Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/073

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA7).

This is the third financial monitoring report for 2016/17 and focuses on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2016/17 – 2019/20.  Parts 1 and 2 include projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of October 2016. Capital Programme monitoring is included at Part 3. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          note the report;

(b)         approve the request for the creation of OXSIT traded service Reserve as set out in paragraph 41;

(c)          approve the debt write off detailed in paragraph 52;

(d)         note the settlement of the debt detailed in paragraph 53:

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

(f)           approve the changes to the Capital Programme at Annex 7b and Annex 7c.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet considered the third financial monitoring report for 2016/17 that focused on the delivery of the Directorate Business Strategies that were agreed as part of the Service and Resource Planning Process for 2016/17 – 2019/20.  Parts 1 and 2 included projections for revenue, reserves and balances as at the end of October 2016. Capital Programme monitoring was included at Part 3.

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, raised a number of detailed concerns around: the SEN transport budget overspend, the increase in child social care costs; the legal costs associated with keeping children safe although he recognised the need to do so. Councillor Hards sought an update on the delay in completing the planned children’s homes and sought assurance that action to reduce the cost of SEN placements in future was on track. Councillor Hards commended the positive picture for adult social care and noted that the capital programme was just about satisfactory.

Councillor Stratford responded to the points raised noting that in respect of social care costs agency staff were used only where necessary.  Councillor Carter added that a unitary council would provide an opportunity to see a change in the use of agency staff. Customer Services moved to ‘banking’ staff and avoided agency costs. Councillor Stratford continued that the overspend for CEF reflected increased activity. SEN transport continued to be challenging. The Council was working hard to reduce all overspends.

RESOLVED:                                                 to:

(a)          note the report;

(b)          approve the request for the creation of OXSIT traded service Reserve as set out in paragraph 41;

(c)          approve the debt write off detailed in paragraph 52;

(d)          note the settlement of the debt detailed in paragraph 53:

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

(f)           approve the changes to the Capital Programme at Annex 7b and Annex 7c.