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.

3.       The monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of September 2023:

•                                  The forecast expenditure to year end;

•                                  Variations against the approved budgets and an explanation of those variations for consideration by Members; and

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

4.       The latest performance management information for 2022/23.

5.       The latest corporate risk management information for 2023/23.

6.       A proposed update to the scheme relating to the discretionary payments of the Council Tax Energy Rebate.

The Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services reported that this was a consolidated report showing the levels of performance, risk issues and the latest financial forecast for the first six months of 2022/23 and similar reports would be submitted to the Cabinet on a quarterly basis in future.

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 would continue to be reviewed, and remedial actions put in place, to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved;

(4)      approval be given to the utilisation of up to £0.630m from the Transforming Sefton Reserve to fund the costs in 2022/23 relating to the recruitment of 20 International Social Workers within Children’s Social Care.

(5)      the current position relating to the High Needs budget be noted and it be acknowledged 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.

Capital Programme

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

(7)      the latest capital expenditure position as at 30 September 2022 of £13.465m (paragraph 7.5) and the latest full year forecast of £51.753m (paragraph 8.6) be noted;

(8)      the programme outputs and progress to September (paragraphs 8.10 – 8.17) be noted;

(9)      approval be given to a supplementary capital estimate of £1m for the Sustainable Warmth Scheme, fully funded by grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (paragraph 8.18);

(10)    the Council be recommended to give approval to a supplementary capital estimate of £0.350m for the essential repairs and maintenance at two Leisure Centres funded by Prudential Borrowing (paragraph 8.23);

(13)    it be noted that capital resources would 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 7.24-7.26);

Performance

(14)   the latest position relating to key performance measures be noted;

Risk Management

(15)    the latest position relating to key risk management areas be noted; and

Council Tax Energy Rebate – Discretionary Fund

(16)    approval be given to the proposed change to the scheme relating to the distribution of payments from the Council Tax Energy Rebate Discretionary Fund.

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.

To ensure Cabinet are informed of key performance information and risk management areas.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.