Issue - meetings

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

The report and the forecast under spend of £283k net of management action are noted

Councillor Clarke addressed Cabinet and an error in Appendix 2 of the report was noted. Referring to the proposed move from Cliftonville House, Councillor Clarke asked what would happen to the recently purchased furniture.  He made further comment about a number of the projected savings outlined in the report and requested information about the risk of redundancies.

Councillor Mildren addressed Cabinet and was pleased to note that the Council was on course to balance the books, in spite of pessimism in Leisure, Culture and Environment.  He was pleased to see that corrective action was being taken.  He also pointed out that members’ expenses showed as an underspend in the figures.

Councillor Hawkins addressed Cabinet. She expressed concern about the efficiency savings relating to community centres, particularly Abington Community Centre, in her Ward of Eastfield, which she contended was under resourced and overused. She expressed confusion that the report outlined an underspend, and yet there were no plans to improve and extend community facilities, especially in Eastfield.

Councillor Perkins, as Portfolio Holder for Finance, presented the report to Cabinet.  He pointed out that the report was consistent with activity throughout the year. He then explained that an underspend in one area did not automatically release money to be spent in another area. In response to Councillor Clarke’s comment, he confirmed that there had been no expenditure on office furniture over and above normal annual equipment renewal. It was pointed out that the shortfall in members’ expenses related mainly to training and was not connected to members’ allowances.

RESOLVED

That the report and the forecast under spend of £283k net of management action be noted.