Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: That the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee provided comments and recommended to Cabinet the Third Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023-24.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet note this report.

(2)   That Cabinet approves the adjustments to the 2023/24 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a £415k decrease in net expenditure.

(3)   That Cabinet approves the changes to the 2024/25 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a total £411k increase in net expenditure.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budgetary framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process.

Audio recording – 1 hour 11 minutes 43 seconds

The Service Director – Resources presented the report entitled ‘Third Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023-24’ and highlighted that:

·       The revenue budget movement to the end of December 2023 was highlighted in table 3 of the report.

·       There were various staff underspends that related to unfilled roles, part of the underspend had been used for temporary staff and for some of the remaining it had been requested to be carried over into later years.

·       There had been an increase in fly tipping and this had put pressure on the budget.

·       The details and savings of the carried forward budget were indicated in table 3 of the report.

·       The corporate financial health indicators were detailed in table 4 of the report and this highlighted 4 red indicators and 2 green indicators. It was unlikely that these would change before year end.

The following Members asked questions:

·       Councillor Tamsin Thomas

·       Councillor Chris Lucas

·       Councillor Tom Plater

In response to questions the Service Director – Resources stated that:

·       There had been an increase of fly tipping incidents and the associated costs of clearing the area. More details would be supplied outside the meeting.

·       The Parking Enforcement team generally issued more PCN’s when they were fully staffed and would target hot spots for bad parking. A penalty notice could only be issued if there were incidents of bad parking.

·       There would be a new Leisure contractor in April 2024, it was expected after some bedding time that the usage would then increase.

Councillor Tamsin Thomas proposed and Councillor Chris Lucas seconded and, following a vote, it was:

RESOLVED: That the Finance, Audit and Risk Committee provided comments and recommended to Cabinet the Third Quarter Revenue Budget Monitoring 2023-24.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO CABINET:

(1)   That Cabinet note this report.

(2)   That Cabinet approves the adjustments to the 2023/24 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a £415k decrease in net expenditure.

(3)   That Cabinet approves the changes to the 2024/25 General Fund budget, as identified in table 3 and paragraph 8.2, a total £411k increase in net expenditure.

REASON FOR RECOMMENDATIONS: Members are able to monitor, make adjustments within the overall budgetary framework and request appropriate action of Services who do not meet the budget targets set as part of the Corporate Business Planning process.