Issue - meetings

RESOLVED: Cabinet;

a)    Noted the final outturn 2020-21 for all legacy Councils within West Northamptonshire in Appendix A of the report

b)    Noted the estimated reserves and balances brought forward from each legacy Council within West Northamptonshire in section 5 of the report

c)     Noted the early review of 2021-22 financial progress and associated financial risks by Directorate

d)    Noted the deliverability assessment of West Northamptonshire Council savings requirement for 2021-22 and 2022-23 in Appendix D of the report

e)    Agreed to the virement that transfers £2.0m from the central contingency budget to the Place directorate budgets that require this funding

REASONS: To ensure that the Authority complies with its financial regulations

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS: None

CONFLICTS OF INTEREST DELCARED AND DISPENSATIONS GRANTED: None

At the Chairman’s invitation Councillor Malcolm Longley presented the report, copies of which had been previously circulated.

Councillor Bowen noted that the language used in the report made it look as if the savings made had been from cuts and not from productivity improvement. It was felt that it was important to note that NCC’s recovery had been based on productivity.

Councillors made the following comments.

• The question of whether there were plans in place to deal with any gaps identified in the report was raised.
• An update on the suspense account was requested as it would give an indication as to the efficiency of the Council.
• It was queried as to why contingency had been placed against the highways overspend and not adult social services.
• With regards to vacancies within the finance team, how would this be dealt with in regards to overspend.
• A councillor queried why Covid funds that had been ring-fenced were being used.
• There had been little detail given with regards the overspend in Adult Social Care and the current care sector crisis.

Councillor Matt Golby made the following comments.

• The overspend that was shown in the report was that of the financial position this year.
• Assistance was being given to the care sector, updated figures could be provided if desired.
• The Adults directorate has the largest budget with regular updates provided.
• The committee and those present were reminded the Council was still dealing with an unprecedented situation.

Councillor Malcolm Longley made the following comments.

• Ring-fenced funds would only be used for the started purposes.
• So far £2.8 had been distributed amongst small business to aid in their recovery.

Martin Henry made the following comments.

• The committee was informed that there were various different funds related to Covid, and the report referenced many of these.
• There had been a £12.5-million-pound budget which was dedicated to Covid.
• Any grant funding that had not been allocated had been carried forward and earmarked with the intention to use it for covid issues, but many of those funds were not ring-fenced.

RESOLVED: That Cabinet;

1. Noted the final outturn 2020-21 for all legacy Councils within West Northamptonshire in Appendix A; 

2. Noted the estimated reserves and balances brought forward from each legacy Council within West Northamptonshire in section 5;  

3. Noted the early review of 2021-22 financial progress and associated financial risks by Directorate; 

4. Noted the deliverability assessment of West Northamptonshire Council savings requirement for 2021-22 and 2022-23 in Appendix D. 
5. Agreed to the virement that transfers £2.0m from the central contingency budget to the Place directorate budgets that require this funding