Issue - items at meetings - Targeted Budget Management (TBM 9)

Report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources (copy attached).

(1)               That the total forecast outturn position for the General Fund, which is an overspend of £0.939m be noted. This consists of £0.753m on council controlled budgets and £0.186m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services;

(2)               That the forecast outturn for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.309m be noted;

(3)               That the forecast outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £1.014m be noted;

(4)               That the forecast outturn position on the capital programme be noted; and

(5)               That the following changes to the capital programme be approved:

(i)         The variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.

125.1                The Executive Director for Finance & Resources introduced the report, which set out the forecast outturn position as at Month 9 on the council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2013/14.  She noted that there was a slight reduction in the forecast overspend which stood at £0,753m and had been factored into the 2014 /15 Budget proposals and linked to the savings decisions and service pressures.

125.2                The Chair stated that he wished to thank everyone involved in improving the overall budgetary position and hoped that it would continue to see a reduction in the forecast overspend.

125.3                Councillor Littman noted that there were significant underspends in Children’s Services and that there had been better results in parking income which had contributed to the reduction.  However, there were also areas that needed further work for example the Community Care Budget which was overspending, and the Travellers Budget which had been affected by difficulties at Horsdean and with unauthorised encampments.

125.4                Councillor A. Norman acknowledged the work undertaken by officers to reduce the forecast overspend and asked for clarification in respect of the savings shown on page 100 relating to commissioning and contracts, the level of income from on-street parking on page 102, and the low take up for early years places for 2 year-olds and empty properties.

125.5                The Executive Director for Adult Social Care stated that she would provide a full response in writing as she did not have the information available, but noted that part of the savings in the social care budget were attributed to a vacant post.

125.6                The Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing stated that he would provide a written response as a review was being undertaken in respect of the parking income and ideas were being explored with local businesses in relation to how take up for empty properties could be increased.

125.7                The Executive Director for Children’s Services stated that the expected take up for early years places had not been as high and work was being undertaken to see how this could be improved and he would provide further detail in writing for Councillor Norman.

125.8                Councillor Morgan expressed his concern in relation to the under-achievement of off-street car parks and noted that he had previously raised problems with the under-use of these car parks and failure of equipment which enabled people to park for free.

125.9                The Chair noted the comments and that the Environment, Transport & Sustainability had reviewed the fees and charges for parking which remained frozen.  However, he agreed that officers needed to look at the problem of barriers in off-street car parks not working properly.  Hen then put the recommendations to the vote.

125.10            RESOLVED:

(1)         That the total forecast outturn position for the General Fund, which is an overspend of £0.939m be noted. This consists of £0.753m on council controlled budgets and £0.186m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services;

(2)         That the forecast outturn for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.309m be noted;

(3)         That the forecast outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £1.014m be noted;

(4)         That the forecast outturn position on the capital programme be noted; and

(5)         That the following changes to the capital programme be approved:

(i)      The variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 4 to the report.