The Director of Finance and Business Improvement presented a report which provided an overview of the revenue and capital budgets and outturn at the end of 2018/19.

The Committee noted that:-

·  The Council’s budget had ended 2018/19 with an overall positive variance of £154,000 against its revenue budget.

·  There had been an overall spend of £15.9 million against the planned capital programme during 2018/19 compared with a revised estimate of £23.9 million.  Any unspent resources that would be required in subsequent years would be carried forward.

·  The balance on the general fund at 31^st March 2019 had increased by £2.5 million which had been mainly due to additional resources from Business Rates.

·  Collection Rates had been narrowly missed for both Council Tax and Business Rates.

·  The overall growth in Business Rates measured against the Council’s baseline was £3.041 million, with an overall Pooling/Benefit for Maidstone of £3.086 million achieved.

·  The Council held investments totalling £15.014 million at 31^st March 2019.

In response to questions from Members, the Director of Finance and Business Services advised that:-

·  The number of write-offs had increased slightly.

·  The company name would be included for future write-offs.

·  If Officers found that companies had re-emerged after going into liquidation, then this would be reported to the appropriate authorities.

·  The Communities, Housing and Environment Committee had fully considered the future provision of CCTV and had recognised the importance of it in preventing crime and disorder.

The Committee asked for their appreciation to be noted for the way the report had been set out.

RESOLVED:  That

1)  The revenue position of the Council at the end of 2018/19 as set out within the Revenue and Capital Outturn report at Appendix 1 be noted.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

2)  The Committee agrees to the earmarking of reserves as set out in Appendix 1 of the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

3)  The outturn and slippage within the capital programme in 2018/19, as set out in Appendix 1 of the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement be noted.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

4)  The performance of the Collection Fund and the level of balances as at 31^st March 2019 be noted.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

5)  The performance in relation to the Treasury Management Strategy
for the year be noted.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

6)  The report detailed the performance of Maidstone Property Holdings Ltd be noted.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous

7)  The £150,000 of the capital slippage for Communities, Housing and Environment Committee be allocated for the upgrade and relocation of CCTV equipment as set out in paragraph 1.5 of the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement.

Voting:  For:  14  Against:  1

Councillor Garten asked for his dissent to be noted.

8)  The write-off of non-domestic rates as set out in Appendix 2 of the report of the Director of Finance and Business Improvement be approved.

Voting:  For:  Unanimous