Issue - meetings

This report provides details of the headline performance issues from the second performance monitor period to 31 October 2008 and presents the latest projection of the Council’s revenue out-turn for 2008/09.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the performance issues identified in the report be noted.

REASON:      So that corrective action on these issues can be addressed by Corporate Management Team and directorates.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to fund the following supplementary estimate requests from the contingency fund:

a)£72k for court costs fees for child protection cases, as set out in paragraph 26 and Annex 2 to the report.

b)                 £70k for legal fees, as set out in Annex 2

c)                  £40k for fostering costs, with an update report on the full costs of fostering, the importance of which is appreciated, to be brought to a future meeting.

                        (iii)       That the remaining supplementary estimate requests in Annex 2, amounting to £84k, not be approved.

REASON:      In accordance with the Executive’s Constitutional powers to make decisions on the level and granting of supplementary estimates.

                        (iv)       That the request of the Executive Member for City Strategy to use the capital element of the additional Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (£135k) to fund structural maintenance currently charged to revenue, as set out in paragraph 59, be agreed.

REASON:      In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures.

Members considered a report which provided details of the headline performance issues from the second performance monitor period up to 31 October 2008 and presented the latest projection of the Council’s revenue out-turn for 2008/09.

With regard to performance issues, improvements had been made in respect of 62% of key performance indicators so far this year, with 65% on target.  However, the LAA indicators were causing some concern, with only 52% of those reported showing improvement at this point.  Details were provided in Annex 1 to the report and in paragraph 17.  Key improvements were noted in the following areas:

• York schools (now ranked 3^rd nationally)
• The timeliness of children’s social care assessments
• Adult social care self directed support
• Collection rates for household waste and recycling
• Meeting the affordable homes target
• Reducing road traffic accident casualities
• The timeliness of invoice payments
• Corporate health.

Areas of concern included

• The looked after children population
• The size of the NEET (not in education, employment or training) population
• The effect of the economic downturn on home owners and businesses.

With regard to financial issues, the current projection was for a net underspend of 1,528k in the year on the General Fund budget.  The level of reserves for CPA purposes was forecast to stand at £9,225k.  It was noted that the sum of £2,576k set aside in the Venture Fund was fully committed on the Administration Accommodation and Easy@york projects.  There was also a potential call on reserves of £200k as a result of the York High School fire.  Members were asked to consider:

·        Requests for supplementary estimates submitted by the Executive Member for Leisure, Culture and Children’s Services (detailed in paragraph 26 and Annex 2) and

·        A request from the Executive Member for City Strategy to use the capital element of the additional Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (£135k) to fund structural maintenance (detailed in paragraph 39).

Having noted the comments of the Shadow Executive on this item, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the performance issues identified in the report be noted.

REASON:      So that corrective action on these issues can be addressed by Corporate Management Team and directorates.

                        (ii)        That approval be given to fund the following supplementary estimate requests from the contingency fund:

a)£72k for court costs fees for child protection cases, as set out in paragraph 26 and Annex 2 to the report.

b)                 £70k for legal fees, as set out in Annex 2

c)                  £40k for fostering costs (of the total £80k requested), with an update report on the full costs of fostering, the importance of which is appreciated, to be brought to a future meeting.¹

                        (iii)       That the remaining supplementary estimate requests in Annex 2, amounting to £84k, not be approved.

REASON:      In accordance with the Executive’s Constitutional powers to make decisions on the level and granting of supplementary estimates.

                        (iv)       That the request of the Executive Member for City Strategy to use the capital element of the additional Housing and Planning Delivery Grant (£135k) to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 159