Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

Cabinet noted the report and the forecast under spend of £601k net of management action.

Councillor Mildren noted the current projected £601,000 underspend net of management action and referred to the current overspend forecast for Environment and Culture.  He also noted the situation of replacing permanent staff as they left with temporary staff and the situation in respect of the Concessionary Fares Scheme and the difficulty of predicting whether take-up in the next financial year would be the same as for the current financial year. 

Councillor Clarke referred to the proposed closure of public toilets and the introduction of the so called “Richmond Scheme” and noted that currently nothing seemed to be happening, although the funding for the public toilets would shortly end.  He also referred to savings on grounds maintenance and the reductions in grass cutting and queried whether the Council had tendered for these services, assuming that these reductions would be in place. 

The Chair commented that the opportunity for Councillors to address Cabinet was in respect of the recommendations on the report and that the specific questions that had been raised would not be answered. 

The Director of Finance and Support submitted a report, which identified the projected outturn position for the current financial year and further background information.  The report also included management action to be taken in response to the forecast and to minimise the impact on the Council’s General Fund Reserves at the end of the current financial year.  The Director noted that the overspend in Environment and Culture was reducing and that some of the overspend was related to delivering the budget set for 2010/11.  In respect of concessionary fares, the Director noted that the bad winter weather had led to lower than anticipated reimbursement of concessionary fares.  The Director also noted that in respect of NNDR payments, although this was a one off figure, the Council would benefit from reduced rates in future years.  In answer to a question, the Director clarified that the forecast £601,000 was not an actual monetary saving; this would most likely reduce, once all the year end processes and adjustments were completed. 

RESOLVED     That the report and forecast underspend of £601,000 net of management action be noted.