Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Chief Finance Officer presenting details of the Council’s projected financial performance for 2020/21.

Executive Councillor: J Gray.

The Cabinet has:

(a)  considered and commented on the financial performance at the end of June 2021 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report now submitted;

(b)  considered and approved the proposed budget changes as outlined in paragraph 3.2 to the Revenue Budget to accommodate reclassification of budget and in year activity not included within the Medium-Term Financial Strategy; and

(c)  considered and approved the proposed budget changes outlined in paragraph 3.3 to the Capital Budget to accommodate reclassification of budget and in year activity not included within the Medium-Term Financial Strategy.

With the aid of a report by the Chief Finance Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet were presented with details of the Council’s projected financial performance for 2021/22.

In introducing the report, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Finance reported that there had been an estimated revenue outturn overspend of £0.227, an estimated capital outturn underspend of £17.077m and that the Commercial Investment Strategy was contributing positively towards the budget. The Chief Finance Officer then reported that work had been undertaken to realign some budgets with movements and corrections having been approved. She then delivered an outline of the financial profile for the Future High Streets Fund and drew attention to other aspects of the budget including Council Tax and National Non Domestic Rates and the position with arrears and sundry debts.

In drawing the Cabinet’s attention to the overspend relating to Development Management, the Managing Director reported that this was largely attributable to salary costs. The service was currently in stabilisation phase and that recruitment campaigns were being finalised. Assurances were delivered to Members that a plan was in place to address the issues currently being experienced within the service.

The Executive Leader then drew attention to the position with regards to Leisure, Markets and Car Parking and commented that recovery plans for these areas needed to be in place imminently to improve the current financial position. The Chief Finance Officer commented that the Quarter 1 forecast, particularly for One Leisure, had been very pessimistic with improvements due to be reported in the next quarter. The Managing Director and the Executive Councillor for Leisure and Regulatory Services agreed to discuss the position with the One Leisure service outside of the meeting.

The Executive Councillor for Strategic Finance reminded Executive Councillors of the importance of scrutinising the financial aspects of their portfolios with their Officers. The Executive Councillor for Operations and Environment responded to the comments made in respect of car parking and markets and advised that she would query their position with Officers. In respect of the former, the Managing Director reported that preliminary discussions had been held earlier that day reviewing car park usage and patterns with a view to considering strategies to improve the value of the space in the future.

The Executive Leader reminded Cabinet Members that there was a £1.4m budget gap to close. He then drew the Cabinet’s attention to the comments of the of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance & Growth).

In concluding their discussions, the Cabinet placed on record their thanks to Mrs C Edwards for her hard work, advice, guidance and support during her time as Section 151 Officer and Chief Finance Officer for the Council. Members expressed their best wishes to her for the future and in her new role. Whereupon, it was

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet has:

(a)  considered and commented on the financial performance at the end of June 2021 as detailed in Appendix 1 of the report now submitted;

(b)  considered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28

The Financial Performance Report 2021/22, Quarter 1 is to be presented to the Panel.

By means of a report by the Chief Finance Officer (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book), the Financial Performance Report 2021/22 (Quarter 1) was presented to the Panel.

The Panel welcomed the report and placed their thanks on record to the Chief Finance Officer for her hard work, guidance and diligence over the course of the challenging year.

Following a question by Councillor Roberts on whether the Art Centre development in St Neots was a problematic investment for the Council, Councillor Gray reassured that although the commercial potential of this development has not yet been achieved, Huntingdonshire District Council is committed to supporting the repurposing and regeneration of this centre to fully benefit the residents and businesses of St Neots. The Panel were also reassured that overall the Council’s commercial estate contributed positively towards the budget.

The Chief Finance Office clarified that the 70% of outstanding miscellaneous debt overdue for payment identified within the report showed the more significant debts and that the remaining 30% was made up of much smaller debts.

Having commented upon the report, the Panel

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be encouraged to endorse the recommendations contained within the report.