Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Church.

The minutes from the meeting held on 20 May 2009 were agreed as a true record and signed by the Chair.

There were none.

There were none.

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

1.      It has been noted that there were no substantive comments concerning the Annual Governance Statement arising from the Audit Committee.

2.      The 2008/09 Annual Governance Statement has been reviewed and any concerns arising have been brought to the attention of the Council.

3.      Cabinet is to recommend to Council to adopt the Annual Governance Statement subject to any comments arising from 1 and 2 above.

As Leader of the Council, Councillor Woods presented the 2008/09 Annual Governance Statement to the Cabinet.  He stated that the Accounts and Audit Regulations 2003 as amended in 2006 required the approval and adoption of the Annual Governance Statement, copies of which were appended to the report.  It was noted that this had been considered by the Audit Committee and that no substantial comments had been made.

As the Portfolio for Finance, Councillor Perkins assured the Cabinet that the weaknesses highlighted in the Statement were being monitored and resolved.

RESOLVED

1.      That any comments on the Annual Governance Statement arising from the Audit Committee considerations be considered and it be noted that there had been no substantial comment made.

2.      That the 2008/09 Annual Governance Statement be reviewed and any concerns arising be brought to the attention of the Council.

3.      That it be recommend to Council to adopt the Annual Governance Statement subject to any comments arising from 1 and 2 above.

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

1.      The 2008/09 statement of accounts has been reviewed and any concerns arising that need to be brought to the attention of the Council have been indicated.

2.      Observations from Audit Committee have been considered.

3.      The revised general fund balance is noted.

4.      It is to be recommended to Council that the Director of Finance and Support, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Finance, be authorised to make any non-material adjustments to the accounts prior to external audit.

5.      Subject to any comments arising at 1 and 2 above, Council is to be recommended to adopt the 2008/09 statement of accounts.

Councillor Perkins, as the relevant Portfolio Holder, presented the 2008/09 Statement of Accounts.  He commented that the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account reserves had stood the Council in good stead to move forward into the next financial year.  He then pointed out that this year had seen the best close-down for some considerable time and, subject to some minor adjustments, the final version would be reviewed by the Audit Committee before coming back to Cabinet in September.

RESOLVED

1.      That following a review of the 2008/09 statement of accounts, any concerns arising that need to be brought to the attention of the Council be indicated.

2.      That observations from Audit Committee be considered.

3.      That the revised general fund balance is noted.

4.      That it be recommended to Council that the Director of Finance and Support, in consultation with the Portfolio holder for Finance, be authorised to make any non-material adjustments to the accounts prior to external audit.

5.      That Council be recommended to adopt the 2008/09 statement of accounts.

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

The following is noted:

1.      The outturn position for the Council’s capital programme for 2008-09 and how the expenditure was financed.

2.      The slippage of unfinished schemes from 2008-09 into the 2009-10 capital programme, and how the planned expenditure is to be funded.

3.      Funding issues arising in 2009-10 as a result of capital receipts shortfalls in 2008-09.

Councillor Perkins, as relevant Portfolio Holder, submitted a report advising of the outturn expenditure and funding position for the Council’s Capital Programme for 2008/09 and the slippage of unfinished schemes and unapplied funding from 2008/09 into the Council.  He drew attention to an item of slippage caused by a delay in the completion of the roofing contract owing to a contractor going out of business. It was further pointed out that the refurbishment of Abington Park Museum was subject to a grant of external funding.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet note:

1.      The outturn position for the Council’s capital programme for 2008-09 and how the expenditure was financed.

2.      The slippage of unfinished schemes from 2008-09 into the 2009-10 capital programme, and how the planned expenditure is to be funded.

3.      Funding issues arising in 2009-10 as a result of capital receipts shortfalls in 2008-09.

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

1.      The outturn position for the Housing Revenue Account is noted.

2.      The increase in the Capital Programme Reserve of £2m to £7m is approved, as is the setting up of a new HRA PFI Reserve of £175k.

As relevant Portfolio Holder, Councillor Perkins presented the report identifying the outturn position for the 2008/09 Housing Revenue Account (HRA).  He explained that rental income was higher than expected owing to a fall in housing stock sales and pointed out that a contribution onto earmarked reserves was being put towards achieving the Decent Homes Standard. It was noted that the overall reserves stood at £14 million.

RESOLVED

1.      That the outturn position for the Housing Revenue Account be noted.

2.      That the increase in the Capital Programme Reserve of £2m to £7m be approved, as well as the setting up of a new HRA PFI Reserve of £175k.

Report of the Director of Finance and Support

1.      The outturn position for the revenue General Fund is noted.

2.      The net movement in Earmarked Reserves of £329k as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report and summarised in the following table is noted:

Councillor Perkins, as relevant Portfolio Holder, submitted a report identifying the outturn position for the 2008/09 General Fund Revenue Account.  He advised that the final earmarked reserves stood at £8.2 million.  An explanation was given as to the technical adjustments in accounting standards, which had arisen from Local Government directives to ultimately converge Local Government accounting practices to be in line with standard commercial practices.

RESOLVED

1.      That the outturn position for the revenue General Fund be noted.

2.      That the net movement in Earmarked Reserves of £329k as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report and summarised in the following table be noted:

Report of the Assistant Chief Executive

The contents of the report are noted.

Councillor Hoare, as relevant Portfolio Holder, presented the report to Cabinet.  He explained that the figures for Best Value Performance (BVP) went back to 2003/04 in the report to show the improvement journey over the years and help identify where more work was still required. He highlighted the exceptional improvement in re-letting of Local Authority homes but accepted that improvements were still needed in domestic refuse collections.  Overall, the figures showed a steady journey of improvement and the Council’s performance management procedures were in place to continue to monitor future improvement to move forward in the right direction.

RESOLVED

That the contents of the report be noted.