Issue - meetings

That the reports be noted.

            The Head of Finance introduced a report to provide Members with the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2013/14 (Month 9) information for the Council Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) which was being submitted to Cabinet on 18 March 2014.  She introduced the Finance Managers and Principal Accountant to the Committee.   

            For the Council fund, the projected net in-year expenditure was reported to be £1.981m less than budget which was an increase of £0.913m on the £1.068m reported at Month 8 and this was reflected in the table at paragraph 3.01.  The main reasons for the change were in Environment, Community Services, Lifelong Learning and Central & Corporate Finance and the details were provided in paragraphs 3.04 to 3.07.  One request for carry forward to 2014/15 of £0.051m to provide resource to ensure the continuity of the operational response team linked to the welfare reform service was being recommended to Cabinet.  Progress of the efficiencies were detailed in paragraph 3.10  which currently indicated that £4.060m of the £5.331m included in the budget (76%) would be achieved, resulting in a net under-achievement of £1.271m; the full details were provided in appendix 9.  Paragraph 5 detailed the monitoring budget assumptions and new risks which included costs involved in relation to the former chemical plant in Sandycroft (Euticals Ltd) which were being monitored monthly. 

In referring to the table on page 26, Councillor Clive Carver queried why some budgets had been reduced which had then resulted in an overspend and he also asked why there was a significant underspend in Finance.  The Head of Finance said that overall the Council’s budget had remained at £259.752m but that approvals of virements between budget heads could result in the revised budget being shown in different services, however, the total would always remain the same for the year.  On the issue of the underspend in Finance of £1.102m, the Head of Finance explained that the service was responsible for the collection of council tax and the better than budgeted for collection rate had resulted in an underspend; the full details were provided in appendix 5. 

Councillor Ian Dunbar welcomed the increased collection rate of council tax.  He queried what was meant by ‘the anticipated number of three year old children attending childcare settings is less than previously anticipated’ referred to in paragraph 3.06.  The Head of Finance responded that she would provide a written response to the Committee following the meeting.  

Councillor Richard Lloyd referred to the lack of work being undertaken on the site of the former Euticals Plant at Sandycroft and said that his request for further clarification at the Committee meeting on 16 January 2014 had not yet been provided.  He asked for a breakdown of costs involved.  The Head of Finance advised that she had provided a response following the meeting but that she would obtain the up to date information and would circulate it to the Committee.  Councillor Haydn Bateman said that he believed that material was being removed from the site and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84