Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services

The Cabinet considered the report of the Executive Director for Corporate Resources and Customer Services and were advised of:

(1)              the current estimated financial impact of COVID-19 on the 2020/21 Budget;

(2)        the current forecast revenue outturn position for the Council for 2020/21;

(3)        the current forecast on Council Tax and Business Rates collection for 2020/21; and

(4)        the monitoring position of the Council’s capital programme to the end of December 2020:

·       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.

Decisions Made:    That:

(A)              in respect of the Revenue Budget:

(1)       the current estimated impact of COVID-19 on the 2020/21 Budget together with the key issues that will influence the final position, 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 this report be recognised, and it be agreed subsequent reports provide updates and where appropriate remedial actions plans as appropriate;

(3)       the current forecast revenue outturn position for 2020/21, be noted;

(4)       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;

(5)       the Government Rapid Testing Fund grant that has been received to support Lateral Flow Device testing at care homes and which will be distributed in accordance with central government guidance, be noted;

(6)       that decisions on the use of 20% of the Rapid Testing Fund be    delegated to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Adult Social Care and Health and Wellbeing, be approved;

(7)       the Council’s successful bid for £0.500m from the Community Champions Fund to enable the Council and VCF sector to support people shown to be most at risk from COVID-19 to follow safer behaviours and reduce the impact of the virus on themselves and those around them, be noted; and

(8)       the transfer of £0.500m from the Redundancy Reserve to the Transforming Sefton Reserve in order to fund the Cost of Change budget. This transfer has been approved by the Section 151 officer in consultation with the Chief Executive in line with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules, be noted.

(B)          in respect of the Capital Programme:

(1)    the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme (paragraph 6.1.1) be noted;

(2)       the latest capital expenditure position as at 31 December 2020 of £13.466m (paragraph 6.2.1) with the latest full year forecast of £29.713m (paragraph 6.3.1) be noted;

(3)       the explanations of variances to project budgets (paragraph 6.2.3) be noted;

(4)       approval of a supplementary capital estimate for £0.155m for phase one of the scheme at Crosby Marine Lake (paragraph 6.4) be recommended to Council, be approved;

(5)       approval of a supplementary capital estimate for £0.250m for Litherland Sports Park Improvements (paragraph 6.5) be recommended to Council, be approved;

(6)       approval of a supplementary capital estimate for £0.164m for Bootle Golf Driving Range (paragraph 6.6) be recommended to Council, be approved, be approved; and

(7)       the Executive Director Corporate Resources and Customer Services will manage capital resources to ensure the capital programme remains fully funded and that capital funding arrangements secure the maximum financial benefit to the Council (paragraph 6.7.3), be noted.

Reasons for the Decisions:

To ensure Cabinet are informed of the forecast outturn position for the 2020/21 Revenue Budget as at the end of December 2020, including delivery of a remedial action plan, and 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 2019/20 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