Issue - meetings

1.     To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, to take all decisions necessary to facilitate the closing of the final accounts.

2.     To note the General Fund financial forecast at month 6.

3.     To note that the position on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as set out in paragraph 12.

4.     To note the in-year Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block forecasted surplus of £0.401m (thereby reducing the cumulative deficit).

5.     To approve General Fund budget changes totalling £0.061m as detailed in Appendix 10. This is being funded using one-off use of earmarked reserves.

6.      To approve the proposal to refund to council tenants, the commission on the collection of water charges as set out in paragraph 14 of this report.

Councillor Rowan Ree introduced the report stating that the pressure of £5.1m had been identified in the budget and noted the contingency measures in place.

Councillor Adroine Alford asked reassurance that the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) would not use all of the Reserves fund. Councillor Ree replied that this was an important issue they were keeping a close eye on and would only use it when strictly necessary. But they had set a limit on the Reserves spent and were sticking to it rigidly.

AGREED UNANIMOUSLY BY THE CABINET MEMBERS:

1.     To delegate authority to the Strategic Director of Finance, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Finance and Reform, to take all decisions necessary to facilitate the closing of the final accounts.

2.     To note the General Fund financial forecast at month 6.

3.     To note that the position on the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) as set out in paragraph 12.

4.     To note the in-year Dedicated Schools Grant High Needs Block forecasted surplus of £0.401m (thereby reducing the cumulative deficit).

5.     To approve General Fund budget changes totalling £0.061m as detailed in Appendix 10. This is being funded using one-off use of earmarked reserves.

6.      To approve the proposal to refund to council tenants, the commission on the collection of water charges as set out in paragraph 14 of this report.