Decision details

(i)        to note the following:-

(1)     Progress made to date to achieve budgeted savings;

(2)     General Fund and HRA financial performance to the end of Quarter 3 as detailed in Appendix 1;

(3)     Common Good financial performance to the end of Quarter 3 as detailed in Appendix 3;

(4)     General Fund forecast revenue and capital positions as detailed in Appendix 2;

(5)     HRA forecast revenue and capital positions as detailed in Appendix 2;

(6)     Common Good forecast position as detailed in Appendix 2; and

(7)     Group Entities forecast revenue position as detailed in Appendix 4.

(ii)       to note the information provided by the Chief Officer – Finance in the report that the Council has continued to reduce expenditure in line with the Committee instruction however new and continuing pressures in key areas (such as the increased pay award offered in December 2018; and needs associated with looked after children) are not likely to be fully offset by the year end. This means that there is a forecast deficit on the General Fund for the year;

(iii)      to agree that the Council continue to minimise expenditure in the remaining weeks of the year to offset the cost pressures in the system;

(iv)      to note that if the final outturn exceeds budget for the year, that this is met from the Council’s uncommitted balances;

(vi)      to approve the increases in payments to foster carers, adopters and associated services as detailed in Appendix 5 of the report; and

(vii)     to instruct officers to circulate additional information to the Committee in relation to “Free From Serious Disrepair” figures in Appendix 2.