Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Finance

The report and the forecast over spend of £415k net of management action are noted.

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and expressed concern that the overspend was quoted ‘net of management action’ and this gave a misleading impression. Referring to the £¾ million overspend in Environment and Culture, he suggested that even with the proposed management action, there would not be a serious dent in this figure.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet, again referring to the overspend in Environment and Culture and making suggestions in relation to potential savings in grass cutting and grounds maintenance.  He also asked about progress on the previously proposed Richmond Project, relating to the closure of public toilets.

Councillor Perkins, as Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented the report to Cabinet.  He explained the recommendations and commented that the predicted overspend had been reduced from the previous month.  A net figure was necessary so that it could be seen that solutions were being presented rather than problems.  He pointed out that even with £8 million having been taken out of the budget, there had been no deterioration in service, as was borne out by the performance figures discussed earlier.  He made an assurance of the Administration’s determination to improve this Council’s performance and offer better value for money for the taxpayers of the town.  He appreciated the difficulties with Environment and Culture and resolved that further solutions were being worked on. He then gave details of the over- and under- spends in the other directorates.

Councillor B Hoare acknowledged that officers were meeting the challenges to make the significant budget savings required and Councillor B Markham pointed out that the overspend figure was simply a prediction of the end of year figure.  He further commented that the Richmond Project was irrelevant at the moment because no toilets had, in fact, been closed.

RESOLVED

That the report and the forecast over spend of £415k net of management action be noted.