Issue - meetings

Executive Board considered the attached report.

RECOMMENDED: That Council approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in paragraph 3.2 of the report.

The Council considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which sought approval to a number of revisions to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Programme.

RESOLVED: That the revisions to the Council’s 2017/18 Capital Programme, as set out in Appendix 3 attached to the report, be approved.

The Board considered a report of the Operational Director, Finance, which reported on the 2017/18 Quarter 3 Spending as at 31 December 2017.

A summary of spending against revenue budget up to 31 December 2017 was attached to the report at Appendix 1. This provided individual statements for each department. The Board was advised that, in overall terms, revenue expenditure was £1.990m above the budget profile. It was noted that the position for the past three months in certain departments had slowed measurably, in other departments, increased pressures had developed.

The report contained details of the main budget pressure within the Children and Families Department, with Out-of-Borough Residential Placements and Fostering dominating the overspend position. However, the 2018/19 budget to be presented to Council on 7 March 2018, will include an additional £3.0m of budget provision for the Department, to help alleviate the overspend position and to bring about ongoing reductions in costs.

The report also provided details of other services which had experienced overspent budget profiles, including Complex Care Pooled Budget; Residential and Nursing Care; Domiciliary Services and Supported Living; Community and Environment; and Education, Inclusion and Provision. Also, details of an underspend in Corporate and Democracy; spending on employees; staff turnover targets; expenditure on general supplies and services; and the Council Tax collection rate for the third quarter of 2017/18.

The Capital Programme had been revised to reflect a number of changes in spending profiles as schemes had developed, and these were detailed in the report.

RESOLVED: That

1)    all spending continues to be limited to the absolutely essential;

2)    Strategic Directors continue to take appropriate action to contain overall spending within their operational budget by year-end;

3)    for those Services experiencing net overspends, Strategic Directors take action to bring net spend back in line with budget as soon as possible during the next financial year; and

4)    Council be recommended to approve the revised Capital Programme as set out in Appendix 3, attached to the report.