Issue - meetings

[To provide an integrated finance and performance update against the Relighting Our City priorities, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy; and to provide the draft budget strategy for 2022-2023]

1.      That the ongoing delivery of the Relighting Our City recovery priorities, including aligning our resources and activity to continue to improve performance and outcomes be endorsed.

2.      That the draft budget strategy for 2022-2023 be approved.

3.      That the use of £817,000 from the Transformation Reserve to fund various transformation work as detailed in paragraph 11.3 of the report be approved.

4.      That 31 virements totalling £7.4 million, for transfers within directorates, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report be approved.

5.      That the write-off of one Housing debt totalling £6,419.73 as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report be approved.

6.      That any underspends identified in 2021-2022 are transferred to a specific reserve to support the 2022-2023 Budget Strategy and reduce the level of capital receipts to pay for revenue transformation.

7.      That the establishment of supplementary expenditure budgets within 2021-2022 approved budget as detailed in Section 10 of the report for grant funded expenditure be approved.

8.      That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing to allocate grants from the Better Mental Health Fund in line with the conditions of grant. 

9.      That it be noted that early indications are the outturn for 2021-2022 general fund would be within budget.

10.   That it be noted that early indications are the outturn for 2021-2022 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would be within budget.

11.   That it be noted that alongside preparation for the 2022-2023 budget, work would continue to identify measures which would provide a sustainable medium term strategy.

12.   That it be noted that 14 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £137,382.83, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

13.   That it be noted that 592 council tax accounts totalling £188,150.96, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

14.   That it be noted that 16 housing benefit overpayments totalling £5,232.34 as detailed in Appendix 6 to 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 55 sundry debt accounts totalling £14,857.47, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

16.   The ongoing work to integrate finance and performance information which would continue to be developed, reporting to Cabinet (Resources) Panel / Cabinet on a quarterly basis be noted.

Councillor Ian Brookfield outlined the key points from the integrated finance and performance update report against the Council’s Relighting Our City recovery priorities, and the Medium Term Financial Strategy. The report also included the draft budget strategy for 2022-2023, with reference to current information about the in-year budget monitoring. Councillor Ian Brookfield reported that the overriding message from the report was that the Council’s finances are run well. This had been achieved against a backdrop of the Council making £¼ billion of savings during the years of austerity. There would be difficult times ahead for the city, including dealing with long lasting and damaging effects from the Covid pandemic. The Council’s finances would continue to be managed well, but it would be helpful to the Council if there was stability in local government finances with the government making two or three years financial settlements. He also suggested that the Council needed a recognition of the 18 months it had gone through. 

Resolved:

1.    That the ongoing delivery of the Relighting Our City recovery priorities, including aligning our resources and activity to continue to improve performance and outcomes be endorsed.

2.    That the draft budget strategy for 2022-2023 be approved.

3.    That the use of £817,000 from the Transformation Reserve to fund various transformation work as detailed in paragraph 11.3 of the report be approved.

4.    That 31 virements totalling £7.4 million, for transfers within directorates, as detailed in Appendix 5 to the report be approved.

5.    That the write-off of one Housing debt totalling £6,419.73 as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report be approved.

6.    That any underspends identified in 2021-2022 are transferred to a specific reserve to support the 2022-2023 Budget Strategy and reduce the level of capital receipts to pay for revenue transformation.

7.    That the establishment of supplementary expenditure budgets within 2021-2022 approved budget as detailed in Section 10 of the report for grant funded expenditure be approved.

8.    That authority be delegated to the Director of Public Health and Wellbeing to allocate grants from the Better Mental Health Fund in line with the conditions of grant. 

9.    That it be noted that early indications are the outturn for 2021-2022 general fund would be within budget.

10.That it be noted that early indications are the outturn for 2021-2022 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would be within budget.

11.That it be noted that alongside preparation for the 2022-2023 budget, work would continue to identify measures which would provide a sustainable medium term strategy.

12.That it be noted that 14 Non-Domestic Rates (NDR) debts totalling £137,382.83, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

13.That it be noted that 592 council tax accounts totalling £188,150.96, as detailed in Appendix 6 to the report, have been approved for write-off by the Director of Finance in accordance with the Council’s Financial Procedure Rules.

14.That it be noted  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7