Decision details

Revenue Budget Monitoring Quarter Three 2020-2021

Decision Maker: Cabinet (Resources) Panel

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: No

Purpose:

To provide a projection of the likely revenue outturn position for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Accounts, compared with the Council’s approved revenue budgets for 2020-2021.

Decision:

1.      That the use of £65,000 from the Regeneration Reserveto develop a business case for a hotel, including delivery and funding options, financial performance and disposal advice as detailed in paragraph 6.4 of the report be approved.

 

2.      That the contribution of £75,000 to the Regeneration Reserve for use on the development of the British Steel site in future years as detailed in paragraph 6.5 of the report be approved.

 

3.      That the use of £113,000 from the Efficiency Reserve to fund resources including a Manager, a Business Analyst and Developer to work on the Councillor Enquiries project as detailed at paragraph 6.6 of the report be approved.

 

4.      That the change of name of the 2020-2021 Budget Strategy Reserve to Future Years Budget Strategy Reserve to enable this reserve to hold funds to support the Budget Strategy in accordance with the approved medium-term financial strategy (MTFS) as detailed at paragraph 6.7 of the report be approved.

 

5.      That the establishment of supplementary expenditure budgets within the 2020-2021 approved budget as detailed in section 7.0 of the report for grant funded expenditure be approved.

 

6.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, and the Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, in consultation with the Director of Children’s Services to make payments in line with Government guidance and approve any necessary virements under the Winter Grants Scheme and Holiday Activities Programme.

 

7.      That 20 virements totalling £5.8 million, for transfers within directorates, as detailed in Appendix 4 to the report be approved.

 

8.      That the write-off of two Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £23,696.34 as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report be approved.

 

9.      That the write-off of one Council Tax debt totalling £5,222.08 as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report be approved.

 

10.   That the write-off of one Housing debt totalling £6,105.80 as detailed in Appendix 7 to the report be approved.

 

11. That it be noted that the Council has once again managed its money well and delivered within budget. Overall, the General Fund projected outturn for 2020-2021 is currently forecast as a relatively small underspend of £507,000 (excluding the impact of Covid-19).

 

12. That it be noted that it is anticipated that corporately held redundancy costs during 2020-2021 could be in the region of £1.5 million which can be met from efficiencies.

 

13. That it be noted that a £10.1 million surplus on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is projected compared with a budgeted surplus of £10.8 million as shown at Table 20 and in detail at Appendix 3 to the report. The projected reduction to the surplus of £720,000 would reduce redemption of debt by £720,000.

 

14. That it be noted that 34 sundry debt accounts totalling £6,278.52, as detailed in paragraph 10.3 of the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

 

15. That it be noted that 981 council tax accounts totalling £346,464.49, as detailed in paragraph 10.5 of the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

 

16. That it be noted that 27 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £130,452.02, as detailed in paragraph 10.6 of the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

 

17. That it be noted that eight housing benefit overpayments totalling £4,490.76 as detailed in paragraph 10.10 of the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

 

18. That it be noted that two debts relating to Business Improvement District (BID) totalling £746.69, as detailed in paragraph 10.7 of the report, have been approved for write off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.  

 

 

Report author: Mohammed Hasan

Publication date: 18/03/2021

Date of decision: 17/03/2021

Decided at meeting: 17/03/2021 - Cabinet (Resources) Panel

Accompanying Documents: