Agenda item

Laura Shipley, Financial Services Manager:

a)    presented a report to Performance Scrutiny Committee with a summary of the third quarter’s performance (up to 31 December), 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 3 the HRS was forecasting a surplus of £32,882 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 £27.9m following quarter 2. At quarter 3 the programme had been decreased by £5.9m to £22.0m, 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 3 was £10.1m, which was 53.1% of the budget as detailed in Appendix I.

·       Housing Investment Programme – the revised programme for 2024/25 amounted to £17.432m following the Quarter 2 position. At quarter 3 the programme had been decreased by £0.020m to £17.411m, as show in paragraph 7.10 of the report. The overall expenditure on the Housing Investment Programme at the end of  Quarter 3 was £8,861m, which was 50.89% 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 £0.680m had been spent as at the end of January 2025.

d)    invited members’ comments and questions.

Question: Why was there a £127,000 surplus for smoke alarm/detector testing?

Response: The budget was averaged over a 5 year cycle and dependant on the housing stock. It was difficult to determine capacity which may be on the voids programme. Officers hadn’t had as much work go through this year and it had been reviewed as part of the MTFS this year.

Question: What would the cost be to the Council for running an election weeks before planned elections?

Response: A figure couldn’t be confirmed at present. It was agreed a response be fed back to the committee after the meeting.

Question: In relation to the Cornhill Market, were the increased costs expected?

Response: The £55,000 legal fees were a one off. 30 stalls were put through that system, calculated before the market opened.

Question: When would the Council no longer require the services of professional staff at the Crematorium?

Response: In terms of staffing, interviews were taking place this week for the manager post with the outcome to be confirmed in the next week. Even with transition there shouldn’t be a budget pressure next year once this had taken place. Income wise, work was being carried out with new interim management and other income potential opportunities moving forward. It would be prioritised once a management team was in place.

Question: Had more additional funds been given to Action Nation?

Response: A sum of £50,000 was a combination of old contract arrangements and new support provision for Active Nation. As part of the new contract, for any losses Lincoln took a share up to a maximum of £50,000, a new support package was planned for the new financial year.

Question: Could an update be provided on the funds spent on the Lincoln Town Deal projects?

Response: Officers advised that a more accurate update be provided after the meeting.

RESOLVED that:

1.    The figures on running a by-election weeks before planned elections be provided to the committee

2.    An update on the funds being spent on Lincoln Town Deal projects be provided to the committee

3.    The contents of the report be noted.