Agenda item

(a)       That having considered the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2020/21 (Month 8) report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters which it wishes to have raised at Cabinet and

(b)       That a Member seminar on Christmas waste collections and financial arrangements be arranged in due course.

The Strategic Finance Manager introduced a report on the latest budget monitoring position for 2020/21on the Revenue Budget as at Month 8.    He referred to the Council Fund projected positon which had an operating surplus of £0.27m (excluding the impact of the pay award which would be met by reserves) and a projected contingency reserve available balance as at 31 March 2021 of £1.65m.  He advised that all non-essential spend continued to be reviewed and challenged and this had helped to reduce the overall position by about £720k with delayed spend and vacancy management.  The Strategic Finance Manager presented the key considerations as detailed in the Revenue Budget Monitoring Report which was appended to the report.

Councillor Paul Shotton referred to page 39 of the report and asked for further information on the additional disposal expenditure incurred by Streetscene and Transportation as a result of increased kerbside waste collections due to people working and remaining at or close to home.  He also referred to the impact of the pandemic on Arriva bus services and on Streetscene operatives due to the high transmission rate of the Covid-19 virus. 

In response to the comments made by Councillor Richard Jones regarding the waste collection service during the Christmas and New Year period Councillor Carolyn Thomas advised that a statement made by the Chief Officer at Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee which explained the decisions and arrangements made, was available on the Authority’s website and reported in the local press.   Councillor Ian Roberts suggested that a Member seminar be arranged in due course on Christmas waste collection and the financial implications.  He commented on the hard work of officers and Streetscene operatives during the Christmas and New Year period in harsh Winter conditions and throughout the pandemic and thanked all involved for their sterling efforts. 

Councillor Richard Jones referred to the £0.200m grant funding from  WG towards the Teachers Pay Award with the remainder to be met from Schools delegated budgets and the impact this would have on Schools.  He also referred to out-of county placements and asked if consideration had been given to lobbying the WG to ask that national funding be made available, or a funding cap, or additional support, to help local authorities meet the cost.  In response to a suggestion from the Chair the Chief Executive asked the Corporate Finance Manager to contact fellow 151 Officers to provide an overview of in-year overspend on Children’s Services.

Councillor Richard Jones proposed that the Committee should send a letter to support lobbying of the Welsh Government for consideration of a funding cap or additional support for Out of County placements.  This  was seconded by  Councillor Mared Eastwood and when put to the vote was carried.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That having considered the Revenue Budget Monitoring 2020/21 (Month 8) report, the Committee confirms that there are no specific matters which it wishes to have raised at Cabinet and

(b)       That a Member seminar on Christmas waste collections and financial arrangements be arranged in due course.