Agenda item

Laura Shipley, Financial Services Manager:

a)    presented a report to Performance Scrutiny Committee with a summary of the second quarter’s performance (up to 30 September 2024), on the Council’s

·       General Fund

·       Housing Revenue Account

·       Housing Repairs Service

·       Capital Programmes

b)    requested that Performance Scrutiny Committee note the changes to the capital programmes

c)    provided information on the following:

·       General Fund Revenue Account – for 2024/25 the Council’s net General Fund Revenue Budget was set at £15,427,670, including a planned contribution from balances of £146,820 resulting in an estimated level of general balances at the year-end of £2,391,979 (Appendix A provided a forecast General Fund Summary). There were a number of forecast year-end variations in income and expenditure against the approved budget. Full details of the main variances were provided in Appendix B

·       Housing Revenue Account –– for 2024/25 the Council’s Housing Revenue Account (HRA) net revenue budget was set with a planned contribution from balances of £101,220, resulting in an estimated general balances at year-end of £1,030,024 after allowing for the 2023/24 outturn position (Appendix C provided a forecast Housing Revenue Account Summary) Although the forecast position was an underspend there were a number of significant variations in income an expenditure. Full details of the main variances were provided at Appendix D

·       Housing Repairs Service – For 2024/25 the Council’s Housing Repairs Service (HRS) net budget was set at zero, which reflected its full cost recovery nature. At quarter 2 the HRS was forecasting a deficit of £17,146 in 2024/25. Full details of the main variances were provided at Appendix F

·       General Investment Programme(GIP) – the revised General Investment Programme for 2024/25 amounted to £23.5m following quarter 1. At quarter 2 the programme had been increased by £4.4m to £27.9m, as detailed at paragraph 7.2

·       The overall spending on the General Investment Programme  active schemes (excluding externally delivered schemes) at the end of quarter 2 was £3.2m, which was 14.5% of the budget as detailed in Appendix I

·       Housing Investment Programme – the revised programme for 2024/25 amounted to £17.650m following the Quarter 1 position. At quarter 2 the programme had been decreased by £0.219m to £17.432m, as show in paragraph 7.10 of the report. The overall expenditure on the Housing Investment Programme at the end of  Quarter 2 was £5,730m, which was 32.87% of the 2024/25 revised programme (excluding expenditure relating to Western Growth Corridor which was currently shown on the GIP to be apportioned at year end)) as detailed at Appendix J of the report. A further £1.091m had been spent as at the end of October 2024.

d)    invited members’ comments and questions.

Members of the committee commented and received relevant responses from Officers as follows:

Comment: It was disappointing to see we were losing revenue from the Crematorium Service due to increased competition; together with car parking charges these two services accrued the main income for the Council. It was noted that a report on the Cornhill Market was to be presented to Executive in the New Year.

Response: Further opportunities to increase income from the Crematorium service in the future would be explored via the offer of memorials etc.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The financial performance for the period 1 April to 30 September 2024 be noted.

2.    The underlying impact of the pressures and underspends identified in paragraphs 3.3 (and Appendix B), 4.3 (and Appendix D), and 5.2 (and Appendix F) be noted.

3.    The changes to the General Investment Programme and Housing Investment Programme as approved by the Chief Finance Officer as detailed in paragraphs 7.5 and 7.13 of the report be noted.

4.    The changes to the General Investment programme and the Housing Investment programme approved, or to be approved, by the Executive as detailed in paragraphs 7.3, 7.10 and 7.11 of the report be noted.