Issue - meetings

Councillor Russell Holland, the Deputy Leader of the Council and Vice Chair of Cabinet, and the Director of Finance submitted a joint report providing Cabinet with the 2019/20 revenue budget forecast out-turn.

The Deputy Leader introduced the report by advising Cabinet that without mitigating measures, the Council would face a year-end deficit, hence was vital for all to adhere to their budgets and implement necessary savings measures.  The Deputy Leader welcomed the Chancellor of the Exchequer’s Spending Review and undertook to bring a report on its implications to the next Cabinet meeting.

Resolved:

1)   That the 2019/20 revenue budget forecast out-turn for each service area set out in Table 1 and Appendix 1 be noted;

2)   To note that the Corporate Management Team will develop plans to mitigate the current forecast overspend;

3)   That the virements set out in Appendix 2.3 be approved.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.

Councillor Russell Holland, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Education, and Skills, and the Head of Finance (Deputy Section 151 Officer) (on behalf of the Director of Finance), submitted a joint report presenting the 2019/20 revenue budget forecast out-turn.

Councillor Holland drew Members’ attention in particular to the challenges in delivering a balanced budget over the year as well as to the funding issues that would be addressed in the future report on the DSG. In response to a question from Councillor Heenan, he clarified that the figure for overspend was a projection for the end of the financial year if no mitigating actions were taken.

Resolved:

1)   That the 2019/20 revenue budget forecast out-turn for each service area set out in Table 1 and Appendix 1 be noted;

2)   That it be noted that the Corporate Management Team will develop plans to mitigate the current forecast overspend;

3)   That the Head of Education be requested to provide an update to Cabinet, by October 2019, on the steps being taken to manage the DSG High Needs Budget in consultation with the Schools Forum.

4)   That the virements set out in Appendix 2 be approved; and

5)   That the changes to the capital programme as set out in section 4 be approved.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.