Issue - meetings

To submit a report by the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer.

It was resolved –

·        To note the position set out in Appendices A and B to the report in respect of the Authority’s financial performance to date and expected outturn for 2021/22.The position is dependent on continued support from Welsh Government to fund the loss of income and the additional costs which the Council face during the remainder of the financial year as a result of the Coronavirus.

·        To note the summary of Contingency budgets for 2021/22 detailed in Appendix C to the report.

·        To note the position of the invest to save programmes in Appendix CH to the report.

·        To note the monitoring of agency and consultancy costs for 2021/22 in Appendices D and DD to the report.

The report of the Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer setting out the financial performance of the Council’s services at the end of Quarter 2 of the 2021/22 financial year was presented for the Executive’s consideration.

The Portfolio Member for Finance said that it should be noted that predicting the final year-end position at the end of Quarter 2 is difficult and the position can change considerably whilst moving through the remainder of the financial year. The overall projected financial position for 2021/22, including Corporate Finance and the council Tax fund, is a projected underspend of £1.529m which is 1.04% of the Council’s net budget for 2021/22.  However, rising costs, including a potential for a pay award above the 1.75% which is allowed for in the forecast, and the potential for increased demand for services during the second half of the year, may reduce the final revenue position at the end of the financial year.   The Portfolio Member for Finance further said that he wished to give assurance that the Authority will not impose that the schools will have to fund the teachers’ pay increases from their budgets as has been seen in other local authorities.  He outlined to the Executive the financial risks over the 2^nd part of the financial year as noted in Paragraph 10 of the attachment to the report.

The Director of Function (Resources)/Section 151 Officer reported that there as uncertainties in the financial position at second quarter this year due to the pandemic, inflation and pay increases together children and adults’ services and homelessness.  He referred to Table 9 within the report – Welsh Government Covid-19 Grant Funding - £2.7m has been claimed up to October 2021 and over £2m has been received by WG.  An additional £700k has also been claimed and a decision is awaited as regards to this amount from WG.

Councillor Dafydd Roberts, Chair of the Finance Scrutiny Panel reported that the Panel in considering the report felt that it provided a clear and self-explanatory statement of the Quarter 2 position and the Panel noted and welcomed the positive performance.

It was resolved –

·        To note the position set out in Appendices A and B to the report in respect of the Authority’s financial performance to date and expected outturn for 2021/22.The position is dependent on continued support from Welsh Government to fund the loss of income and the additional costs which the Council face during the remainder of the financial year as a result of the Coronavirus.

·        To note the summary of Contingency budgets for 2021/22 detailed in Appendix C to the report.

·        To note the position of the invest to save programmes in Appendix CH to the report.

·        To note the monitoring of agency and consultancy costs for 2021/22 in Appendices D and DD to the report.