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Policy & Resources Committee

27 March 2019

 

3rd Quarter Budget Monitoring 2018/19

 

Final Decision-Maker

Policy & Resources Committee

Lead Head of Service/Lead Director

Mark Green, Director of Finance & Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Author

Chris Hartgrove, Interim Head of Finance

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

This report sets out the financial position for the Council at the end of Quarter 3 2018/19 against the revenue and capital budgets, and provides updates on the position with Reserves and Balances, Council Tax and Business Rates, Treasury Management and Maidstone Property Holdings Ltd.

 

We are expecting to remain within the agreed overall budget for this financial year.  The position for the Council as a whole at the end of the third quarter is an underspend against the revenue budgets of £1.0m. However this figure includes a number of large grants received that will be carried forward into 2019/20.

 

Capital expenditure totalling £8.539m had been incurred between 1 April and 31 December.

 

The balance on the general fund is forecast to decrease to £9.9m by 31 March 2019 as earmarked reserves are used as planned for capital investment.

 

Collection Rates were narrowly missed for both Council Tax and Business Rates. 

 

Growth in business rates measured against the Council’s baseline is £0.8m against a forecast of £1.0m.

 

The Council held investments totalling £30.825m at 31 December 2018.

 

The report also updates the Committee on Maidstone Property Holdings Limited.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This report makes the following recommendations to this Committee:

1.   That the third quarter budget monitoring report attached at Appendix 1 be noted.

2.   That the asset value of the Christmas Lights (£36,000) as detailed in Appendix 1 is written-off when they are transferred to the BID company; and

3.   That the write-off of overpaid housing benefits as set out at Appendix 2 is approved.

 

Timetable

 

Meeting

Date

Policy & Resources Committee

27 March 2019



3rd Quarter Budget Monitoring 2018/19

 

1.    INTRODUCTION AND BACKGROUND

 

1.1     The Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2018/19 onwards was agreed by full Council on 7 March 2018.  This report provides the Committee with an overview of the capital and revenue budget and outturn for the third quarter of 2018/19, and highlights other financial matters that may have a material impact on the Medium term Financial Strategy or the balance sheet.

 

1.2     The Director of Finance & Business Improvement is the Responsible Financial Officer, and has overall responsibility for budgetary control and financial management.  However in practice, day to day budgetary control is delegated to service managers, with assistance and advice from their director and the finance section.

 

1.3     Attached at Appendix 1 is a report detailing the position for the revenue and capital budgets at the end of the December 2018, along with updates on a number of the relevant areas. Note that this report is being presented later than usual, so where appropriate, updates have been included referring to activity in quarter 4.

 

 

2.        IRRECOVERABLE HOUSING BENEFIT OVERPAYMENT                                      

2.1     The committee are asked to approve the write off of £12,302.89 overpaid

Housing benefits identified in Appendix 2. Please note that information

        relating to individuals is restricted under the Data Protection Act and has

therefore been redacted from this appendix.

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3.        AVAILABLE OPTIONS

 

3.1     There are no matters for decision in this report.  The Committee is asked to note the contents but may choose to take further action depending on the matters reported here.

 

 

4.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

 

4.1     In considering the strategic position on the revenue budget and the capital programme at the end of December 2018 the committee can choose to note this information or it could choose to take further action.

 

4.2     The committee is requested to note the content of the report and agree on any necessary action to be taken in relation to the budget position. 

 

 

 

 

5.       RISK

5.1    This report is presented for information only and has no risk management implications.

5.2     The Council has produced a balanced budget for both capital and revenue expenditure and income for 2018/19. This budget is set against a backdrop of limited resources and a difficult economic climate. Regular and comprehensive monitoring of the type included in this report ensures early warning of significant issues that may place the Council at financial risk. This gives this committee the best opportunity to take actions to mitigate such risks.

 

 

6.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK

 

6.1     No consultation has been undertaken in relation to this report.

 

 

7.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

7.1     The third quarter budget monitoring reports are being considered by the relevant Service Committees between January and March, including this full report to Policy & Resources Committee on 27 March 2019.

 

7.2     Details of the discussions which take place at service committees regarding budget management will be reported to Policy and Resources Committee where appropriate.

 

 

8.       CROSS-CUTTING ISSUES AND IMPLICATIONS

 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Impact on Corporate Priorities

This report monitors actual activity against the revenue budget and other financial matters set by Council for the financial year.  The budget is set in accordance

with the Council’s Medium Term

Financial Strategy which is linked to the strategic plan and corporate priorities.

Head of Finance

Risk Management

This has been addressed in section 4 of the report.

Head of Finance

Financial

Financial implications are the focus of this report through high level budget monitoring. The process of budget monitoring ensures that

services can react quickly to potential resource problems. The process ensures that the Council is not faced by corporate financial problems that may prejudice the delivery of strategic priorities.

 

Head of Finance

Staffing

The budget for staffing represents a significant proportion of the direct spend of the council and is carefully

monitored. Any issues in relation to employee costs will be raised in this and future monitoring reports.

Head of Finance

Legal

The Council has a statutory obligation to maintain a balanced budget and this monitoring process enables the committee to remain aware of issues and the process to be taken to maintain a balanced budget for the year.

 

 Mid Kent Legal

Privacy and Data Protection

No specific issues arise.

 

 

Head of Finance

Equalities

The budget ensures the focus of resources into areas of need as identified in the Council’s strategic priorities. This monitoring report ensures that the budget is delivering services to meet those needs.

Head of Finance

Crime and Disorder

No specific issues arise.

Head of Finance

Procurement

No specific issues arise.

Head of Finance

 

9.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

The following documents are to be published with this report and form part of the report:

·         Appendix 1: Third Quarter 2018/19  Revenue and Capital Monitoring – Policy & Resources

·         Appendix 2: Written-off Overpaid Housing Benefits

 

 

10.    BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None