Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Operational Director – Finance, advising of the Council’s overall revenue net spending position as at 30 September 2022, together with a forecast outturn position.

Appendix 1 presented a summary of spending against the operational revenue budget up to 30 September 2022 and Appendix 2 provided detailed figures for each individual Department.  It was reported that in overall terms the outturn forecast for the year showed that net spend would be over the approved budget by £7.586m.  Appendix 3 presented the Capital Programme as at 30 September 2022, highlighting the schemes which had been revised.

It was noted that the increased energy costs, pay award and high inflation rates would all have a serious negative impact upon the Council’s financial position. There was no expectation that any increased Government funding would be received to help meet these pressures. Therefore, to address the pressures within the Council budget there was an urgency for all Departments to reduce, cease or defer any non-essential spending and to implement any proposed efficiencies as soon as possible.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    the scale of the potential outturn overspend and the potential impact upon reserves, if no corrective action is taken, be noted;

2)    all departments be requested to limit spending to only absolutely essential items;

3)    all Departments be requested, to identify as a matter of urgency any areas where spending could be reduced or ceased for the remainder of the current financial year, or deferred until next year; and

4)    Council be requested to approve the revisions to the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.18.