Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive agreed by Executive Cabinet on 26 March 2015 and requiring full Council approval (enclosed).

The Executive Member for Resources, Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report for 2014/15 which had been approved by the Executive Cabinet on 26 March 2015 and required Council approval to a number of recommendations.

Members raised queries on the Change Management Reserve and the intended use of this fund; the scale of Council reserves and the aim of increasing this from £2m to £3m in view of the investment in major capital works; and concerns about investment in Bengal St depot when Recycling Lives, the current tenant, had been under licence and not paying rent.

In response to the latter item, Councillor Wilson stated that on completion of the work at the Depot, Recycling Lives would only continue to occupy the premises if they signed a lease.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member for Resources proposed, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded, and it was RESOLVED – that

1.    Approval be given to the setting aside of around £100,000 of additional forecast revenue income from Council Tax Summons and Liability Order charges in 2014/15 to offset any future increased liability in bad debts as a result of these charges.  Paragraph 36 of the report refers.

2.    Approval be given to the use of £40,000 from in-year revenue underspends to fund additional temporary staffing resources required in the Single Front Office.

3.    Approval be given to the following additions to the capital budget all externally funded from Section 106 receipts:

·         £35k for the improvement and equipping of the existing trim trail in Carr Brook;

·         £9.6k play and open space contribution on the Union Street, Whittle-le-Woods play area;

·         £12.4k for play and open space provision at Coronation Recreation Ground.

4.    Approval be given to the addition to the capital budget of £8.5k subsidy to Adactus Housing to be funded from the Regional Housing Pot.

5.    Approval be given to the transfer of budgets within the capital programme to better reflect budget requirements.

6.    Approval be given to the transfer of budgets between the capital and revenue budgets to better reflect future delivery of schemes. Paragraph 58 of the report refers.

7.    Approval be given to the proposed re-profiling of the capital programme to better reflect delivery in 2014/15.

Report of Chief Executive.

1.         The full year forecast position for the 2014/15 revenue budget and capital investment programme was noted.

2.         Request Council approve the set aside of around £100,000 of additional forecast revenue income from Council Tax Summons and Liability Order charges in 2014/15 to offset any future increased liability in bad debts as a result of these charges. 

3.         Request Council approve the use of £40,000 from in-year revenue underspends to fund additional temporary staffing resources required in the Single Front Office.

4.         The forecast position on the Council's reserves was noted.

5.         Request Council approve the following additions to the capital budget all externally funded from Section 106 receipts:

·                £35k for the improvement and equipping of the existing trim trail in Carr Brook;

·                £9.6k play and open space contribution on the Union Street, Whittle-le-Woods play area;

·                £12.4k for play and open space provision at Coronation Recreation Ground.

6.         Approval granted that the addition to the capital budget of £8.5k subsidy to Adactus Housing to be funded from the Regional Housing Pot.

7.         Approval granted for the transfer of budgets within the capital programme to better reflect budget requirements.

8.         Approval granted for the transfer of budgets between the capital and revenue budgets to better reflect future delivery of schemes.

9.         Request Council approve the proposed re-profiling of the Capital Programme to better reflect delivery in 2014/15.

10.      The addition to the capital programme of £3.365 million investment projects approved at Council on 3rd March 2015 was noted.

The report of the Chief Executive was presented by the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Member (Resources). 

The report set out the provisional revenue and capital outturn figures for the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets set for the financial year 2014/15.  As the latest projected revenue outturn indicated an underspend against the approved budget for 2014/15, no action was required at this stage in the year.

The Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy proposed that working balances were to be maintained at a level no lower than £2.0m due to the financial risks facing the Council.  The current forecast to the end of February showed that the General Fund balance could be around £2.295m.

Decision:

1.         The full year forecast position for the 2014/15 revenue budget and capital investment programme was noted.

2.         Request Council approve the set aside of around £100,000 of additional forecast revenue income from Council Tax Summons and Liability Order charges in 2014/15 to offset any future increased liability in bad debts as a result of these charges.

3.         Request Council approve the use of £40,000 from in-year revenue underspends to fund additional temporary staffing resources required in the Single Front Office.

4.         The forecast position on the Council's reserves was noted.

5.         Request Council approve the following additions to the capital budget all externally funded from Section 106 receipts:

·                £35k for the improvement and equipping of the existing trim trail in Carr Brook;

·                £9.6k play and open space contribution on the Union Street, Whittle-le-Woods play area;

·                £12.4k for play and open space provision at Coronation Recreation Ground.

6.         Approval granted that the addition to the capital budget of £8.5k subsidy to Adactus Housing to be funded from the Regional Housing Pot.

7.         Approval granted for the transfer of budgets within the capital programme to better reflect budget requirements.

8.         Approval granted for the transfer of budgets between the capital and revenue budgets to better reflect future delivery of schemes.

9.         Request Council approve the proposed re-profiling of the Capital Programme to better reflect delivery in 2014/15.

10.      The addition to the capital programme of £3.365 million investment projects approved at Council on 3rd March 2015 was noted.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

To ensure the Council’s budgetary targets are achieved.

Alternative option(s) considered and rejected

None.