Issue - meetings

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme. The report was submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2021.

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

Officer Contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025 or email:  jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director (Corporate and Support Services) and Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme. The report had been submitted to the meeting of the Cabinet held on 9 February 2021.

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

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         A Member enquired how the Council’s income in the overall balances had been affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The deficit had mainly been offset by Covid-19 grants received from the Government totalling £24.421m, reducing the Council’s revenue budget deficit to £0.344m.

·         Clarification was provided that appropriations from and to Reserves had enabled the budget to remain unaltered.

·         Concern was expressed that the Council was carrying forward a deficit on the Dedicated Schools Grant of £1.302m from 2019/20 which would be added to this year’s DSG deficit. A formal budget recovery plan had not been constructed at this point due to the DSG Review not coming to any firm conclusions or recommendations until June 2021 so as not to pre-judge the consultation process.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.

To consider a joint report of the Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance.

The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme.

The Cabinet is recommended to:-

a)    Approve the virements to the Revenue Budget;

b)   Note the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2020/21 as at Quarter 3;

c)    Note the HRA, DSG and Collection Fund forecast positions for 2020/21 as at Quarter 3;

d)   Note the latest position on the financial impact of Covid-19;

e)    Note the funding allocation from the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund and agree the identified investment areas;

f)     Note the forecast position for the 2020/21 Capital Programme; and

g)   Note the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 3.

Officer contact: Jonathan Davies on 0161 218 1025  or email:  jonathan.davies@stockport.gov.uk

The Deputy Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the Quarter 3 revenue forecast outturn including an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme.

RESOLVED – That with regard to the 2020/21 Quarter 3 Budget Monitoring Update, the Cabinet has:-

(a)          Approved the virements to the Revenue Budget;

(b)          Noted the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2020/21 as at Quarter 3;

(c)          Noted the HRA, DSG and Collection Fund forecast positions for 2020/21 as at Quarter 3

(d)          Noted the latest position on the financial impact of Covid-19;

(e)          Noted the funding allocation from the Government’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund and agree the identified investment areas;

(f)            Noted the forecast position for the 2020/21 Capital Programme; and

(g)               Noted the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 3.