Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Strategic Director for Corporate Resources.

Agreed:

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves (where applicable):

(1)  the General Fund forecast financial position for the 2024 financial year;

(2)  the supplementary budgets and budget transfers as detailed in paragraph 8.9 and Appendix 3 of the report;

(3)  the outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2024;

(4)  the creditors payments performance; and

(5)  the One Exeter programme update.

Reason for Decision: As set out in the report.

The Executive received the report on the overall financial position of the General Fund Revenue Budgets for the 2024/25 financial year after six month and to approve additional expenditure required during the financial year.

Particular reference was made to:-

·    section 8.2 of the report outlined the financial outcome of the senior leadership restructure. The original proposal had projected a reduction in costs of £388,110 during this financial year and following some interim arrangements, it was now projected as £389,000;

·    there were some areas of concern on the commercial property income, which related to bad debt policy and would be addressed as part of the new arrangements;

·    another area of concern was on temporary accommodation which was a continued national issue and planning income also remained a challenge; and

·    the report was seeking Council approval for supplementary budgets, for staffing the household support fund, money would be transferred to an earmarked reserve.

During the discussion, Executive Members raised the following points and questions:-

·         the income from the CCTV monitoring service was welcomed;

·         Members had recently received an invitation to visit the CCTV Centre, which was always a welcome visit;

·         whilst there was a reported £200,000 underspend for asset maintenance budget for leisure and support, they were older buildings and there was still work that needed to be undertaken;

·         were the RAMM service savings from the energy consultant review part of the PSDS project? and

·         the reference to the historic vacancy within the waterways engineering area had now been filled and the post holder would commence in January 2025

Councillors Jobson, Mitchell and Moore spoke on the item as opposition group leaders and raised the following points and questions:-

·         clarification was sought on the car parking price increase having a detrimental effect on business rates and at what point would lowering charges to make a saving be considered?

·         could more information be provided on the overspend pension strain payments;

·         planning Services showed a net overspend of £200,000, had there been any impact from charging for pre-application of advice or any impact anticipated during the year?

·         how will the Council address the unachievable future target of £280,000, considering it wouldn’t be eligible for the portion of the Devon County Council share scheme for food waste?

·         was there still a heavy reliance on using agency staff? and

·         was there any more detail available about the use of the secondary reclamation facilities?

Leader advised that a Members Briefing for an update on food waste would be arranged.

The Leader moved the recommendations, which were seconded by Councillor Wright, voted upon, and CARRIED unanimously.

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves (where applicable):

(1)  the General Fund forecast financial position for the 2024 financial year;

(2)  the supplementary budgets and budget transfers as detailed in paragraph 8.9 and Appendix 3 of the report;

(3)  the outstanding Sundry Debt position as at September 2024;

(4)  the creditors payments performance; and

(5)  the One Exeter programme update.