Issue - meetings

Report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director of Corporate Resources and Customer Services advising of:

1)    The current position relating to the 2023/24 revenue budget.

2)    The current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2023/24.

3)    The monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of August 2023:

·       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.

The Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2025/26 was attached to the report at Appendix A.

Decisions Made:

That

Revenue Budget

(1)      the current position relating to the 2023/24 revenue budget be noted;

(2)      the actions being taken to refine forecasts and identify mitigating efficiencies to ensure each service achieves a balanced position, be noted;

(3)      the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2023/24 revenue budget be recognised, and the fact 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, be acknowledged;

Capital Programme

(4)      the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme, as set out in paragraph 7.1, be noted;

(5)      the latest capital expenditure position as at 31 August 2023 of £11.047m, as set out in paragraph 7.6; and the latest full year forecast is £66.536m, as set out in paragraph 7.7, be noted; and

(6)      the fact that capital resources will be managed by the Executive Director of 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, as set out in paragraphs 7.10 -7.12, be noted.

Reasons for the Decisions:

To ensure the Cabinet was informed of the current position in relation to the 2023/24 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 2023/24 and agreed allocations for future years.

To progress any changes that were 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 could be applied to capital schemes in the delivery of the Council’s overall capital strategy.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

Not applicable.