Issue - meetings

The Board received a report from the Operational Director – Finance, advising of the Council’s overall revenue and capital net spending position as at 30 September 2023, together with a forecast outturn position.

Appendix 1 presented a summary of spending against the operational revenue budget up to 30 September 2023 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 £3.572m.  Appendix 3 presented the Capital Programme as at 30 September 2023, highlighting the schemes which had been revised.

It was noted that the biggest pressure on the budget continued to be within the Children & Families Department, where forecast net spend for the year had increased by £0.681m over the past three months. This was predominantly as a result of increased spend against agency staff and staffing costs. Whilst considerable work was ongoing to support recruitment and retention of permanent staff, the impact was not yet being felt of any major reduction to agency numbers. Therefore, it was essential that all Departments ensured spending continued to be restricted to only essential items throughout the remainder of the financial year.

RESOLVED:  That

1)    all spending continue to be limited to only absolutely essential items;

2)    Executive Directors continue to take urgent action to reduce or defer spending for the remainder of the current financial year, or secure additional funding;

3)    progress with implementation of the three years approved budget savings outlined in Appendix 4, be noted; and

4)    Council be requested to approve the revisions to the Capital Programme, as set out in paragraph 3.20.