Decision details

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Whitehead)

Cabinet received a report from the Chief Finance Officer that provided an update on the Council’s financial position to help inform development of Cabinet’s corporate planning and budget proposals. 

Given that at the time of writing, neither the Government’s Spending Review nor the Local Government Settlement had been announced, and other budgetary work was not yet scheduled for completion, the report was an interim update only primarily for information.  As the report was for consideration no alternative options were put forward although Cabinet could make supplementary recommendations regarding any matters.

At Budget Council on 26 February 2020 Members had approved the current year’s budget at £17.903M, excluding parish precepts, giving rise to a council tax requirement of £9.672M. Various changes had become apparent through monitoring and more significantly through the impact of COVID-19. To draw the changes together, an in-depth update of the current year budget has been completed, the results of which were included at Appendices A and B. Currently an overall year end surplus against budget of £2.078M was projected. However, Members needed to be aware that this was a result of a formal statutory adjustment within the Collection Fund to recognise the Green Energy Disregard monies with the Council’s General Fund. Member’s would be advised to note that this classification was subject to confirmation and so was currently at risk. Further explanation was provided in paragraphs 3.3 – 3.7 of the report.

It was noted that an amended Table 3 of the General Fund Revenue Budget Projections has been circulated prior to the meeting.

There remained significant uncertainties in terms of Local Government funding over the next couple of years and these uncertainties had been exacerbated by the current COVID-19 situation. Once more clarity was available following the CSR and Local Government Settlement more detail would be shared with Cabinet and presented to Council at the earliest opportunity.

Councillor Whitehead proposed, seconded by Councillor Hamilton-Cox:-

“That the recommendations, as set out in the report, be approved.”

Councillors then voted:-

Resolved unanimously:

(1)             That the revised budgetary position 2020/21 which is fixed for future monitoring purposes be endorsed.

(2)             That the draft future years estimates as set out in the report, be accepted as an interim position.

(3)             That the update be referred on to December Council for information.

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

Chief Finance Officer

Reasons for making the decision:

Performance, project, and resource monitoring provides a link between the Council Plan and operational achievement, by providing regular updates on the impact of operational initiatives against strategic aims.  The update would be considered by full Council on 16 December 2020.