Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Director of Finance attached.

The Panel considered a report of the Section 151 Officer which provided an update on the Council’s overall financial position at the end of Quarter 2 of the 2020-21 financial year.

Members acknowledged the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Council’s finances and requested an update on the current budgetary implications of support provided by the council. In response, the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets (Councillor Matthew Tomlinson) advised that the situation was ever-changing but that £20 million had been provided to support businesses during the initial lockdown earlier in the year and additional funding from central government was anticipated to cover the second lockdown period.

Members welcomed the Cabinet Member’s suggestion of incorporating all COVID-19-related financial information into one report in the interests of transparency and ease of monitoring.

A savings target of £187,000 was identified in the report and the Panel queried how this would be achieved. This figure was noted as target savings from Shared Services but members were informed that, due to issues in Human Resources, these savings would not be met. A report detailing proposals for further savings would be considered at the next Full Council meeting.

Queries were also raised regarding the garden waste scheme which had achieved a surplus income. As the income was more than expected, members enquired if a further cut could be made to charges but were advised that, although the reduced charge had led to an increase in subscriptions, the Cabinet Member was confident in the appropriacy of the current £25 fee.

Similarly, members noted a deficit in income from court summons and were informed that this was a result of courts being closed due to the pandemic but also because of the need for sensitivity and compassion during the COVID-19 outbreak.

Discussion largely focused on staff vacancies and the progress of recruiting a second Enforcement Officer and Head of Licensing was queried. Work was underway to ascertain whether there was sufficient workload to justify employing an additional Enforcement Officer. A consultant was currently commissioned by the Council to handle complex cases with the permanent Officer working on day-to-day cases and there was an option to continue with this model if considered suitable going forwards.

The Head of Licensing position remained vacant due to progress with Shared Services and members were assured that interim management arrangements would be confirmed within the second phase.

In response to a query regarding the replacement of the South Ribble Museum Curator, who had recently retired, it was explained that this was a Shared Services post within the Visitor Economy directorate and that a temporary 12-month arrangement was in place with the intention to review after this period.

Assurances were also sought on the number of vacancies within the Governance directorate. Some concern was acknowledged but it was felt that there was no impact on ability to deliver services.

An update on the progress of the review of reserves was requested and members were informed that this was ongoing and would form part of the next year’s budget process, which members welcomed.

The Panel was also pleased to note the Cabinet Member’s confidence in the current delivery of the capital programme.

RESOLVED: (Unanimously)

That

1.    the Panel thanks the Cabinet Member for Finance, Property and Assets and Deputy Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer) for their detailed report and answering questions;

2.    the Panel welcomes the relatively small variance in budget so far in the year;

3.    the Panel supports the Cabinet Member’s proposal to bring together all COVID-19 related financial information into the one report for monitoring purposes;

4.    the Panel looks forward to the results of the review of reserves as part of next year’s budget process; and

5.    the Panel is encouraged with the delivery of the capital programme at this stage in the year.