Agenda item

(1)

the current estimated impact of COVID-19 on the 2020/21 Budget together with the key issues that will influence the final position; and that further government guidance is awaited on the additional support that will be provided to the Council which will inform the Council’s strategy for delivering financial sustainability be noted;

(2)

the financial risks associated with the delivery of the 2020/21 revenue budget and the material variations that are to be expected to the current estimates contained in the report be recognised, and it be agreed that subsequent reports provide updates and where appropriate remedial action plans as appropriate;

(3)

Authority be granted to the Leader of the Council to approve any further expenditure from the Emergency Fund following advice from the Chief Executive and s151 officer with any decisions being reported to future Cabinet meetings;

(4)

the government grant funding that has been received and that has been used to support the response to the pandemic and which has been distributed in accordance with central government guidance be noted;

(5)

the current forecast revenue outturn position for 2020/21 be noted;

(6)

the implementation of a remedial action plan to partially mitigate the forecast outturn position, and the principles to be adopted to meet the remaining forecast deficit be approved;

(7)

the temporary additional resources required as part of the demand management programme in respect of fostering, family finder and direct payments be approved and that this provision be reviewed at the end of Q1 in 2021/22 to confirm that the savings identified are being delivered; and

(8)

It be acknowledged that the forecast outturn position will continue to be reviewed to ensure a balanced forecast outturn position and financial sustainability can be achieved; and

(1)

the spending profiles across financial years for the approved Capital Programme (paragraph 7.1 of the report) be noted;

(2)

the proposed updates to the School’s Programme (paragraph 7.2 of the report) be approved;

(3)

Council be recommended to approve the revised Transport Allocations as shown in paragraph 7.3 of the report;

(4)

the latest capital expenditure position as at 30 June 2020 of £2.423m (paragraph 7.4.2 of the report) with the latest full year forecast of £35.825m (paragraph 7.5.1 of the report) be noted;

(5)

the explanations of variances to project budgets (paragraph 7.5.2 of the report) be noted;

(6)

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 (paragraph 7.6 of the report); and

(7)

in order to comply with the guidance set out by Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) in respect of the offer from central government of £1m to Southport as part of the Towns Fund, it be approved that the Southport Towns Fund Board will advise the Council of the project(s) that it is recommending and will be completed with the grant allocation and that this will be communicated to MHCLG via the Councils s151 officer as per the guidance; and  following approval this will be the subject of a recommendation to Members in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules (paragraph 7.7 of the report).