Agenda item

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2016/048

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: (01865) 323975

Report by Chief Finance Officer (CA6).

The report is the second 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 August 2016.   Capital Programme monitoring and a programme update is included at Part 3. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)             note the report;

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

(c)             approve the supplementary estimates as set out in paragraphs 41 and 42;

(d)            approve the request for funding from the Efficiency Reserve as set out in paragraph 57;

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

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

(g)            approve an additional £2.1m in the budget provision for the Westgate Library project.

(h)            approve the inclusion into the Capital Programme of the new primary school for Southam Road, Banbury; and

(i)                      to approve the new charge as set out in Annex 9.

The Cabinet had before them the second 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 August 2016.   Capital Programme monitoring and a programme update was included at Part 3. 

Councillor Nick Hards, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, noted the largely positive position at the half way stage of the year and congratulated all involved. However he raised a number of detailed concerns around: slippage in the LED replacement programme (paragraph 48), the SEN transport budget, the funding of support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children, the adult social care precept and the shortfall in the cost of the new library. He also expressed disappointment at the government’s use of ring fencing that showed a lack of trust in local authorities to spend money appropriately (paragraphs 50 and 22). Councillor Tilley, Cabinet Member for Children, Education & Families responding to a suggestion from Councillor Hards undertook to write to the Secretary of State about the ring fencing of the DSG funding.

Councillor Lawrie Stratford, Cabinet Member for Finance responded to the points raised, reiterating his congratulations to staff on the position reached although he was not complacent. Councillor Heathcoat, Cabinet Member for Adult Social care commented that nothing had been received from central government to suggest that local authorities would not be able to raise the 2% adult social care precept next year.

Councillor Stratford introduced the contents of the report and attention was drawn to the addenda and additional recommendation.

A Cabinet  Member queried how the children coming from Calais involved the County council in a significant cost when the criteria included them having family in this country. Jim Leivers, Director for Children Services explained that generally the funding was insufficient to cover the necessary support for unaccompanied asylum seeking children. In terms of the specific circumstances it was the responsibility of local authorities to check the viability of placements even with families. If a placement was not viable then a child would become a looked after child in Oxfordshire.

There was some discussion around the additional budget provision requested for the Westgate Library provision. There was concern expressed by some cabinet members that there was no ceiling for responding to changes brought about by aspirations for its future. Councillor Lorraine Lindsay-Gale, Cabinet Member for Property, Culture & Community Services, highlighted the once in a lifetime opportunity to refurbish Oxfordshire’s flagship library. It would involve the library as a community hub with online access to services and also hot desking for staff.  She was happy to give Cabinet Members a breakdown of what was happening. Both Councillor Lindsay-Gale and Councillor Stratford gave assurances that costs would be closely monitored.

RESOLVED:             by 6 votes for, to 2 against, with 2 abstentions to:

(a)             note the report;

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

(c)             approve the supplementary estimates as set out in paragraphs 41 and 42;

(d)             approve the request for funding from the Efficiency Reserve as set out in paragraph 57;

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

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

(g)             approve an additional £2.1m in the budget provision for the Westgate Library project.

(h)             approve the inclusion into the Capital Programme of the new primary school for Southam Road, Banbury;

(i)               to approve the new charge as set out in Annex 9; and

(j)               to approve the 2017/18 Fees and Charges for the Registration Service.