Decision details

The Service Director, Finance & Improvement Services referred members to his report which provided an overview of the Council’s performance, both from a financial and operational perspective, based on the first three months of this financial year (to the 30th June 2019).  The service Director advised Members of the information contained within the Executive Summary which included financial data and progress against the Council Corporate Plan priorities, highlighting  exception reporting to assist Members.

Members were advised that the first quarter revenue budget position was a period variance, as at 30th June 2019, of £0.589M with the overspend primarily as a result of key pressures across Adult Social Care. This represented the continuation of the position reported during 2018/19, with the Service Director advising that the Council was working with Welsh Government to highlight the importance of providing increased and permanent funding for this sector to meet on-going current and forecasted future demand. The Service Director also advised of the confirmation received from the South Wales Fire and Rescue Authority of Central Government funding to cover the 2019/20 increase in pension costs.

Capital investment as at 30th June 2019 was £16.7M, with a number of schemes being re-profiled during the quarter to reflect changes in costs and also new external grant funding approvals received.

The Service Director concluded his update with reference to performance across the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities, informing Members that positive progress has been made during the first three months of the year, with on-going close monitoring of each priority continuing in preparation of the half-yearly position as at 30th September 2019.

The Cabinet Member for Corporate Services commented on the pressures with Adult Social Care and the lobbying being taken forward to Welsh Government for the need for additional funding to alleviate such budget pressures.  The Cabinet Member welcomed the news in respect of the pension implications which would be funded by central government.  The Cabinet Member concluded by referencing the investment taken forward across the County Borough for the benefits of its residents.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Social Services & Welsh Language referenced the pressures in respect of children and adult services, advising that the demand was increasing with further complexity issues arising, which was not withstanding the good work being provided by the Council in this area.

The Deputy Leader commented on the positive position in respect of the PI performance and the work undertaken by HR with the reduction of sickness across all departments.

Following discussions it was RESOLVED:

Revenue

1.    To note and agree the General Fund revenue position of the Council as at the 30^th June 2019 (Section 2 of the Executive Summary of the report) including the amended level of Transition Funding following confirmation of Central Government funding to cover additional Fire Fighters pension costs.

Capital

2.    To note the capital outturn position of the Council as at 30^th June 2019 (Sections 3a – e of the Executive Summary of the report).

3.    To note the details of the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators as at the 30^th June 2019 (Section 3f of the Executive Summary of the report).

Corporate Plan Priorities

4.    To note the quarter 1 position regarding progress made against the agreed Corporate Plan priorities (Sections 5 a – d of the Executive Summary of the report), Other National Measures (Section 5e of the Executive Summary of the report) and comparison of 2019/20 targets set against prior year and ‘All Wales Average’ performance information (Section 5f of the Executive Summary of the report).

N.B at the conclusion of this item, the Leader of the Council entered the meeting and took forward the Chair.

The need to provide Members with an overview of the Council’s performance, both from a financial and operational perspective, based on the first three months of this financial year (to the 30th June 2019).