Agenda and draft minutes

[The Chair to welcome everyone to the meeting.]

Cllr Zee Russell, Chair, welcomed everyone to the meeting and advised it was also being live streamed to the press and public. Cllr Potter advised that she was not expecting any exempt or restricted items on the agenda. A recording of the meeting would be available for viewing on the Council’s website at a future date.

[The Chair will explain how the meeting will proceed, how questions are to be asked and any matters of meeting etiquette.]

Cllr Russell explained the protocol to be followed during the meeting for asking questions and reminded everyone that microphones should be muted and cameras off unless they have been invited to speak.

No apologies were received.

There were no declarations of interest recorded.

[Alison Shannon and Michelle Howell to present the report]. 

The Chair invited Alison Shannon, Chief Accountant, and Michelle Howell, Finance Business Partner, to present their report to the working group.

The Chief Accountant advised the group that were being invited to comment on the appropriateness of the specific reserves held by the Council, and to make recommendations to Cabinet that any reserves no longer required for their original purpose should be transferred to the Council’s Corporate Reserves as appropriate. The draft findings and recommendations from the group will be presented to Our Council Scrutiny Panel meeting on 19 January 2022 for approval and then onto Cabinet as part of Council’s budget process.

The Chief Accountant advised the group that Council has financial reserves which are set aside for future events. The meeting will focus on the management of the funds set aside for specific reserves as detailed in the tables appended to the report which details the balances and specific reserves held by the Council as of 31 March 2021, which were included in the Council’s audited Statement of Accounts.

The Chief Accountant agreed to give a brief overview of each of the reserves listed in Appendix 1 and then to give members the opportunity to comment and or ask questions.

The following is a summary of the presentation and comments from the working group.

Adults Social Care Reserve

The Chief Accountant advised the working group that the funding has been put into reserve to support the transformation of the service and deal with any future funding pressures. There is a plan to use some of the reserve during this financial year and the balance will be used in future years.

No comments from the group.

Safeguarding Partnership Board

The Chief Accountant advised the group that the reserve is made up of contributions from partners that are represented on the Safeguarding Partnership Board. The surplus will be used to support any ongoing improvements the Board may wish to make, or for instance, if additional activity is required, for example additional serious case reviews which are in excess of the annual budget.

No comments from the group.

HRA Homelessness

The Chief Accountant advised the group that the reserve will be used by the end of the financial year to support initiatives that work to prevent homelessness.

No comments from the group.

Climate Change Reserve

The Chief Accountant advised the group that the reserve was set up to support the Council's net carbon zero reduction target by 2028 and some of it will be used by the end of the financial year.

No comments from the group.

Kickstart Loans

The Chief Accountant advised the group that the funds will be used by the end of the financial year to assist with private sector housing improvements the panel queried if the funds will be used for the housing programme.

The Chief Accountant commented that the reserve is funded by the recycling of funds secured following the repayment of KickStart Loans and confirmed they would be used to support the housing capital programme.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.