Decision details

The Cabinet considered the report of the Chief Finance Officer which provided details of the progress in the achievement of the approved savings for 2015/16 (and any residual savings carried forward from 2014/15); the financial and staffing capacity risks elsewhere within the budget; proposals for the provision of additional financial resources; the proposed addition of a number of Section 106 schemes into the Capital Programme; and the latest forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       the progress to date on the achievement of approved savings for 2015/16 and residual savings carried forward from previous years be noted;

(2)       the wider financial pressures being experienced in the remainder of the Budget be noted;

(3)       approval be given to the additional staffing and budget resources for social care purposes as set out in paragraph 4.3 of the report;

(4)       approval be given to the creation of a Cabinet Support Officer as outlined in paragraph 4.4 of the report and to approve the use of the 2014/15 surplus to meet the 2015/16 costs;

(5)       approval be given to the inclusion of additional Section 106 projects in the Capital Programme as outlined in paragraph 4.5 of the report subject to:

(i)         the deferral of the commuted sums for trees and greenspace in the Netherton and Orrell Ward to enable further consultations with the Ward Members and the Cabinet Member for Health and Wellbeing be given delegated authority to determine the agreed schemes within the available resources; and

(ii)        the deletion of the Haileybury Avenue commuted sums grass verges scheme in the Racecourse Retail Park because the works had already been completed.

(6)       the forecast position on the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates be noted.

Reasons for Decision:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the latest position on the achievement of savings for the current financial year and to identify wider budget pressures being experienced elsewhere in the budget. To provide an update on the forecast the outturn position on the collection of Council Tax and Business Rates. To highlight service staffing pressures and to seek additional resources to meet that demand. To include additional schemes financed from Section 106 monies into the Capital Programme

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

None.