Agenda item

  Joint Report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Local Services

  and the Corporate Director of Resources – Principal Accountant, Resources.

The Chairman introduced the Principal Accountant, Resources, Paul Raine to speak to Members in relation to the Quarter 3, 2016/17 Revenue and Capital Outturn (for copy see file of minutes).

The Principal Accountant noted that for future Revenue and Capital Outturn reports, the areas covered by the former RED Service were now part of Regeneration and Local Services (ReaL). 

Members noted the service had reported an outturn position with a cash limit underspend of £1.010 million against a revised annual General Fund Revenue Budget of £27.399 million, in comparison to the Quarter 1 estimate of £0.299 million.  Members noted the variances within the budget, with the detailed explanations as set out within the report.  The Committee were informed that the service grouping delivered the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) savings for 2016/17 of £1.118 million.

As regards the Capital Programme 2016/17, the Principal Accountant explained that the actual spend to date was £26.581 million against a revised budget of £36.582 million with a breakdown of the major capital projects given at Appendix 2 to the report.

The Chairman thanked the Principal Accountant and asked Members for their questions on the report.

Mr T Batson asked if, where was any element of underspend, Central Government would approach the authority in terms of claw back.  The Principal Accountant noted that Central Government gave Local Authorities a settlement and that there were plans in terms of budgets for 2018/19 and 2019/2020.

Councillor J Clare noted on page 30 of the agenda papers the figure in relation to employees and asked whether this referred to posts not filled upon successful application for early retirement or voluntary redundancy.  He suggested that if this was the case that the remaining staff would have additional workloads and added that Members were grateful for the hard work and effort of all staff in these circumstances and their continued excellence in their work was appreciated.  Councillor J Armstrong commented that he agreed with the comment made by Councillor J Clare and that staff throughout the Authority needed to be thanked for their hard work.

Resolved:    

That the report be noted.