Decision details

To note the latest information on the council’s revenue budget for 2017-18, including introducing a fee to recover council costs for schools transferring to academy plans and update on the agreement for the utilisation of the supplementary Improved Better Care Fund.

The report had not been circulated five clear days in advance of the meeting. The chair agreed to accept the report as urgent because the emerging improving financial position of the council was of significant interest, particularly, in the context of the 2016-17 general fund budget pressures previously reported to cabinet (18 July 2017: Revenue Monitoring Report and Treasury Management 2016-17 Outturn Report).

RESOLVED:

1.  That the following be noted:

·  the general fund outturn forecast for 2017-18 of £0.407m (table 1, paragraph 11 of the report) after the application of the supplementary improved better care fund grant (IBCF) as agreed by the health and well being board on 11 September

·  the reduced but continuing pressures on the children’s and adults’ social care of £4.229m; prior to the application of the IBCF, these cost pressures were forecast to be £11.7m (paragraphs 12 to 21 of the report)

·  the adverse variance in public health of £0.6m due to continued demand pressures in sexual health services (paragraphs 22 to 26 of the report)

·  cost pressures in housing and modernisation in temporary accommodation, No Recourse to Public Funds and corporate facilities management (paragraphs 28 to 44 of the report)

·  the £4m contingency is utilised in full to mitigate the total impact of cost pressures (paragraph 48 of the report)

·  the general fund outturn forecast including the final projected outturn position assumes a total net reduction in reserves of £7.1m (table 2 of the report)

·  the forecast reduction in reserves includes the full allocation of remaining Dedicated Schools Grant Reserve of £1,249 (table 2, paragraph 62 of the report)

·  the housing revenue account forecast set out in table 2, paragraphs 50 to 57 of the report

·  the treasury management activity to date in 2017-18 (paragraphs 63  to 67 of the report).

2.  That the general fund budget movements that exceed £250,000, as shown in Appendix A of the report be approved.

3.  That the general fund budget movements that are less than £250,000 as shown in Appendix A of the report be noted.