To consider and receive the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson, presented the Provisional Revenue and Capital Outturn for 2018/19 which had been agreed by the Executive Cabinet on 20 June. The report requires full Council approval for a number of recommendations.

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, queried the budget for the events programme.  Councillor Peter Wilson explained that there was an overspend last year as the bonfire and Picnic in the Park had been provisionally removed from the programme.  Events, such as the Flower Show, are expected to make a profit going forward, as infrastructure is reused and there are more attendees.  It is not expected that events will be cost neutral, but there are benefits as events bring people into Chorley.  

The Leader of the Opposition, Councillor Martin Boardman, noted the Council paid a sum of £30,000 to Coppull Primary School and Nursery to support the provision of universal services following reductions in funding from Lancashire County Council.  It was clarified that this was in relation to the Children’s Centre. 

Members discussed income levels in relation to income levels from planning applications.  This will be kept under review. 

The Executive Member (Resources), Councillor Peter Wilson proposed and the Executive Leader, Councillor Alistair Bradley seconded the Decision – that approval be given to the following:

1.    To note the full year outturn position for the 2018/19 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.    To note Executive Cabinet approval for slippage requests outlined in Appendix 2 of the report to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2019/20.

3.    To approve the contribution of £162,000 from in-year revenue underspends to the Change Management Reserve to finance one-off redundancy and pension strain costs arising from transformation and shared service strategies.

4.    To approve the contribution of £71,000 from in-year revenue underspends to finance the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) in 2019/20 and 2020/21.

5.    To approve £55,000 to fund architect fees relating to requests from tenant liaison meetings requests and the costs of clerk of works at Market Walk Extension.

6.    To note the 2018/19 outturn position on the Council's reserves outlined in Appendix 4.

7.    To note the impact of the final capital expenditure outturn and the re-phasing of capital budgets to 2019/20 and approve the additions to the capital programme outlined in paragraph 70.

8.    To approve the financing of the 2018/19 capital programme to maximise the use of funding resources available to the Council.

To consider and receive the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

1.    Note the full year outturn position for the 2018/19 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.    Request Executive Cabinet approval for slippage requests outlined in Appendix 2 of the report to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2019/20.

3.    Request Council approval for the contribution of £162,000 from in-year revenue underspends to the Change Management Reserve to finance one-off redundancy and pension strain costs arising from transformation and shared service strategies.

4.    Request Council approval for the contribution of £71,000 from in-year revenue underspends to finance the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) in 2019/20 and 2020/21.

5.    Request Council approval for £55,000 to fund architect fees relating to requests from tenant liaison meetings requests and the costs of clerk of works at Market Walk Extension.

6.    Note the 2018/19 outturn position on the Council's reserves outlined in Appendix 4.

7.    Note the impact of the final capital expenditure outturn and the re-phasing of capital budgets to 2019/20 and approve the additions to the capital programme outlined in paragraph 70.

8.    Request Council approval of the financing of the 2018/19 capital programme to maximise the use of funding resources available to the Council.

Councillor Peter Wilson, Executive Member (Resources), presented the report of the Chief Finance Officer which presents the provisional revenue outturn figures for the Council as compared against the budgets and efficiency savings targets set for the financial year 2018/19 and the provisional outturn figures for the 2018/19 capital programme. It also updates the capital programme for financial years 2019/20 to 2021/22 to take account of the re-phasing of expenditure from 2018/19 and other proposed budget changes.

The accounts are provisional at this stage and are also subject to final checking and scrutiny by the Council’s external auditor. Members noted that, should there be any significant changes to the outturn as a result of this process, a further report will be submitted to Executive Cabinet.

Decision:

1.    Note the full year outturn position for the 2018/19 revenue budget and capital investment programme.

2.    Approve slippage requests outlined in Appendix 2 of the report to finance expenditure on specific items or projects in 2019/20.

3.    Request Council approval for the contribution of £162,000 from in-year revenue underspends to the Change Management Reserve to finance one-off redundancy and pension strain costs arising from transformation and shared service strategies.

4.    Request Council approval for the contribution of £71,000 from in-year revenue underspends to finance the National Graduate Development Programme (NGDP) in 2019/20 and 2020/21.

5.    Request Council approval for £55,000 to fund architect fees relating to requests from tenant liaison meetings requests and the costs of clerk of works at Market Walk Extension.

6.    Note the 2018/19 outturn position on the Council's reserves outlined in Appendix 4.

7.    Note the impact of the final capital expenditure outturn and the re-phasing of capital budgets to 2019/20 and approve the additions to the capital programme outlined in paragraph 70.

8.    Request Council approval of the financing of the 2018/19 capital programme to maximise the use of funding resources available to the Council.

Reasons for Recommendation(s):

To ensure the Council’s budgetary targets are achieved.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.