Issue - meetings

This report presents the service and financial performance of the Resources Directorate, covering April to July 2006 inclusive.

(i)         That the draft financial position be noted;

(ii)        That the interim performance achievements and comments be noted.

Members received a report which presented the service and financial performance of the Resources Directorate, covering April to July 2006 inclusive.

The latest financial forecast for the Directorate indicated a headline underspend figure of £67k (-0.1%). The report explained that whilst this looked satisfactory there were a number of issues that need to be drawn to Members’ attention.  Included in the underspend was a sum of £87k from the Financial Management System (FMS) project that would need to be carried forward to 2007/08.  This meant that there was an underlying overspend within the Directorate of £20k.  Furthermore the Corporate Management Team had requested the Directorate to identify in-year additional savings of £125k to help towards the Council's overall financial position. It was intended to offer £125k of the FMS project savings to do this, which would reduce Resources budgets by £125k this year and would lead to the need to identify further savings in order to create enough underspend to allow for the £87k carry forward to be funded.

The report explained that generally the performance of the department was continuing to improve and drew attention to the improvements in staff sickness, the progress on the Easy@York project, the improvements in the processing of Benefits claims and the improved financial position on Benefits.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised:

(i)   That the draft financial position be noted;

(ii)   That the interim performance achievements and comments be noted.

(iii)That Officers be thanked for their hard work.

Decision of the Executive Member

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

REASON:In accordance with budgetary and performance monitoring procedures.