Decision details

RESOLVED:

1.1.         To note the General Fund revenue budget outturn is forecast to breakeven at Period 6, after the forecast utilisation of £63m capitalisation directions requested from DLUHC, £3.5m of the corporate risk contingency budget and £2.2m of the corporate economic demand pressures budget. It is not planned to utilise the risk contingency budget and directorates will work to bring the service directorate positions within budget.

1.2.         To approve the movement of £2.2m economic demand pressures budget from Corporate to the Housing directorate as set out in paragraph 4.95. This is a budget transfer within directorates, not a change to overall budget, and is in line with the intended purpose of the £5.5m economic demand pressures budget agreed at full Council in March 2023.

1.3.         To note the progress in MTFS savings achievement as set out in paragraph 4.105.

1.4.         To note the work that has commenced on the Council’s Transformation Programme as set out from paragraph 4.100.

1.5.         To note the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) revenue budget outturn is forecast to overspend by £12.0m.

1.6.         To note the General Fund capital programme 2023-24 forecast underspend of £17.6m against the revised capital budget of £144.7m.

1.7.         To note the HRA capital programme 2023-24 forecast overspend of £5.7m against the revised capital budget of £33.2m.

1.8.         To note the Council’s historic borrowing and debt burden continues to be critical to the sustainability of the Council’s revenue budget. Dialogue with the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities (DLUHC) continues, and the Council is seeking further financial support from Government in regards to its level of indebtedness and balancing the budget to ensure it can deliver sustainable local government services.

1.9.         To note that the Council continues to operate Spend Control Panels to ensure that tight financial control and assurance oversight are maintained.

1.10.     To note that current forecasts are based on the best available information at the time and will be subject to review and change during the financial year.