Agenda item

That having considered the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023/24 (month 8) report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters to be raised with Cabinet.

The Strategic Finance Manager presented the 2023/24 month 8 position for the revenue budget monitoring for the Council Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA), prior to consideration by Cabinet.

On the Council Fund, the projected year-end position was an operating deficit of £2.942m which was a favourable movement of £0.728m from the deficit position reported at month 7.  This would leave a year-end contingency reserve balance of £4.918m after the actual impact of pay awards and previously approved allocations.  Changes to approved budgets since month 7 were due to the disaggregation of the pay award budget (non schools) across portfolios.  A summary was given of significant variances, in-year risks/emerging issues and other tracked risks as detailed in the report.

On the HRA, projected in-year expenditure of £0.018m higher than budget would leave a closing un-earmarked balance of £3.179m, which was above the recommended guidelines on spend.

In reiterating the need for pay awards determined at national level to include the appropriate funding, Councillor Ian Roberts referred to the outcome of the teachers’ pay review to be announced in the summer.  He advised that the Council was engaging with the Welsh Government (WG) on other risks relating to the waste recycling infraction charge and Storm Babet.

On Appendix 1, Councillor Bernie Attridge asked for explanation on increased residential care and domiciliary care costs in-year under Localities (Older People).  On Appendix 2, he referred to the overspend in the Leaving Care budget and asked whether specific government funding had been utilised for unaccompanied asylum seeking children.  On Streetscene & Transportation, he asked for clarity on the type of cleaning costs which had been reviewed and reduced under Service Delivery.

The Corporate Finance Manager agreed to seek a response from those services and reminded Members to share service specific questions with officers in advance, to enable responses to be provided at the meeting.

In response to a question from Councillor Alasdair Ibbotson about the estimated impact of Storm Babet on other Council assets, the Finance officers explained that figures in the table reflected the impact on school buildings and flooding as well as Council Tax income.  They gave assurance that claims on the Emergency Financial Assistance Fund sought to maximise the impact on the Council within the constraints of the eligibility criteria for the scheme on which further information was available on the WG website.  On a further question, the Revenues & Procurement Manager provided information on the treatment of Council Tax exemptions issued mid-year.

On Governance, the Democratic Services Manager provided clarity on the one-off backdated Superannuation pension costs within Member Services.

The recommendation was moved and seconded by Councillors Bernie Attridge and Jason Shallcross.

RESOLVED:

That having considered the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023/24 (month 8) report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters to be raised with Cabinet.