Issue - meetings

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

The report provides an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of July 2021 (Quarter 1+). The report also provides an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account 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 2021/22 as at Quarter 1+;

c)    Note the HRA and DSG forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 1+;

d)   Note the forecast position for the 2021/22 Capital Programme; and

e)    Note the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 1+.

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 an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of July 2021 (Quarter 1+) which included an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and updates to the Capital Programme

RESOLVED – (1) That the virements to the Revenue Budget be approved.

(2) That the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 1+ be noted.

(3) That the HRA and DSG forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 1+ be noted.

(4) That the forecast position for the 2021/22 Capital Programme be noted.

(5) That the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 1+ be noted.

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

The report provides an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of July 2021 (Quarter 1+). The report also provides an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and updates to the Capital Programme.

The Scrutiny Committee is recommended 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 an update on the revenue budget forecast outturn for the period to the end of July 2021 (Quarter 1+). The report also provided an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and the Capital Programme.

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:-

·         With regard to the virements presented for approval by Cabinet, it was confirmed that there was a contingency set aside for inflation.

·         With regard to the Resources, Commissioning and Governance Portfolio, there was currently a balanced position against a budget of £25.151m in 2021/22. This had been achieved through the indicative utilisation of the Covid-19 financial scarring contingency of £5.005m and further information was requested on the expected income losses from the Council’s strategic commercial investments in the Investment and Development Account.

·         With regard to the Economy and Regeneration portfolio, it was hoped that the forecast income losses from the services at Stockport Business and Innovation Centre and Merchants House (£0.056m) were temporary problems which would be alleviated when economic activity picked up in Stockport.

·         With regard to the Children, Family Services and Education portfolio, it was clarified that the deficit in the Children with Disabilities area related to an increase in both respite care provision and direct payments as a result of group provision for short breaks for Children with Disabilities not being able to take place due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

·         A surplus of £0.118m at Quarter 1+ in the Education Service area was highlighted as being largely due to a national shortage of staff and ability to recruit within the Education Psychology service.

·         Concern was expressed about the high cost of placements outside the borough for young people with severe learning difficulties.

·         The overall non-cash limit was highlighted, forecasting a surplus of £3.336m of which £2.666m was the balance from the Covid-19 Financial Scarring Impact contingency and a surplus in relation to waste collection costs due to this being funded temporarily by non-recurrent Covid-19 grants and a surplus budget due to changes in the waste disposal levy.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.