Agenda item

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 July 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.

4)    The latest performance management information for 2023/24.

 

The following Appendices were attached to the report:

 

·       Appendix A – Capital Programme 2023/24 to 2025/26

·       Appendix B – Performance Information 2023/24 – Quarter 1

 

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 noted 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;

 

(4)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary revenue estimate for £2.319m for Adult Social Care funded from the Market Sustainability Improvement Fund (MSIF): Workforce Fund;

 

(5)      decisions on the use of the Market Sustainability Improvement Fund (MSIF): Workforce Fund be delegated to the Executive Director of Adult Social Care and Health, in consultation with the Cabinet Member - Adult Social Care;

 

(6)      a supplementary revenue estimate of £782,414 (2023/24 £360,745 and 2024/25 £421,669) for Place Based Business Support, to be fully funded by the grant allocation from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority funded from the UK Shared Prosperity Funding (UKSPF), be approved;

 

(7)      the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary revenue estimate for £1.000m for Education Excellence funded from the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme grant.

 

Capital Programme

 

(8)      the spending profiles across financial years for the approved capital programme, as set out in paragraph 8.1 of the report, be noted;

 

(9)      the latest capital expenditure position as at 31 July 2023 of £7.195m, as set out in paragraph 8.16 of the report; and the latest full year forecast of £63.999m, as set out in paragraph 8.17 of the report, be noted;

 

(10)    the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary capital estimate for £1.300m for the Local Authority Housing Fund, funded by grant from the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC);

 

(11)    a supplementary capital estimate for £0.628m for the Local Transport Capital Block Funding – Pothole Fund funded by grant from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, be approved;

 

(12)    a supplementary capital estimate for £0.242m for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) funded by grant from DLUHC, be approved;

 

(13)    a virement of £0.375m from the previously approved revenue budget for the UKSPF to the capital programme, be approved;

 

(14)    the fact that the Council will procure an updated Stock Condition Survey for Crosby Library, be noted;

 

(15)    the fact 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, as set out in paragraphs 8.21-8.23 of the report, be noted;

 

Performance

 

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

 

the Council is recommended to:

 

Revenue Budget

 

(17)    approve a supplementary revenue estimate for £2.319m for Adult Social Care funded from the Market Sustainability Improvement Fund (MSIF): Workforce Fund;

 

(18)    approve a supplementary revenue estimate for £1.000m for Education Excellence funded from the Delivering Better Value in SEND Programme grant, subject to final approval from the Department for Education; and

 

Capital Programme

 

(19)    approve a supplementary capital estimate for £1.300m for the Local Authority Housing Fund funded by grant from DLUHC.

 

Reasons for the Decision:

 

To ensure the Cabinet is 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 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 the Cabinet is informed of key performance information.

 

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

 

None.