Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of Councillors Chris Kane and

Tom Munro.

To note any urgent items of business which the Chairman has consented to being considered under the provisions of Section 100(B) 4(b) of the Local Government Act 1972.

There was no urgent business to be considered at the meeting.

Members should declare the existence and nature of any Disclosable Pecuniary Interest and Non Statutory Interest as defined by the Members’ Code of Conduct in respect of:

a)  any business on the agenda

b)  any urgent additional items to be considered

c)  any matters arising out of those items

and if appropriate, withdraw from the meeting at the relevant time.

There were no declarations of interest made.

To consider the minutes of the last meeting held on 26^th July 2023.

Moved by Councillor David Bennett and seconded by Councillor Justin Gilbody

RESOLVED that the minutes of a Finance and Corporate Overview Scrutiny

Committee held on 26th July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

(Members should contact the officer whose name appears on the List

of Key Decisions for any further information. NB: If Members wish to

discuss an exempt report under this item, the meeting will need to

move into exempt business and exclude the public in accordance with

the Local Government (Access to Information) Act 1985 and Local

Government Act 1972, Part 1, Schedule 12a for that part of the

meeting only).

Committee considered the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in

private document.

RESOLVED that the List of Key Decisions and items to be considered in private

document be noted.

The Section 151 Officer updated Members on the outturn position of the Council for the 2022/23 financial year. Following the meeting of the Finance and Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee the report would also be presented to Executive on 11th September 2023.

The Council had published its draft statement of accounts in respect of 2022/23, and this was now subject to the independent audit from Mazars, the Council’s external auditors. Until the accounts were agreed by the external auditors, they were still subject to amendment.

It was noted that an increasing number of residents within the district were struggling with the continued increase in the cost of living with the addition of still recovering financially from the effects of the Covid 19 pandemic.

Paragraph 2.13 of the report detailed the various financial support schemes that were provided by the Government to help households during 2022/23. The table showed the amount paid to the Council as a billing authority against the amount that was paid out.

Moved by Councillor Justin Gilbody and seconded by Councillor Sally Renshaw

RESOLVED that:

·       the outturn position in respect of the 2022/23 financial year be noted;

·       (2) the transfers to earmarked reserves of £1.955m and £0.043m as outlined in detail in paragraphs 2.3 and 2.17 of the report, be noted;

·       (3) the proposed carry forward of capital budgets detailed in appendix 4 to the report, totalling £10.173m, be noted.

(Section 151 Officer)

The Section 151 Officer updated Members on the current financial position following the quarter 1 monitoring exercise.

It was noted that a number of Council services were transferred to Dragonfly

Developments on 1st April 2023. Following this, the Council would make payments to Dragonfly Developments in line with the Service Level Agreements. The services transferred were:

·       Economic Development

·       Facilities Management

·       Property/Commercial Asset Management

·       Property Services and Estates

·       Repairs and Maintenance

·       Tourism

The General Fund Revenue Account Summary was attached as appendix 1 to the report. The original budget for 2023/24 showed a deficit of £0.018m - the current budget showed that this had reduced to £0.054m surplus after the increase in council tax and various other small movements.

The Housing Revenue Account summary for the first quarter of 2023/24 was

attached as appendix 3 to the report. The original budget for 2023/24 showed a balanced budget with neither a surplus or deficit, and this continued to be the case within the current budget.

It was noted that at the end of the first quarter there was an adverse variance of £0.211m caused by a reduction in income due to a higher level of void properties than budgeted for. The budget estimate was 3% but the position at the end of quarter 1 was 3.64%.

Moved by Councillor David Bennett and seconded by Councillor Sally Renshaw

RESOLVED that:

(1)  the monitoring position of the General Fund at the end of the first quarter as detailed in Appendix 1 to the report, (a net favourable variance of £0.512m against the profiled budget), and the key issues highlighted within the report be noted;

(2)  the position on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA), the Capital Programme and Treasury Management at the end of the first quarter, Appendices 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6 to the report, be noted.

(Section 151 Officer)

The Information, Engagement & Performance Manager updated Members on

performance against the Ambition Plan Targets for April 2023 to June 2023.

Out of the 31 targets, 20 (65%) were on track, 2 (6%) had achieved their outturn

for 2022/23, 1 (3%) was under review, and 8 (26%) had achieved their outturns previously.

Out of the 50 performance indicators, 36 (72%) had a positive outturn, 12 (24%)

had a negative outturn, and 2 (4%) were within target.

Appendices to the report provided a detailed breakdown of targets by service area, and a detailed breakdown of negative performance indicators, which

included an explanation of why each target had not been met.

Moved by Councillor Justin Gilbody and seconded by Councillor David Bennett

RESOLVED that the quarterly outturns against the Council Ambition 2020-2024

targets and relevant performance indicators be noted.

Committee considered their work programme 2023/24.

It was noted that the programme may be subject to change should additional

reports/presentations be required, or if items needed to be rearranged for alternative dates.

RESOLVED that the Finance and Corporate Overview Scrutiny Committee Work

Programme 2023/24 be noted.

The meeting concluded at 14:40 hours.