Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Treasury Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 23 November 2011 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

(Minute 110)

The report of the Head of Treasury Services was submitted, advising Members of the overall projected financial position of the General Fund Revenue Budget after six months, for the 2011/12 financial year.

The Head of Treasury Services outlined the main factors in relation to the underspend in the Scrutiny Committee – Community budget and the overspend in relation to the other two Scrutiny budgets.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting and their comments were noted.

Executive noted:-

(1)        the General Fund forecast financial position for the 2011/12 financial year;

(2)        the HRA forecast financial position for the 2011/12 financial year;

(3)        the outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2011; and

(4)        the creditors’ payments performance.

The report of the Head of Treasury Services was submitted, advising Members of the overall projected financial position of the General Fund Revenue Budget after six months, for the 2011/12 financial year.

The Head of Treasury Services outlined the main factors in relation to the underspend in the Scrutiny Committee – Community budget and the overspend in relation to the other two Scrutiny Committee budgets.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting and their comments were noted.

RESOLVED to note:-

(1)        the General Fund forecast financial position for the 2011/12 financial year;

(2)        the HRA forecast financial position for the 2011/12 financial year;

(3)        the outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2011; and

(4)        the creditors’ payments performance.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Treasury Services – report circulated

The Head of Treasury Services presented the report advising Members of the overall projected financial position of the General Fund Revenue Budget after six months, for the 2011/12 financial year.

He advised that the Service Committee budgets showed a forecast overspend of £384,220 and advised that the Scrutiny Committee - Community had an underspend of £188,620, Scrutiny Committee - Economy an overspend of £445,500 and Scrutiny Committee - Resources an overspend of £127,340.

Members were updated on the other financial variations including the New Home Bonus, the Housing Revenue Account, progress on savings, outstanding sundry debt and creditor payments performance.

In response to Members’ questions, the Head of Treasury Services stated that there had been some increase in the car park income in October and it was anticipated that there would be an increase in income in November and December; the introduction of charging for prime site public conveniences was for the Bus Station toilets; whilst the Legal Services £6,000 savings for the joint procurement of research and precedents had not been fully achieved it was anticipated that some savings would be achieved through joint procurement this financial year; the cost for the closure of the Archaeological Field Unit would not appear in future years; Councils do have the ability to take a charge over a property to secure repayment of council tax although it would be difficult to know when a property was being sold; Housing were working with landlords to bring empty properties back into use and owners of empty properties had to pay 90% of Council tax.

The Scrutiny Committee - Resources supported the report and recommended approval by Council of the:-

(1)             General Fund forecast financial position for the 2011/12 financial year;

(2)             HRA forecast financial position for 2011/12 financial year;

(3)             outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2011; and

(4)             the creditors’ payments performance.

(Report circulated)