Issue - meetings

Councillor R C Evans, Cabinet Member for Council Finance & Governance, presented the report of the Director: Finance & Human Resources (Chief Financial Officer). 

RESOLVED that:

a)      the changes to the capital programme and the transfers to reserves detailed in Appendix 1 of the report be approved;

b)      authority be delegated to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to approve the uses of the Investment in Council Priorities Fund

Key Decision identified as Financial Monitoring & Mid-Year Budget Review 2020/ 21 in the Notice of Key Decisions published on 9 December 2020.

Reserved for Council.

Councillor R C Evans, Cabinet Member for Council Finance and Governance presented the report of the Director: Finance & H.R., Chief Finance Officer.

Cabinet Members noted the impact the coronavirus pandemic (Covid-19) continued to have across the Country. The Council had moved into a pre-emptive emergency response mode, prior to the first lockdown in March 2020. Throughout the pandemic, the Council had continued to provide all the usual services, except when they have been required to be suspended due to national restrictions (for example, libraries and leisure centres). Income streams had been under pressure and there had been increased demand in many service areas, including Social Care.

The current projected pressure was estimated to be £19.28m (including council tax and business rates shortfalls). The Council had received £17.24m of Government National Emergency Response Funding, which left a residual pressure of £2.04m, which was a considerable improvement since the position was reported to Cabinet in November.

The capital programmed totalled £63m for 2020/21, which included all approvals since the budget was set. The projected spend was 97% of the budget allocation.

Covid-19 had impacted on collection rates, with income collection in relation to Business Rates, Council Tax and Sales Ledger all behind expected levels. Debt recovery action was suspended in March 202, with ‘soft’ reminders issued in July and recovery recommencing in August.

RESOLVED –

a)    that the 2020/21 revenue budget position, which has been significantly impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic be noted;

b)   to RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL that the following be approved:-

i)             the proposed uses of the budgeted contingency (paragraph 5.1 of the report)

ii)            the transfers to reserves in Section 5.2 and grant delegated authority to the Chief Executive, following consultation with the Leader, to approve the uses of the investment in Council Priorities Fund

iii)          transfer of £1.25m to fund CSE Inquiry related costs in 2021/22 including making provision to respond to recommendations from this independent inquiry

iv)          transfer of £0.75m to the budget strategy reserve

c)    the position in relation to capital spend and the recommendation that Full Council approves the changes to the capital programme detailed in Appendix 4 of the report be noted

d)   the collection rates for NNDR, council tax and sales ledger be noted.