Decision details

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services which provided details of:

1.       The current position relating to the 2022/23 revenue budget;

2.       The current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2022/23; and

3.       The monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of November 2022:

·      The forecast expenditure to year end.

·      Variations against the approved budgets and an explanation of those variations for consideration by Members.

·      Updates to spending profiles and proposed amendments to capital budgets necessary to ensure the efficient delivery of capital projects are also presented for approval.

Decision Made: That:

Revenue Budget

(1)      the current position relating to the 2022/23 revenue budget be noted;

(2)      the actions being taken to offset the budget pressures being faced in 2022/23 be noted;

(3)      the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2022/23 revenue budget be recognised and it be acknowledged that the forecast outturn position will continue to be reviewed, and remedial actions put in place, to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved;

(4)      the current position relating to the High Needs budget be noted and that officers are currently reviewing all options available to the Council to mitigate the additional pressure and to make the overall High Needs budget financially sustainable;

Additional Adult Social Care Grant Funding

(5)      the Council be recommended to give approval to a supplementary revenue estimate of £1.2m to be fully funded by the Better Care Fund Discharge Grant;

(6)      it be noted that of the three grants received for Improving Technology in Care Settings totalling £2.171m, Sefton has been initially allocated £0.222m (Digitisation of Social Care Records £0.147m and SITT (Supporting Independence Through Technology) £0.075m);

(7)      the Council be recommended to approve that Sefton Council passports grants for Improving Technology in Care Settings to partner agencies in line with agreed allocations;

(8)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary revenue estimate of £2.171m to be fully funded by the grants outlined within the report;

Capital Programme

(9)      the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme (paragraph 8.1) be noted;

(10)    the latest capital expenditure position as at 30 November 2022 of

£22.639m (paragraph 8.16); and the latest full year forecast of £47.141m (paragraph 8.17) be noted;

(11)    approval be given to a supplementary capital estimate of £0.779m for additional devolved formula grant funding for schools to improve energy efficiency in 2022-23 (paragraph 8.5);

(12)    the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary capital estimate of £0.540m for the Ainsdale Coastal Gateway funded by £0.490m of capital receipts and £0.050m of external grant funding (paragraph 8.12);

(13)    approval be given to a supplementary capital estimate of £0.861m for the Sustainable Warmth Programme funded by grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (paragraph 8.15); and

(14)    it be noted that capital resources will be managed by the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services to ensure the capital programme remains fully funded and that capital funding arrangements secure the maximum financial benefit to the Council (paragraphs 8.20-8.22).

Reasons for the Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the current position in relation to the 2022/23 revenue budget.

To provide an updated forecast of the outturn position with regard to the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates.

To keep members informed of the progress of the Capital Programme against the profiled budget for 2022/23 and agreed allocations for future years.

To progress any changes that are required in order to maintain a relevant and accurate budget profile necessary for effective monitoring of the Capital Programme.

To approve any updates to funding resources so that they can be applied to capital schemes in the delivery of the Council’s overall capital strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.