Issue - items at meetings - KD 4944 - Quarterly Revenue Monitoring

Issue - meetings

KD 4944 - Quarterly Revenue Monitoring

Meeting: 11/09/2019 - Cabinet (Item 6)

6 Revenue Monitoring 2019/20: Quarter 1 (June 2019) pdf icon PDF 748 KB

A report from the Executive Director – Resources is attached. (Key decision – reference number 4944)

(Report No.71)

(7.30 – 7.35 pm)

Minutes:

Councillor Mary Maguire (Cabinet Member for Finance and Procurement) introduced the report of the Executive Director – Resources (No.71) setting out the Council’s revenue budget monitoring position based on information to the end of June 2019.

 

NOTED

 

1.            That after the application of capital receipts for transformation purposes of £2.6m; the revenue budget forecast reflected an outturn position of £3.9m overspend for 2019/20 which would be funded using the Council’s reserves, as detailed in the report.

 

2.            The forecast position for the Dedicated Schools Grant as detailed in the report (paragraph 1.4 and section 5 of the report referred).

 

3.            That the Housing Revenue Account was forecasting no variance to budget.

 

4.            The departmental monitoring information, budget pressures and mitigating actions as set out in the report and its appendices.

 

5.            The proposed flexible use of capital receipts as detailed in section 5 and Appendix I of the report.

 

6.            The background as set out in section 3 of the report. The continuing budget pressures being experienced; the areas most affected and the actions being taken as detailed in the report. Members’ continued to express their concern over inadequate Government funding to meet growing demand and pressures experienced by local government.

 

7.            That £0.6m of income generation was considered at high risk of not being realised, Appendix G, Table 7 of the report referred.

 

8.            That management actions were ongoing to continue to address these budget pressures and seek to improve budget forecasting. The Pressures Challenge Board had been reconvened.

 

9.            In response to questions raised, Members discussed the pressures being experienced in the area of Adult Social Care and in particular the highlighted budget pressures of Independence and Wellbeing Enfield (IWE) as set out in the report. The complex needs and high cost of provision in relation to the Learning Disabilities Service was noted. The pressures experienced and the impact of cases transitioning from child to adult support provision were explained. The range of issues experienced around the projection of the number of individual cases requiring support, and related costs were discussed in detail.

 

10.         The rising number of older people in the Borough, their long-term health conditions, and support required was noted. The Council’s investment in the provision of additional supported living opportunities in the Borough, including at the Reardon Court development was discussed. Long-term solutions were required to this area of growing need. It was noted that the provision of Adult Social Care was underfunded nationally, however, Enfield continued to provide good quality services to its residents.

 

11.         Members were reminded of the Council’s investment in Adult Social Care as part of this year’s budget process. Whilst an overspend was still forecast, the budget position for this area was a significant improvement from the previous year.

 

12.         In response to questions raised, Members discussed the provision and cost of Home to School/SEN transport in the Borough and the reasons for the projected overspend, as set out in paragraph 5.22 of the report. It was noted that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6