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STRATEGIC PLANNING & INFRASTRUCTURE COMMITTEE

8 March 2022

 

3rd Quarter Financial Update & Performance Monitoring Report 2021/22

 

Final Decision-Maker

Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Committee

Lead Head of Service

Mark Green, Director of Finance and Business Improvement

Lead Officer and Report Authors

Paul Holland, Senior Finance Manager (Client)

Georgia Harvey, Senior Information Governance Officer

Anna Collier, Corporate Insight, Communities and Governance Manager

Classification

Public

Wards affected

All

 

Executive Summary

 

This report sets out the 2021/22 financial and performance position for the services reporting into the Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Committee (SPI) as at 31st  December 2021 (Quarter 3). The primary focus is on:

 

·        The 2021/22 Revenue and Capital budgets; and

 

·        The 2021/22 Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) that relate to the delivery of the Strategic Plan 2019-2045.

 

The combined reporting of the financial and performance position enables the Committee to consider and comment on the issues raised and actions being taken to address both budget pressures and performance issues in their proper context, reflecting the fact that the financial and performance-related fortunes of the Council are inextricably linked.

 

Budget Monitoring

Overall net expenditure at the end of Quarter 3 for the services reporting to SPI is  

-£0.513m, compared to the approved profiled budget of -£0.069m, representing an underspend of £0.445m.

 

Capital expenditure at the end of Quarter 3 was £0.007m against a total budget of £0.086m. Forecast spend for the year is £0.032m.

 

The budgets in this report are the revised estimates for 2021/22.

 

Performance Monitoring

66.7% (4 of 6) targetable quarterly key performance indicators reportable to the Communities, Housing & Environment Committee achieved their Quarter 3 target.

 

Recovery & Renewal Update

 

In October Policy and Resources Committee agreed a range of actions for spending under Recovery and Renewal, with updates provided alongside the quarterly performance and budget report.  Progress against actions relevant to this Committee can be seen at Appendix 3. Positively substantial progress has been made across all the whole action plan. 

 

 

Purpose of Report

 

The report enables the Committee to consider and comment on the issues raised and actions being taken to address both budget pressures and performance issues as at 31st December 2021.

 

 

This report makes the following Recommendations to the Committee:

1.   That the Revenue position as at the end of Quarter 3 for 2021/22, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant variances have been identified, be noted;

 

2.   That the Capital position at the end of Quarter 3 be noted; and

 

3.   That the Performance position as at Quarter 3 for 2021/22, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant issues have been identified, be noted.

 

4.   That the Recovery & Renewal Update be noted.

 

 

 

Timetable

Meeting

Date

Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Committee

8 March 2022



3rd Quarter Financial Update & Performance Monitoring Report 2021/22

 

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.

 

The Key Performance Indicators and strategic actions are part of the Council’s overarching Strategic Plan 2019-45 and play an important role in the achievement of corporate objectives. They also cover a wide range of services and priority areas.

 

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

Cross Cutting Objectives

This report enables any links between performance and financial matters to be identified and addressed at an early stage, thereby reducing the risk of compromising the delivery of the Strategic Plan 2019-2045, including its cross-cutting objectives.

 

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

Risk Management

This is addressed in Section 5 of this report.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

 


 

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Financial

Financial implications are the focus of this report through high level budget monitoring. Budget monitoring ensures that services can react quickly enough 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.

 

Performance indicators and targets are closely linked to the allocation of resources and determining good value for money. The financial implications of any proposed changes are also identified and taken into account in the Council’s Medium-Term Financial Strategy and associated annual budget setting process. Performance issues are highlighted as part of the budget monitoring reporting process.

 

Senior Finance Manager (Client)

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.

 

Having a clear set of performance targets enables staff outcomes/objectives to be set and effective action plans to be put in place.

 

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

Legal

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

 

There is no statutory duty to report regularly on the Council’s performance. However, under Section 3 of the Local Government Act 1999 (as amended) a best value authority has a statutory duty to secure continuous improvement in the way in which its functions are exercised, having regard to a combination of economy, efficiency and effectiveness. One of the purposes of the Key Performance Indicators is to facilitate the improvement of the economy, efficiency and effectiveness of Council services. Regular reports on Council performance help to demonstrate best value and compliance with the statutory duty.

 

Senior Lawyer (Corporate Governance), MKLS

Issue

Implications

Sign-off

Privacy and Data Protection

The performance data is held and processed in accordance with the data protection principles contained in the Data Protection Act 2018 and in line with the Data Quality Policy, which sets out the requirement for ensuring data quality. There is a program for undertaking data quality audits of performance indicators.

 

Policy and Information Team

Equalities

There is no impact on Equalities as a result of the recommendations in this report. An EqIA would be carried out as part of a policy or service change, should one be identified.

 

Equalities and Communities Officer

Public Health

 

The performance recommendations will not negatively impact on population health or that of individuals.

Public Health Officer

Crime and Disorder

There are no specific issues arising.

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

 

Procurement

Performance Indicators and Strategic Milestones monitor any procurement needed to achieve the outcomes of the Strategic Plan.

 

Director of Finance and Business Improvement (Section 151 Officer)

 

Biodiversity & Climate Change

The implications of this report on biodiversity and climate change have been considered and there are no direct implications on biodiversity and climate change.

 

Biodiversity and Climate Change Manager

 

1.        BACKGROUND AND INTRODUCTION

 

1.1     The Medium-Term Financial Strategy for 2021/22 to 2025/26 - including the budget for 2021/22 - was approved by full Council on 24th February 2021. This report updates the Committee on how its services have performed over the last quarter with regard to revenue and capital expenditure against approved budgets.                                                                                                                                                                        

1.2     This report also includes an update to the Committee on progress against its Key Performance Indicators (KPIs).                                                                                  

1.3     Attached at Appendix 1 is a report setting out the revenue and capital spending position at the Quarter 3 stage. Attached at Appendix 2 is a report setting out the position for the KPIs for the corresponding period.                                              

1.4     Also attached at Appendix 3 is an update on the actions taken to date with regards to the Recovery & Renewal Plan agreed previously by Policy & Resources Committee.

 

                  

2.      AVAILABLE OPTIONS                                                                                

2.1     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.

 

 

 

3.        PREFERRED OPTION AND REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS                                             

3.1     In considering the current position on the Revenue budget, the Capital Programme, KPIs and the Recovery & Renewal Update at the end of December 2021, the Committee can choose to note this information or could choose to take further action.

 

3.2     The Committee is requested to note the content of the report as no further actions are required.

 

 

 

4.       RISK

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

 

4.2     The Council produced a balanced budget for both revenue and capital income and expenditure for 2021/22. The budget is set against a backdrop of limited resources and a difficult economic climate, even before the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic became clear. 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 the Committee the best opportunity to take actions to mitigate such risks.

 

 

 

 

5.       CONSULTATION RESULTS AND PREVIOUS COMMITTEE FEEDBACK                              

5.1    The KPIs update (“Performance Monitoring”) is reported to service committees quarterly: Communities, Housing & Environment Committee; Economic Regeneration & Leisure Committee; and the Strategic Planning & Infrastructure Committee. Each committee will receive a report on the relevant priority action areas. The report is also presented to the Policy & Resources Committee, reporting on the priority areas of “A Thriving Place”, “Safe, Clean and Green”, “Homes and Communities” and “Embracing Growth and Enabling Infrastructure”.

 

 

 

6.       NEXT STEPS: COMMUNICATION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE DECISION

 

6.1     The Quarter 3 Budget & Performance Monitoring reports are being considered by the relevant Service Committees during February and March 2022, including a full report to the Policy & Resources Committee on 9th February 2022.

                                                         

6.2     The Council could choose not to monitor its budget and/or the Strategic Plan and/or make alternative performance management arrangements, such as the frequency of reporting. This is not recommended as it could lead to action not being taken against financial and/or other performance during the year, and the Council failing to deliver its priorities.

 

6.3     There remains uncertainty regarding the Council’s financial position beyond 2021/22, arising from the impacts of the Covid-19 crisis and the Council’s role in responding to this.  Future finance reports to this committee will ensure that members are kept up to date with this situation as it develops.

 

 

 

7.        REPORT APPENDICES

 

·         Appendix 1: Third Quarter Budget Monitoring 2021/22

·         Appendix 2: Third Quarter Performance Monitoring 2021/22

·         Appendix 3: Recovery & Renewal Update

 

 

 

8.        BACKGROUND PAPERS

 

None.