Issue - meetings

This report provides details of the headline issues from the second quarterly finance and performance monitor of 2010-11, covering the period from 1 April to 30 September 2010, with more up-to-date data provided where available. 

Note: the above report was published on-line with this agenda on 8 November 2010.

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

REASON:      So that corrective action can be taken on these issues by Members and directorates.

                        (ii)        That the finance issues identified in the report be noted and that the use of the strategy designed to reduced the current forecasted pressures be approved.

REASON:      So that the Council’s expenditure can be contained within budget, where possible, by the end of the financial year.

                        (iii)       That a non-recurring release from Contingency of £400k be approved to support services currently suffering the effects of the economic downturn, in accordance with Financial Regulations and with reference to paragraph 41 of the report.

REASON:      To ensure that the City Strategy budget is sufficiently funded.

                        (iv)       That the proposal to amend car parking charges, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be approved, and that the St Leonards Place car park be designated as short stay with effect from January 2011.

REASON:      To ensure that the increase in VAT rate does not have a negative impact on Council revenue.

                        (v)        That Officers report to the next Executive meeting on the implications of the pending increase in VAT for the Council’s budget, together with suggested remedial measures.

Members considered a report which provided details of the headline issues from the Council’s second quarterly finance and performance monitor for 2010-11, covering the period from 1 April to 30 September 2010.

Further changes to performance indicators had been announced by central government since the last quarterly monitor, including removing the statutory requirement to produce Local Area Agreements (LAAs) and replacing the National Indicator Set (NIS) with a single list of ‘performance data’, expected to be implemented in April 2011.  To reflect the emphasis of the new arrangements on accessibility and accountability, the report focused on priority areas which would be meaningful to local residents.  Details were set out in paragraphs 5 to 18 of the report and included improvements in the number of residents helped to live independently, the speed of child social care arrangements, educational attainment, waste management, affordable housing, and a reduction in child obesity levels, unemployment and homelessness.  Additional information on action being taken to tackle staff sickness absence was circulated at the meeting.

With regard to finance, pressures of £3,072k were forecast at the mid-year point, an improvement of £970k on the first quarterly monitor.  This position was inclusive of £2,287k of in-year government grant funding cuts.  Members were asked to consider a request for £400k from contingency to support City Strategy income budgets suffering from the effects of the economic downturn, together with increases to off-street car parking charges, as detailed in Annex 1 to the report, to fund lost revenue due to the forthcoming rise in VAT rates.

Having noted the comments of the Labour Group Spokespersons on this item, it was

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

REASON:      So that corrective action can be taken on these issues by Members and directorates.

                        (ii)        That the finance issues identified in the report be noted and that the use of the strategy designed to reduced the current forecasted pressures be approved. ¹

REASON:      So that the Council’s expenditure can be contained within budget, where possible, by the end of the financial year.

                        (iii)       That a non-recurring release from Contingency of £400k be approved to support services currently suffering the effects of the economic downturn, in accordance with Financial Regulations and with reference to paragraph 41 of the report. ²

REASON:      To ensure that the City Strategy budget is sufficiently funded.

                        (iv)       That the proposal to amend car parking charges, as set out in Annex 1 to the report, be approved, and that the St Leonards Place car park be designated as short stay with effect from January 2011. ³

REASON:      To ensure that the increase in VAT rate does not have a negative impact on Council revenue.

                        (v)        That Officers report to the next Executive meeting on the implications of the pending increase in VAT for the Council’s budget, together with suggested remedial measures. ⁴