Decision details

The Service Director of Finance and Improvement Services provided the Cabinet with an overview of the Council’s performance, both from a financial and operational perspective, for the financial year ended 31st March 2023.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Corporate Services acknowledged that the ongoing cost-of-living crisis had made for a difficult year for both the community and the Council. Despite this, the Cabinet Member was pleased to note the £135M in Capital Investment and the positive progress made against the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities. The Cabinet Member was also pleased with the work of the Council’s Climate Change Cabinet Sub-Committee to deliver the Council’s Climate Change Strategy and the ongoing work to manage and mitigate risks of extreme weather events. The Cabinet Member took the opportunity to thank the Service Director and the team for ensuring robust financial arrangements are in place to ensure continuous service delivery for the residents of RCT.

The Deputy Leader was in support of the recommendations contained within the report and noted that the devastating effects of the pandemic and Storm Dennis was still suffered within the County Borough. Despite the financial pressures, the Deputy Leader recognised the strong investment and collaborative work and took the opportunity to thank the Service Director.

The Leader extended his thanks to the finance team and spoke of the fine financial management of grant funding. The Leader explained that, as a whole, the Council was successful in securing both capital and revenue grants but spoke of the work behind the scenes to deliver projects in compliance with audit and procurement rules.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

1.    To note the context of the Council’s Services continuing to manage the on-going effects of communities recovering from the pandemic and the United Kingdom wide cost-of-living crisis, both of which are contributing to increases in demand for many services and significant inflationary cost pressures.

Revenue

2.    To note and agree the General Fund revenue outturn position of the Council as at the 31st March 2023 (Section 2 of the Executive Summary).

Capital

3.    To note the capital outturn position of the Council as at the 31st March 2023 (Sections 3a – e of the Executive Summary).

4.    To note the details of the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators as at the 31st March 2023 (Section 3f of the Executive Summary).

Corporate Plan Priorities

5.    To note the year-end position regarding progress made against agreed Corporate Plan priorities (Sections 5 a – c of the Executive Summary).

6.    To note the progress update to enhance the Council’s short term and long-term response to extreme weather events (Section 6 of the Executive Summary).

7.    To note the progress update in respect of the Council’s response to tackling Climate Change (Section 7 of the Executive Summary).