, kathy.wilcox@oxfordshire.gov.uk .

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources, Director of Finance (CA8).

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)                  note the report and annexes.

b)                  note the virements in Annex B-2b and approve the virements in Annex B-2a.

c)                  approve the write - off of seven unrecoverable social care debts with a combined total of £0.135m as set out in Annex B paragraph 117. 

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet received a report presenting the January 2023 performance, risk, and finance position for the council.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, summarised the report.  He highlighted the deteriorations of £3.8m in Adult Services, which was related to pooled budgets with the NHS, and £1.8m in Children’s Services.

These overspends were the result of an unexpected spike in inflation due to the invasion of Ukraine.  The Council was fortunate to be able to manage these through the reserves and contingency provided for in the 2022/23 budget.  However, challenges remained going forward and the Government had flagged that funding of local government will decrease from 2025 onwards.

Other Cabinet Members commented:

·       The Government SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) Review had nothing about the finance needs to provide better services. Officers were working with local parents to get the offer right and additional resources had been allocated to alleviate the difficulties around Education, Health and Care Plans.

·       There was also a saving in Home to School Transport but we needed to consider that we should be moving journeys from private to public transport due to climate change concerns.

·       The increase in borrowing from libraries and increase in visitors to the County Museum were welcomed and officers congratulated.

·       The Council had been recognised with a gold award for its work in supporting LGBTQ+ staff.

The recommendations were proposed by Councillor Miller, seconded by Councillor Hannaby and agreed.

RESOLVED to:

a)              note the report and annexes.

b)              note the virements in Annex B-2b and approve the virements in Annex B-2a.

c)              approve the write - off of seven unrecoverable social care debts with a combined total of £0.135m as set out in Annex B paragraph 119.