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 notes the budgets set for 2014/15 and progress against the agreed budget strategy.

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 £705k was forecast for service and corporate budgets

·        savings of £7.1m were agreed as part of the budget and at this stage 96% had been achieved – there was cash contingency to cover any savings not fully achieved within the financial year (around £100k may be required this year)

·        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).

During debate the following issues were raised –

·        Councillor David Smith highlighted the overspends in Highways and Environmental Services advising that school transport was outside their control and that the car parking review had been completed and was being submitted to the Member Area Groups for consideration.  He also reiterated his previous concerns that significantly less was being spent on highway maintenance leaving a shortfall of approximately £800k to maintain the quality of the county’s roads and achieve the Corporate Plan outcome for highways.  Consequently he asked that highways be given priority when considering underspends at the end of the financial year.  It was suggested that a schedule of highway works be drawn up to identify the works required in order to deliver the Corporate Plan.  The Chief Executive reminded members that Council had agreed that priority be given to delivering the Corporate Plan and the operating assumption was that when funding became available it would be allocated for this purpose and ensure highway improvements were maintained

·        it was noted that the initial outturn report would be available in April with the final figures available mid-June and the Corporate Plan would be reviewed in light of those figures.  A debate on the future of service underspends would also need to take place at the end of the financial year taking into account the Council’s priorities which could be included as part of Cabinet’s regular finance report

·        Councillor Huw Jones highlighted the lack of Welsh speaking social workers in Community and Support Services and Councillor Eryl Williams reported upon the same problem in education and teaching which he believed was a general problem across Wales which needed to be addressed

·        an explanation of the historical procedural irregularities in the procurement process for the pedestrian and cycle bridge for the Rhyl Harbour development was provided which had resulted in a claw back of grant funding – assurances were given that robust procedures were now in place to prevent reoccurrence.  Delivery of the £10.5m project in budget was commended.

RESOLVED that Cabinet notes the budgets set for 2014/15 and progress against the agreed budget strategy.