Agenda item - Targetted Budget Management (TBM) 2016/17 Month 2

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Agenda item

Targetted Budget Management (TBM) 2016/17 Month 2

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

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

1)        That the Committee note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £3.745m. This includes a pressure of £0.236m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

 

2)        That the Committee note that recovery planning is in place and will be reported to the cross-party Budget Review Group as appropriate.

 

3)        That the Committee note that total recurrent and one-off risk provisions of £3m are available to mitigate the forecast risk if the risks cannot be completely eliminated by year-end.

 

4)        That the Committee note the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.270m.

 

5)        That the Committee note the forecast risk position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an overspend of £0.097m.

 

6)        That the Committee note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme and approve the variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 4.

Minutes:

25.1    The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Finance & Resources in relation to Targetted Budget Management (TBM) 2016/17 Month 2. The report set out an early indication of forecast risks as at Month 2 on the Council’s revenue and capital budgets for the financial year 2016/17.

 

25.2    In response to Councillor Sykes it was explained that the additional pressure funding in adult social care was based on projected demand; however, the service was working to meeting its efficiency savings. The figures in the report included decisions made at the previous meeting in relation to contract management for the Royal Pavilion & Museums. In relation to social worker agency staff the Executive Director for Families, Children & Learning explained that the department had introduced a market supplement to make the roles more competitive with neighbouring authorities in view to having no agency staff in the future. Lastly it was also clarified that slippage in terms in capital funding would affect the cash flow of the Council.

 

25.3    In response to questions from Councillor G. Theobald the following responses were provided. Band One in terms of transport was part of the incentive fund and related the ability of the authority to provide full asset management plans, the scale was from one at the lowest to three at the highest. It was not envisaged the Council would receive money from the Better Care Fund this year, the additional money the previous financial year had related to an underspend in the pooled fund. There had been a pause before the introduction of fees for pre-application planning advice the allow the Planning Department to focus on the determining the backlog of applications; however, charging for advice of major applications had now commenced and work was being undertaken on planning performance agreements on schemes, and the intention was to roll out more of the fees this year. Previous recruitment controls had been relaxed, and posts now had to be agreed through the relevant DMT. Re-procurement had increased costs in relation to home to school transport and Officers were now undertaking further a review of this in view to bringing a report to a future meeting of the Children, Young People & Skills Committee. It was hoped that a permanent management solution could be found for the Electoral Services Team; however, this had not been possible due to the recruitment difficulties during the PCC Elections and Referendum, it was hoped that this could be taken forward after the by-election in August. There were also some funding pressures due to the volume of electoral work that had been delivered by the Council since May 2015 and it had been necessary to use increased casual staff and as well staff resources from other areas of the Council.

 

25.4    In response to Councillor Janio it was explained that priorities could be established during the budget setting process to realise funds where there were underspends; however, the Council would need to be very mindful that it was not seen to be acting imprudently in its financial management.

 

25.5    In response to Councillor A. Norman it was clarified that there was an agreed overspend to manage cases in relation to Deprivation of Liberty Safeguards work. Whilst the Law Commission were currently considering the administrative process, it was highlighted that this work was in the best interests of the individuals concerned and would be ongoing.

 

25.6    The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote.

 

25.       RESOLVED

 

1)        That the Committee note the forecast risk position for the General Fund, which indicates a budget pressure of £3.745m. This includes a pressure of £0.236m on the council’s share of the NHS managed Section 75 services.

 

2)        That the Committee note that recovery planning is in place and will be reported to the cross-party Budget Review Group as appropriate.

 

3)        That the Committee note that total recurrent and one-off risk provisions of £3m are available to mitigate the forecast risk if the risks cannot be completely eliminated by year-end.

 

4)        That the Committee note the forecast for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), which is an underspend of £0.270m.

 

5)        That the Committee note the forecast risk position for the Dedicated Schools Grant which is an overspend of £0.097m.

 

6)        That the Committee note the forecast outturn position on the capital programme and approve the variations and reprofiles in Appendix 3 and the new schemes as set out in Appendix 4.

 


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