Issue - meetings

This report combines performance and financial information for the Resources Directorate for Monitor 2, 2008/09.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                 That the current financial situation be noted.

(ii)               That Officers be thanked for the work that has been carried out.

(iii)             That departments bidding for IT developments be urged to ensure that they have the necessary resources in place to work with the IT department to support the successful and timely implementation of projects.

Decision of the Executive Member

That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring

                  procedures.

Members considered a report on performance and financial information for the Resources Directorate for Monitor 2, 2008/09.  The report included:

• A budget overview covering both revenue and capital budgets

·        An overview of key Directorate performance indicators

·        Information in relation to progress against Directorate priorities

The revised format of the report reflected the changes that were being implemented to improve the quality and consistency of financial reporting.  

It was noted that, based on the second review to 31 October 2008, the projected outturn position for the Resources Directorate for 2008/09 was an underspend of £421k.  An underspend in IT had contributed significantly to this figure.  Technical integration work in respect of the Social Care System replacement programme was now being undertaken in-house rather than by a third party and had resulted in substantially reduced costs.  Resourcing implications within Directorates had resulted in a number of IT development projects either not being completed within year as planned or being deferred completely until 2009/10. An underspend of £48k had resulted from the Single Assessment Process being deferred because the Directorate did not have the resources to implement the project in year. This was a joint project between Adult Social Services and the Primary Care Trust. 

Consideration was given to the progress against the detailed Directorate Priorities: 

• The Resources Restructure had recently been agreed by the Staffing Matters and Urgency Committee. 

• Good progress was being made in respect of the Financial Management System replacement.  The implementation date would be 1 April 2009.  Members asked if the new system would run alongside the old system for a period of time to ensure that a back-up was in place if problems arose.  Officers explained that the existing system would continue for the purpose of the closing of accounts for the 2008/09 financial year.  All transactions for the 2009/10 financial year onwards would be on the new system only.  The new system would be well tested prior to its implementation and no problems were envisaged.

• Northgate Kendrick Ash had been appointed as Performance Partner.  This was a three-year contract but payment was subject to targets being achieved.  A report would be going to the Executive outlining the process and a three-month scoping study would commence in January 2009. 

• Good progress was being made in relation to responding to previous Auditor comments regarding the completion of the final accounts.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)                 That the current financial situation be noted.

(ii)               That Officers be thanked for the work that has been carried out.

(iii)             That departments bidding for IT developments be urged to ensure that they have the necessary resources in place to work with the IT department to support the successful and timely implementation of projects.

Decision of the Executive Member

That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring

                  procedures.