Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/049

Contact: Louise Tustian, Head of Insight & Corporate Programmes Tel: 07741 607452/Kathy Wilcox, Head of Financial Strategy Tel: 07788 302163

Report by Corporate Director Customers, Organisational Development & Resources and Director of Finance (CA6).

This report presents the July 2022 performance, risk and finance position for the Council.

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to

a)              Note the report.

b)              Agree the use of a further £0.4m funding from the COVID-19 reserve to extend the funding for the managed teams in the Family Solutions Plus service within Children’s Services.

c)              Note the virements set out in Annex B-2b

An amendment was agreed as follows:

In recommendation c), replace “B-2b” with “B-2c”

Recommendations agreed as amended.

Cabinet had before it a report presenting the July 2022 performance, risk and finance position for the Council.  Before considering the report, the Chair agreed to the following request to speak.

Councillor Charlie Hicks asked what was status of the cost predictions for the major capital projects were, including the Housing Infrastructure Fund and Growth Fund projects, and if they had been re-costed using the latest inflation figures.

Councillor Calum Miller, Cabinet Member for Finance, introduced the report.  He noted that 15% of the targets were rated Red which mostly come under Children’s Services and Finance.  Although measure OCC 11.06 “Total outturn variation for the dedicated schools grant funded services” indicates a change from Green to Red, this now incorporated the £17.5 million forecast overspend on high needs Dedicated Schools Grant and the underlying position had not changed.

There was a net deterioration in the forecast overspend on services of £5.9m.  This was still within the risk assessed balance level but with a margin of £1.9m.  This was being kept under very close review.

Responding to Councillor Hicks, Councillor Miller stated that the capital programme was being kept under close review, project by project but the full picture was not available yet.

Councillor Miller moved the recommendations and Councillor Enright seconded.  The Chair noted that in recommendation c) it should read Annex B-2c and not 2b.

The recommendations were agreed as amended.

RESOLVED to:

a)              Note the report.

b)              Agree the use of a further £0.4m funding from the COVID-19 reserve to extend the funding for the managed teams in the Family Solutions Plus service within Children’s Services.

c)              Note the virements set out in Annex B-2c