Issue - meetings

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

The purpose of the report is to provide a summary of the Quarter 2+ revenue forecast outturn incorporating the business as usual forecast, which also reflects the impact of Covid-19 as response to the recovery process continues. The report also provides an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme. The report also provides updates on budget virements to be incorporated into the 2022/23 budget setting process.

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 2+;

c)    Note the update on the Council’s positive investments;

d)   Note the update on the Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) investment plan;

e)    Note the update on Reserves;

f)     Note the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 2+;

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

h)   Note the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 2+.

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

The Deputy Leader of the Council & Cabinet Member for Resources, Commissioning & Governance (Councillor Tom McGee) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing a summary of the Quarter 2+ revenue forecast outturn incorporating the business as usual forecast, which also reflected the impact of Covid-19 as response to the recovery process continues. The report also provides an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), Housing Revenue Account (HRA), Collection Fund and updates to the Capital Programme in addition to updates on budget virements to be incorporated into the 2022/23 budget setting process.

RESOLVED – That:-

·         approval be given to the virements to the Revenue Budget;

·         the Cash Limit and Non-Cash Limit forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 2+ be noted;

·         the update on the Council’s positive investments be noted;

·         the update on the Council’s Contain Outbreak Management Fund (COMF) investment plan be noted;

·         the update on Reserves be noted;

·         the Dedicated Schools Grant, Housing Revenue Account and Collection Fund forecast positions for 2021/22 as at Quarter 2+ be noted;

·         the forecast position for the 2021/22 Capital Programme be noted; and

·         the changes to the Capital Programme and re-phasing of schemes during Quarter 2+ be noted.

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

The report provides an update on variations to the revenue budget forecast outturn and the Capital Programme since the Q2 Mid-Year update report. The report also includes an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and Collection Fund.

Th report acts as an intermediary to the Quarter 3 Update reports that will be presented to scrutiny committees at the end of February and beginning of March. As these reports follow the Full Council Budget meeting on 24 February 2022, it is necessary to provide a Quarter 2+ update to help inform the budget setting process. 

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) & Deputy Chief Executive submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an update on variations to the revenue budget forecast outturn and the Capital Programme since the Quarter 2 Mid-Year Update Report. The report also included an update on the Dedicated Schools Grant, the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) and the Collection Fund.

The report acted as an intermediary to the Quarter 3 Update reports that would be presented to scrutiny committees at the end of February and beginning of March. As these reports followed the Budget Council meeting on 24 February 2022, it would be necessary to provide a Quarter 2+ update to help inform the budget setting proves.

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:-

·         More details were requested on the Council’s arrangements with its current energy providers.

·         Concern was expressed that there was a surplus within the Social Care Locality Team staffing budgets of £0.154m as a result of the service currently carrying approximately twenty vacancies, a combination of social worker and senior practitioner posts. The Scrutiny Committee was advised that work on proposals to ensure robustness and retention of social work staff was continuing.

·         In response to a Member’s question, the Scrutiny Committee was advised that the vacant posts in the Social Care Locality Team had been vacant for some time and were not necessarily frontline staff, and that the Council had invested in targeted, preventative social care measures aimed at promoting independence.

RESOLVED – That the report be noted.