SUMMARY OF MAJOR VARIANCES
(Not included elsewhere in the report)
Service Service Area Reason for Variance & Action being taken Variance to Date Projected Variance to Year End
      £ £
      + = Adverse         ( ) = Favourable
VARIANCES REPORTED THROUGH PRT PROCESS
Management Team Insurance Charge discontinued. (8,400) (8,400)
Legal & HR Legal & Court Costs Expenditure depends on the need for Counsel's advice and other court costs throughout the year.  This is impossible to estimate accurately from year to year. (8,400) (8,400)
Land Charge Fees - LCC Fewer postal and electronic searches means that the fees payable to the County Council are reduced. (6,500) (6,500)
Search Fee Income More electronic and personal searches and fewer postal searches than estimated, in addition to more basic LLC's and fewer CON29's. +6,200 +6,200
Private Hire Driver's Licences There have been more private hire driver's licence applications than anticipated.  It its impossible to estimate accurately the demand for licences. (7,200) (7,200)
Licensing Act 2003 This was the first full year of operation of the Licensing Act 2003, and it was impossible to estimate accurately in advance the level of fees from new applications, variations and annual fees. (35,400) (35,400)
Financial Services Government Grants : LABGI Following notification from Govt. (£437k received in March).  Scaling factor was retained (65% for Lancaster); awaiting outcome of judicial review. (110,000) (110,000)
Pensions Fund Strain Costs  Recharges from Lancs County for previous early retirement costs have terminated earlier than estimated.  It would appear the payments were accounted for over a 4 year period, instead of the budgeted 5 years. (75,000) (75,000)
Audit Fees Length of time taken (therefore cost) for grant certification work being raised with Audit Commission. +7,000 +7,000
Investment Interest Accruals and recharges to HRA outstanding, but expect net outturn to be favourable.  Reasons for variance include higher than expected interest rates, and possibly capital slippage. +44,000 (40,000)
IS & Customer Services Services - Consultants Cover for vacant post +10,000 +10,000
Services - Mystery Shopper This did not take place during 2006/07 (9,900) (9,900)
Contributions Additional income received from County Council re Highways (14,800) (14,800)
BACS software Upgrade delayed until 2007/08 - carry forward request to be submitted (15,300) (15,300)
ArcIMS software Purchase of new system delayed until 2007/08 - carry forward request to be submitted (8,600) (8,600)
LLPG software New technology means we may be able to change software to a different LLPG. (10,100) (10,100)
Document Management software Purchase of new system delayed until 2007/08 - carry forward request to be submitted (18,000) (18,000)
Anite Housing software Project delayed until 2007/08 - carry forward request to be submitted (7,000) (7,000)
Printing & Stationery Reduced printing costs and less printing (15,000) (15,000)
Health & Strategic Housing Strategic Housing HMO Fees The number of licence applications has been less than expected, this is due to the number of landlord's who have taken measures in order to avoid the licensing criteria (ie disposing of property).  Any shortfall will be met by a reduced contribution to the HMO reserve. +49,400 +0
Homeless Priority Need Order Carry forward request to be submitted.  £10k is allocated to the implementation of a Sanctuary scheme and £4k is allocated for printing costs. (13,800) (13,800)
Cemeteries Interment Fees Increased income represents an increase in interments this year and is uncontrollable and unpredictable (20,200) (20,200)
Environmental Protection Consultants Underspend on Planning Delivery Grant  monies used to finance a consultant to work on the contaminated land database.  A contractor has now been engaged for 2007/08 and a carry forward request will be submitted. (28,100) (28,100)
CC(D)S Trade Waste Income This is due to a decreased level of turnover than predicted.  The future is uncertain due to the introduction of LATS charging from 01 April 2007. +106,700 +96,700
Highways Trading Highways work is 'jobbing' and by nature unpredictable in terms of profitability - estimates are conservative but it is anticipated that the projected variance will not be detrimentally affected. (91,400) (91,400)
Ground Maintenance An increased volume of capital works (£20k) has lead to an out-of-season underspend within revenue areas.  Grounds maintenance materials budget is underspent by approx. £20k. (51,800) (51,800)
Vehicle Maintenance - training Courses not available until 2007/08 - carry forward request to be submitted. (5,600) (5,600)
Environmental Enforcement Underspend due to late start of PCSCO's.  Carry forward request to be submitted (16,500) (16,500)
Economic Development & Tourism Best Centres Shortfall in anticipated external income following closure. +5,000 +5,000
Storey Institute Feasibility Study Capital design fees to be capitalised - awaiting Storey capital project approval +14,100 +14,100
EDZ Marketing Activity has been reprofiled to extend into 2007/08.  A carry forward request will be submitted. (17,400) (17,400)
Property Services Concessionary Travel Profiling and coding issues have affected the figure and further information is required from County prior to closedown.  Additional charges levied by the County may result in a significant overspend - these are currently being disputed but have been allowed for within the projection. The projection also provides cover for the impact in the current year (through the reserve) (64,000) +250,000
Off Street Car Parks Some incorrect profiling at present.  Latest projections for DPE monitoring are now favourable with improved variances.  Final year end figures unclear at the time of writing. - -
DPE - On street Incorrect profiling at present.  Latest projections indicate favourable variance at year end. - (58,000)
Church Street Market Increased trader numbers leading to increased income. (10,900) (10,900)
Courier distribution Increased relief duties. +7,100 +7,100
Mail room operations Increased Council wide postages. +11,000 +11,000
Morecambe Market Increased income.  However, virements relating to building maintenance will reduce the current variance. (38,900) (26,400)
Cultural Services Arts Development Carry forward request to be submitted.    (19,000) (19,000)
Salt Ayre : Bar & Catering Current net overspend - reduces following year end stock adjustment. +9,300 +4,200
Planning Services Planning Fee Income Planning fees outperformed budget expectation.  Fees increased by 39% by Govt. for improved planning services.  To be cautious the authority estimated only a 25% increase.  Permission will be sought to invest the surplus in retaining temporary staffing. (98,800) (98,800)
         
VARIANCES NOT REPORTED THROUGH PRT PROCESS
Cultural Services Maritime Festival  : Income No explanation provided & no projection provided. (7,100) (7,100)
Cultural Services : Training No explanation provided & no projection provided. (5,600) (5,600)
Cultural Services : Car Allowances No explanation provided & no projection provided. +5,900 +5,900
Community Sports Coach : Income No explanation provided & no projection provided. (5,000) (5,000)
Promenade Concessions No explanation provided & no projection provided. +14,000 +14,000
Carnforth Pool : Income No explanation provided & no projection provided. (17,500) (17,500)
Heysham Pool : Net position No explanation provided & no projection provided. (8,600) (8,600)
Platform : Net position No explanation provided & no projection provided. +19,700 +19,700
Salt Ayre : Swimming No explanation provided & no projection provided. (8,200) (8,200)
Property Services Luneside East Site Costs No explanation provided & no projection provided.  Expenditure not budgeted for, and grant income ringfenced against spend.  Carry forward request will be submitted. +42,000 +42,000
  4-6 Dalton Square No explanation provided & no projection provided. +38,600 +38,600
Planning Services Development Control Fee Income No explanation provided & no projection provided. +7,100 +7,100
TOTAL VARIANCES (480,900) (360,900)
Carry forward requests   (239,500)
Health & Strategic Hsg
Legal & HR
Management Team
Financial Services
Corporate Strategy
IS
Democratic Services
Revenues
Cultural Services
Planning
Econ Dev & Tourism
Council Housing
PRT Report Produced
No PRT Report Required
No PRT Report Produced but required