Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance

The report provides an update on the 2019/20 Quarter 1 revenue forecast outturn and an update on the Capital Programme. The Cabinet approved the report and recommendations at the extraordinary meeting held on 3 September 2019.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to note the report.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies, 0161 218 1025, jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Borough Treasurer submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on the 2019/20 Quarter 1 revenue forecast outturn and an update on the Capital Programme. The Cabinet had considered the report and approved the recommendations at its extraordinary meeting held on 3 September 2019.

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) attended the meeting to respond to questions.

The following comments were made/ issues raised:-

·         Clarification was sought on pension auto-enrolment. In response it was stated that the Council had set aside resources to fund auto-enrolment of staff in the pension fund. As employees were able to opt-out of enrolment, this had led to a less demand on resources than might otherwise have been the case.

·         Concerns were expressed that the Council had underspends in mental health despite widely known demands on services. In response the complexity of the commissioning responsibilities for mental health services was emphasised, but the need to ensure appropriate use of these resources was acknowledged.

·         Councillors welcomed the Manchester Airport Group dividend.

·         Disappointment was expressed that there was underutilisation of capital funding for schools, despite a previous Cabinet decision to allocate £25m. In response it was clarified that the £25m was potential borrowing against future capital grant income, and although no borrowing had made, this was not reflective of actual spend on building work that had been agreed but funded from grant monies directly. Other significant work was also in preparatory stages, and the issue of school capacity would be the subject of further discussion and reports in the future.

·         Clarification was sought on the use of budget surpluses. In response it was stated that where surpluses were achieved they would usually be held in reserves for use to support investment, or when deficits arose in other areas of activity to support cost pressures.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance

The report provides an update on the 2019/20 Quarter 1 revenue forecast outturn and an update on the Capital Programme.

Cabinet is asked to:

·         approve the virements to the Revenue Budget;

·         note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as at Quarter 1;

·         note the forecast position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme; and

·         note the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 1.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies, 0161 218 1025, jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider an update on the 2019/20 revenue forecast outturn and Capital Programme at the end of Quarter 1.

The Cabinet Member highlighted forecast surpluses on some budget areas, offset by some pressures in adults and children’s services. He highlighted possible future challenges surrounding a possible ‘No Deal Brexit’ and likely costs associated with recent flooding.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Quarter 1 2019/20 Budget Monitoring Update:

·      the virements to the Revenue Budget as set out in the report be approved;

·      the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2019/20 as at Quarter 1 be noted;

·      the forecast position for the 2019/20 Capital Programme be noted; and

·      the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 1 be noted.