Issue - meetings

To be presented with details of the Council’s projected financial performance for 2022/23.

Executive Councillor: B Mickelburgh.

The Cabinet has considered and commented on the financial performance to the end of June 2022, as detailed in Appendix 1 and summarised in paragraph 3.2 of the report now submitted and has also considered and commented on the capital financial performance at the end of June 2022, as detailed in Appendix 1 and summarised in paragraph 3.3 of the report now submitted.

A report by the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources was submitted (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) presenting details of the Council’s projected financial performance for 2022/23.

Following a brief explanation from the Deputy Executive Leader and Executive Councillor for Planning, it was reported that the forecast outturn at the end of quarter 1 was £21,789m which reflected a forecast overspend of £275,000 attributed to reductions in income from Development Management, Car Parks and One Leisure together with increased staffing costs in the Leisure and Health and Development Management services. In respect of the capital programme, it was reported that following some re-phasing of the budget, this was now at £39,674m.  The Cabinet were pleased to note that the Commercial Investment Strategy continued to generate a good level of return for the Council.

The Director of Finance and Corporate Resources then went on to advise that she was mindful of the recent announcements concerning the energy crisis and the impact this would have upon the Council. The matter would remain under review.

In response to a question raised by the Executive Councillor for Climate and Environment, the Corporate Director (People) advised that the reduction in Council Tax and collection rates when compared to the previous year was likely to be attributed to the transition towards Universal Credit and undertook to provide a definitive response outside of the meeting.

Other matters that were discussed included the mitigations in place to reduce the reported overspend and the potential impact of the cost of living and energy crisis upon One Leisure memberships and local businesses. The Managing Director confirmed that she, together with the Director of Finance and Corporate Resources, were networking and discussing with other peers such issues with a view to making pragmatic choices to the benefit of the Council as well as highlighting and cascading information down at weekly and bi-weekly meetings with service managers.

In noting the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to consider and comment on the financial performance to the end of June 2022, as detailed in Appendix 1 and summarised in paragraph 3.2 of the report now submitted; and

(b)  to also consider and comment on the capital financial performance at the end of June 2022, as detailed in Appendix 1 and summarised in paragraph 3.3 of the report now submitted.

The Finance Performance Report 2022/23 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 Finance Performance Report 2022/23 Quarter 1 was presented to the Panel.

Councillor Gardener enquired on the anticipated timescales for the reintroduction of preplanning application advice service as this had previously been a useful revenue stream for the Council. The Panel heard this was in the process of being reintroduced and Councillors could expect to see confirmation of this in the Autumn.

Following a question from Councillor Pickering, the Panel heard that Council Tax paymentreceipts continued to be monitored so that any changes to these due to the current economic climate could be accommodated for.

Having welcomed the report, it was thereupon

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to endorse the recommendations within the report.