Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Cooke.

Councillor Young was present as Substitute Member for Councillor Cooke.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Brice be elected as Chairman for the municipal year 2022/23.

RESOLVED: That Councillor Gooch be elected as Vice-Chair for the municipal year 2022/23.

There were no urgent items.

There were no Visiting Members.

There were no disclosures by Members and officers.

There were no disclosures of lobbying.

RESOLVED: That all items be taken in public as proposed.

There were no Petitions.

There were no questions from Local Residents.

There were no questions from Members to the Chairman.

The Lead member for Corporate Services addressed the Committee, outlining the priorities for his portfolio.  It was emphasised that the portfolio was a wide one and covered amongst other things, finance including the Capital Strategy and the Medium-Term Financial Strategy (MTFS), and shared services.  The Lead Member set out the importance of the MTFS as the bedrock to the Council’s financial stability, as well as the need to keep a close watching brief on the economic situation and the difficulties of the current climate.

The Lead Member assured the committee that he intended to be fully collaborative and would share the financial scenario analysis with the Committee at the earliest stage it was appropriate to do so.

RESOLVED: That the briefing from the Lead Member be noted.

The Lead Member introduced the 4^th Quarter Finance, Performance and Risk Monitoring Report 2021/22.  The year end underspend was highlighted and the Lead Member informed the committee that there was ongoing debate in the Executive on the treatment of it, with it going into either a general or a specific reserve.

The Capital slippage was brought to the committee’s attention, with the main contributing factor being the difficulty in acquiring properties for temporary accommodation and the need to balance operating in a hot property market, where the method of sale was often via sealed bids, and deliver on homelessness.

It was highlighted that the Treasury Management had not changed and the Lead Member was supportive of the steady and sound approach the Council already undertook.

The changing corporate risk analysis, with the increased risk rating of

Finance risks due to the changing economic circumstances was brought the committee’s attention.

RESOLVED: That

1.  The Revenue position as at the end of Quarter 4 for 2021/22, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant variances have been identified, be noted;

2.  The Capital position at the end of Quarter 4 be noted;  

3.  The Performance position as at Quarter 4 for 2021/22, including the actions being taken or proposed to improve the position, where significant issues have been identified, be noted; and

4.  Annual Performance for 2021/22 be noted.

6.30 p.m. to 6.58 p.m.