Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Treasury Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 22 June 2011 and comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Treasury Services was submitted, advising Members of the overall final financial performance of the HRA & General Fund Revenue Budget for the 2010/11 financial year ended 31 March 2011.

The Head of Treasury Services reported on the overall increase in the HRA working balance and net underspend in operating expenditure. He identified the main Service Committee variations in the General Fund expenditure for the financial year, including the savings attributable to the new sports facilities management contract and the surplus achieved in the recycling budget.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting of 22 June 2011 and their support and comments were noted.

Members noted the 97.5% collection rate for Council Tax achieved in the year and the position in respect of outstanding debt and creditor payment performance. They were pleased to note that savings of over £1 million had been achieved during 2010/11 enabling over £348,000 to be returned to the working balance.

In response to a query regarding the identified pension strain repayments, members were advised that this resulted from staff redundancies but costs would be recovered from savings in the staffing budget.  A member queried the position with regard to the proposed Saturday morning opening of the Customer Services Centre. The Director Corporate Services responded that, following negotiations with the staff and trade unions, it was being proposed that this be undertaken on a six month trial basis within existing budgetary provisions.  Formal approval would be sought for any permanent extension, if appropriate, in light of the operation of the pilot scheme.

Executive noted the report and recommended Council to approve:-

(1)        the net transfer of £409,949 from Earmarked Reserves as detailed in paragraph 3.14 of the report;

(2)        supplementary budgets totalling £147,170 as detailed in paragraph 3.10 of the report;

(3)        the Earmarked Reserves at 31 March 2011;

(4)        the Council Tax account and collection rate;

(5)        that the outstanding sundry debt and aged debt analysis be noted;

(6)        that the creditor payments performance be noted;

(7)        by taking into account the overall financial position of the Council as set out in paragraph 3.9 of the report, the General Fund working balance as at 31 March 2011, be approved at £4,192,897; and

(8)        that the Housing Revenue Account working balance at 31 March 2011 is approved at £3,917,868.

The report of the Head of Treasury Services was submitted, advising Members of the overall final financial performance of the HRA & General Fund Revenue Budget for the 2010/11 financial year ended 31 March 2011.

The Head of Treasury Services reported on the overall increase in the HRA working balance and net underspend in operating expenditure. He identified the main Service Committee variations in the General Fund expenditure for the financial year, including the savings attributable to the new sports facilities management contract and the surplus achieved in the recycling budget.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting of 22 June 2011 and their support and comments were noted.

Members noted the 97.5% collection rate for Council Tax achieved in the year and the position in respect of outstanding debt and creditor payment performance. They were pleased to note that savings of over £1 million had been achieved during 2010/11 enabling over £348,000 to be returned to the working balance.

In response to a query regarding the identified pension strain repayments, members were advised that this resulted from staff redundancies but costs would be recovered from savings in the staffing budget.  A member queried the position with regard to the proposed Saturday morning opening of the Customer Services Centre. The Director Corporate Services responded that, following negotiations with the staff and trade unions, it was being proposed that this be undertaken on a six month trial basis within existing budgetary provisions.  Formal approval would be sought for any permanent extension, if appropriate, in light of the operation of the pilot scheme.

RECOMMENDED that the report is noted and that Council approves:-

(1)        the net transfer of £409,949 from Earmarked Reserves as detailed in paragraph 3.14 of the report;

(2)        supplementary budgets totalling £147,170 as detailed in paragraph 3.10 of the report;

(3)        the Earmarked Reserves at 31 March 2011;

(4)        the Council Tax account and collection rate;

(5)        that the outstanding sundry debt and aged debt analysis be noted;

(6)        that the creditor payments performance be noted;

(7)        by taking into account the overall financial position of the Council as set out in paragraph 3.9 of the report, the General Fund working balance as at 31 March 2011, be approved at £4,192,897; and

(8)        that the Housing Revenue Account working balance at 31 March 2011 is approved at £3,917,868.

(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 final financial performance of the HRA & General Fund Revenue Budget for the 2010/11 financial year ended 31 March 2011.

He advised that there was an underspend in the Housing Revenue Account of £1,714,508 and an underspend in the General Fund of £1,083,199. Members were updated on the variances in the Service Committees including the new contract for the management of the sports facilities and the budget variance in the Benefits paid and Subsidy received.

The Head of Treasury Services stated that at 31 March 2010 the General Fund working balance was £3,844,811 with a surplus of £348,086 as at 31 March 2011, leaving the current balance at £4,192,897. Group Leaders and Portfolio Holders had discussed the benefits of subjecting the Council's new organisational structure to a systemic review of procedures and practices and it was proposed to recommend to Executive that it earmark a sum of £175,000 for this purpose.

In answer to Member’s questions, the Head of Treasury Services stated that the new contract for the management of the sport facilities represented a genuine saving and the medium term financial plan forecast was that the General Fund Working balance was anticipated to be £2 million by 2014/15.

The Scrutiny Committee – Resources noted the report and requested that Council note the overview of the Resources Budget for 2010/11 and approve the following:-

(1)        the net transfer of £409,949 from Earmarked Reserves, as detailed in paragraph 3.14 of the circulated report;

(2)        the supplementary budgets totalling £147,170, as detailed in paragraph 3.10 of the circulated report;

(3)        the Earmarked Reserves at 31 March 2011;

(4)               the Council Tax account and collection rate;

(5)        the outstanding sundry debt and aged debt analysis;

(6)        the creditor payments performance;

(7)        having regard to the General Fund working balance at 31 March 2011 of £4,192,897, the overall financial position of the Council as set out in paragraph 3.9 of the circulated report; and

(8)        the Housing Revenue Account working balance at 31 March 2011 of £3,917,868.

(Report circulated)