Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive.

The update will build on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update report presented to the Cabinet meeting in October to ensure the MTFP forecasts and assumptions continue to be robust and based on the latest information. This will include an update on the financial impact of announcements made since October including:

·         The ongoing national and local response to the COVID19 pandemic; and

·         The Government’s 2020 Spending Review.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended to comment on and note the report.

Officer contact: Michael Cullen on 0161 474 4631 or email: michael.cullen@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and the Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) building on the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) Update report presented to the Cabinet meeting in October to ensure the MTFP forecasts and assumptions continued to be robust and based on the latest information.

The report included an update on the financial impact of announcements made since October including the ongoing national and local response to the COVID19 pandemic; and the Government’s 2020 Spending Review.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Care and Health (Councillor Jude Wells) attended the meeting to respond to questions from the Scrutiny Committee.  

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought regarding the £25m gap and future financing within Adult Social Care. In response, it was stated that Adult Social Care has not had a financial settlement despite Stockport managing its finance very well. It was also noted Stockport were still waiting on the methodology from the Government, but there was a figure of £23.3m overspend for next year 2021/22 identified, but that would now be just over £8m following some funding from Government for the next financial year. Regarding the longer term there would be a more financial challenge going forward to 2022/23

·         It was commented that consideration needed to be given to the Council Tax Bands and the ordinary person that needed to pay it.

The Chair enquired about when the detailed proposals would be submitted to the Committee. In response, it was stated that the details would be submitted to a future meeting as part of the budget setting process of the Council in February 2021 and shared informally due to the Scrutiny cycle with the Committee.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.