Agenda and minutes

Contact: Democratic Services 

Items
No. Item

8.

Apologies for Absence

To receive apologies for absence.

Minutes:

Apologies were received from Councillor Mabena.  Apologies were also received from Councillors Bhullar and Gavan who, as vice-chairs of Scrutiny Boards, had been invited to the meeting.

 

9.

Declarations of Interest

Members to declare any interests in matters to be discussed at the meeting.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest made.

 

10.

Minutes pdf icon PDF 58 KB

To confirm the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2021 as a correct record.

Minutes:

Resolved that the minutes of the meeting held on 23 June 2021 are approved as a correct record.

11.

Additional Items of Business

To determine whether there are any additional items of business to be considered as a  matter of urgency.

Minutes:

Councillor Anandou raised an item relating to SEND Transport.  He sought clarity around the overspend in relation to that service and it was confirmed that an increase had been experienced after budget setting processes had taken place.  Other issues in relation to the scrutiny of SEND Transport would be referred to the Children’s Services and Education Scrutiny Board that was scheduled to meet on 2 August 2021.

12.

2020/21 Financial Outturn pdf icon PDF 1 MB

To consider the financial outturn report 2020-21.

Minutes:

At its meeting on 7th July, 2021 the Cabinet referred the proposals arising from the 2020/21 directorate outturn reports for each service area to the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board for consideration.

The overall net service outturn variance, excluding the Housing Revenue Account, was an underspend of £23.279m. 

 

Services had reported an underspend of £6.939m from allocated budgets, however, after adjusting for reserves, corporate resources, revenue to fund capital costs (RCCO) and the application of centrally held Covid-19 grant funding the adjusted outturn was an underspend of £23.279m.

 

The Covid-19 crisis had significantly affected the Council’s financial position. The impact had included:

 

         reduced expenditure from the suspension / cancellation of services or a focus on emergency responses only;

         loss of income due to service reductions / travel restrictions;

         additional costs from undertaking new Covid related activity;

         redeployment of staff and resources as part of the corporate Covid response;

         access to additional Covid related grant funding to manage additional costs and income reductions.

 

Additional Covid related grant funding was available during Quarter 1 of 2021/22 however the financial impacts were expected to continue throughout the year.

 

Initial budget planning for 2021-2024 had identified non-Covid related financial pressures which were being managed in the short-term by reserves and other one-off sources of funding.  The proposed treatment of the 2020/21 underspends would assist to temporarily manage the financial risks however, all service areas had been allocated indicative savings targets during the next phase of budget planning to address the projected funding gap on a long-term basis.

From the comments and questions by councillors, the following responses were made and issues highlighted:-


-         The recruitment to the restructured senior management team           was ongoing.  Costs related to interim appointments were           met by individual directorate budgets.

-         Even though costs relating to Covid had been covered by           emergency funding provided to the Council by the           Government, there was still a need to address savings as set           out in the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy           (MTFS).

 

-        The Council’s reserves had not gone below any statutory limits and remained within the guidelines of 3-5% of net expenditure.  If savings were identified as per the MTFS then it was not anticipated that this situation would change.

 

 

Resolved that an update on the senior management restructure be brought to the September meeting of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board.

13.

Cabinet Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 136 KB

To consider the Cabinet Forward Plan. 

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Management Board noted the Cabinet Forward Plan as at the time of the meeting.

14.

Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board Work Programme 2021-22 pdf icon PDF 65 KB

To consider and approve items for inclusion in the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board Work Programme 2021-22.

Minutes:

The Scrutiny Management Board noted its work programme for the remainder of the 2021-22 municipal year.