Issue - meetings

The Chief Operating Officer to present a report which provides details of the council’s overall finance and performance position for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021, together with an overview of any emerging issues.

Resolved:  (i)      That the finance and performance information, and the actions needed to manage the financial position, be noted.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to write off bad debts as outlined in paragraphs 26 to 30 of the report.

                   (iii)     That the two elements of the MSA procurement be awarded as follows, as outlined in paragraphs 28-33:

a)   The Dark Fire contract to be awarded to City Fibre for 15 (with option of plus 3 plus 2) years;

b)   The Managed Services contract North to be awarded for 7 (with option of plus 3x1) years.

Reason:     To ensure that expenditure is kept within the approved budget.

The Chief Finance Officer presented a report which provided details of the council’s overall finance and performance position for the period 1 April 2021 to 30 June 2021, together with an overview of any emerging issues.

The report highlighted a number of known pressures that would need to be carefully managed throughout the year, the continuing impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, and the significant ongoing pressures on children’s and adults’ social care budgets. 

The gross financial pressures facing the council were projected at £7.8m.  After mitigation and further action, as outlined in the report and in the directorate summaries at Annex 1, it was considered that this could be brought down to a net position of £5m.  The council had £6.9m general reserves to call upon should the outturn not be within the approved budget. Member approval was sought to write off three debts above £100k, as detailed in paragraphs 23-26, and to award contracts in respect of ICT procurement, as explained in paragraphs 28-33.  In respect of service delivery, performance remained high despite the challenges faced over the past year and continued to compare favourably against areas similar to York.  Performance indicators had also remained positive, as summarised in paragraph 36 of the report and detailed in Annex 2.

In supporting the recommendations, and in response to comments under Public Participation, the Executive Member for Finance & Performance highlighted the work being done to support social care services and the extra funding allocated to this area (paragraphs 8 and 13) and noted that levels of cycling had dropped from a higher baseline in York than in other places.  The Chair drew attention to discussions at the City of York Outbreak Management Board, and the Board’s agreement to lobby the Department of Health for more funding.

Resolved:  (i)      That the finance and performance information, and the actions needed to manage the financial position, be noted.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to write off bad debts as outlined in paragraphs 26 to 30 of the report.

                   (iii)     That the two elements of the MSA procurement be awarded as follows, as outlined in paragraphs 28-33:

a)   The Dark Fire contract to be awarded to City Fibre for 15 (with option of plus 3 plus 2) years;

b)   The Managed Services contract North to be awarded for 7 (with option of plus 3x1) years.

Reason:     To ensure that expenditure is kept within the approved budget.