Agenda item

That the Committee notes the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2017/18 Month 10

report and confirms on this occasion that the issues which it wishes to have

brought to the Cabinet’s attention are concerns about out of county placements

and how overspending across Wales might be better controlled and that  more realistic income targets should be set for Pest Control.

The Finance Manager introduced a report to provide the revenue budget monitoring report for 2017/18 as at Month 10.  She advised that the Revenue Budget Monitoring report had been presented to Cabinet on 23 January 2018 and was appended to the report.

The Finance Manager explained that the monthly report provided the current revenue budget monitoring position for 2017/18 for the Council Fund and Housing Revenue Account.  The report presented the position based on actual income and expenditure, as at Month 10 of the financial year and projected how the budget would stand at the close of the financial year if all things remained equal. 

The Finance Manager reported on the main projected year end position for the Council Fund and the Housing Revenue Account as detailed in the report   She also reported on the main considerations on the Month 10 position and referred to the overall position of the Council Fund, the latest in-year forecast, tracking of in-year risks and emerging issues, winter maintenance, inflation, reserves and balances.  The Finance Manager advised that for the Council Fund the projected Contingency Reserve balance as at 31 Mach 2018 was £8.119m although this reduced to £5.714m when taking account of agreed contributions for the 2018/19 budget.  She reported that for the Housing Revenue Account the projected closing balance as at 31 March 2018 was £1.081m.

In response to  a question on the efficiencies to be achieved in 2017/18 the Chief Executive provided an update on the current position .  He also commented on the two unforeseen budget pressures 2017/18 and 2018/19 :-the pressure on the winter maintenance budget, and the WG withdrawal (from 2018/19) of the Minority Ethnic and Language Grant (MEAG) of around £175K  which supported  English as a Second Language and traveller learning needs. 

On the issue of winter maintenance the Chair asked if the Authority was able to recover the cost of gritting highways.  Officers explained that the cost of gritting the A55 was recoverable.

Commenting on the issue of managing risks and emerging issues, Councillor Richard Jones suggested that the WG be lobbied to provide a central source of funds rather than local authorities managing individually. He went on to thank everyone for their efforts during the budget process which had resulted in more money being made available to support schools.

Councillor Jones reiterated his opposition to the change in accounting policy to Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP).  The Chief Executive assured the committee that the Council decision on MRP had now been made based on the advice given.

Referring to the second recommendation on page 42 of the report, Councillor Woolley sought assurance that the Authority had a good overview to ensure any financial issues were identified as early as possible concerning the implementation of different service delivery methods. The Chief Executive responded that both Aura and NEWydd were completing their first year of trading and assured members that close liaison with the Council was taking place He went on to emphasise that both organisations had effective boards to oversee their activities.

During discussion the cost of out of county placements and the associated and long term costs was raised.  Councillor Aaron Shotton commented that there was not enough public sector provision and referred to the historical and cultural issues associated with residential care.  He said that more needed to be done across Wales  in terms of intervention, funding, and remodelling of provision, and that the Authority also needed to look ‘in-house’ at  the services  provided to ensure they continued to be fit for purpose.   The Chief Executive added that Welsh Government should  maintain a flexible national fund to support councils in need.

Councillor Hilary McGuill commented on the complex and diverse issues around out of county placements and said there was a need for funding to be identifiedat an early stage. 

Councillor Richard Jones suggested that other local authorities be contacted to establish any overspend in education and social care with a view to lobbying the WG for a central fund to be held to address funding needs.

Councillor Paul Johnson referred to the information provided on page 54 of the report concerning pest control and expressed concern that the previous targets had not been realistic.  He asked that realistic income targets be set within Pest Control.

Councillor Richard Jones commented on the issue of pest control and asked if local residents or the developer was responsible for paying charges for the removal of pests as a result of development on a site. The Chief Executive responded that this was an interesting idea. 

In response to a question from Councillor Haydn Bateman regarding he projected overspend of £2.200m on the Streetscene and transportation portfolio, the Finance Manager advised that a sum of £675K had been credited to the budget as the GHA coaches element of the over-spend. It was confirmed that the Council had retrieved the vehicles which it owned and which were being sold.

            The Democratic Services Manager said that during the discussion, he had noted the comments made about out of county placements and how overspending on these across Wales might be better managed,  and in addition that realistic   income targets be set within Pest Control. He asked whether these should be brought to the attention of the Cabinet as issues about which this committee had concerns.

The Chair asked Members to vote on the recommendation in the report and,

when put to the vote, this was carried.  Councillor Patrick Heesom asked that it be recorded that he had abstained from the vote.

RESOLVED:

That the Committee notes the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2017/18 Month 10

report and confirms on this occasion that the issues which it wishes to have

brought to the Cabinet’s attention are concerns about out of county placements

and how overspending across Wales might be better controlled and that  more realistic income targets should be set for Pest Control.