Agenda item - Targetted Budget Management (TBM) Provisional Outturn 2015/16

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

9.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources in relation to Targetted Budget Management Provisional Outturn 2015/16. The Targeted Budget Monitoring (TBM) report was a key component of the Council’s overall performance monitoring and control framework. The report set out the provisional outturn position (i.e. Month 12) on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2015/16.

9.2         In response to Councillor Janio it was clarified that the decisions in relation to the allocation of the surplus funds had been taken by the Administration following prudent recommendations from Senior Officers; however, it was highlighted that these decisions were always taken by Members.

9.3         In response to Councillor Sykes the Executive Director for Adults’ Services explained that when a directorate was not able to achieve full in-year savings they were rolled over to the next financial year as unachieved savings.

9.4         In response to a further query, the Executive Director for Finance & Resources clarified for Councillor Sykes that there were ‘unknowns’ every year as part of the budgeting process; whilst it was important for the organisation to be prudent in its planning, there was an argument against over prudency. The Executive Director for Adults’ Services added that demand varied considerable in social care; this was combined with pressures from other areas of the market.

9.5         In response to Councillor G. Theobald it was explained that Officers were already intending to enter into discussions with the CCG to gain a clearer understanding of the budgetary impact of the Better Care Fund this financial year.

9.6         In response to a further question, Councillor Hamilton explained that there was some one-off fund for grass-cutting in cemeteries to assess if this achieved improvements in maintenance standards. 

9.7         Councillor Janio noted his view that the surplus at the year-end in the budget should have been put into the Council’s reserves.

9.8         Before the vote was taken the Monitoring Officer highlighted that the allocation of funds on page 56 of the report would be subject to changes to the budget already agreed at Item 7 on the agenda.

9.9         The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

9.10       RESOLVED

1)        That the Committee note that the provisional outturn position for the General Fund is an improvement of £1.299m compared to the projected and planned resource position taken into account when setting next year’s budget, including the Month 9 forecast position.

2)        That the Committee note that in total, the General Fund underspend is therefore a £4.780m underspend, which is made up of the projected and planned resources of £3.481m reported to Budget Council in February 2016,  including the  Month 9 forecast position, together with the improved resource position since month 9 of £1.299m.

3)        That the Committee note the provisional outturn overspend of £0.473m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

4)        That the Committee approve the allocation and use of the additional one-off General Fund resources of £1.299m as set out in paragraph 3.4.

5)        That the Committee note the provisional outturn for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £2.037m.

6)        That the Committee note the provisional outturn position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an underspend of £0.432m.

7)        That the Committee approve carry forward requests totalling £1.322m as detailed in Appendix 3.

8)        That the Committee approve the creation of the earmarked reserves as set out in paragraph 6.2.

9)        That the Committee note the provisional outturn position on the capital programme.

10)     That the Committee approve the following changes to the capital programme

a.        The variations and reprofiles in Appendix 5 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 6.