Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance and Assets (copy enclosed) detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed budget strategy.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       notes the budgets set for 2014/15 and progress against the agreed budget strategy;

(b)       approves the transfer of £20k to the Coroner Service Reserve, and

(c)        that the Council write to all Assembly Members in North Wales to ask for their position on the reduction in highway funding for Denbighshire and the allocation of funding for the M4 improvements.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report detailing the latest financial position and progress against the agreed budget strategy.  He provided a summary of the Council’s financial position as follows –

·        a net under spend on the revenue budget of £327k was forecast for service and corporate budgets

·        savings of £7.1m were agreed as part of the budget and at this stage 90% had been achieved with 10% in progress

·        highlighted other key variances from budgets or savings targets relating to individual service areas, and

·        a general update on the Housing Revenue Account, Housing Capital Plan and the Capital Plan (including the Corporate Plan element).

Cabinet was also asked to approve a £20k transfer to the Coroner Service Reserve.

Councillor David Smith provided an update on Phase 3 of the West Rhyl Sea Defence Project and members noted it would soon be included in the Capital Plan.  As Chair of TAITH, Councillor Smith reported upon letters he had sent to the Business Minister regarding concerns over income from the North and Mid Wales Trunk Road Agency and to the Finance Minister regarding concerns about LAGBI funding, for which he was awaiting responses.  Councillor Eryl Williams reiterated his previous concerns regarding the implications of the allocation of funding for the M4 improvements and asked that letters be sent to Assembly Members in that regard.  In relation to the reduction in the Supporting People Grant, Councillor Thompson-Hill reported upon the setting up of a reserve to manage the issue.

RESOLVED that Cabinet –

(a)       notes the budgets set for 2014/15 and progress against the agreed budget strategy;

(b)       approves the transfer of £20k to the Coroner Service Reserve, and

(c)        that the Council write to all Assembly Members in North Wales to ask for their position on the reduction in highway funding for Denbighshire and the allocation of funding for the M4 improvements.