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, based on the first three months of this financial year (to the 30th June 2023).

The Deputy Leader thanked the Service Director for the update and was pleased to note the decrease in sickness absence rates. The Deputy Leader advised that she and the Leader engage regularly with the Director of Human Resources and the Trade Union representatives in relation to sickness absence and other staff wellbeing related matters.

The Cabinet Member for Climate Change and Corporate Services acknowledged the difficult financial situation in which the Council services continue to operate. The Cabinet Member was pleased with the amount of investment and progress made during quarter 1 and was happy to support the recommendations contained within the report.

The Leader noted that the report indicated a potential overspend of approximately £2.5M but emphasised that Local Authorities across the country are significantly overspending due to inflation and social services pressures. The Leader advised that one Local Authority had a projected overspend of £23.8M, which was almost 10 times that of RCT.

The Cabinet RESOLVED:

Revenue

1.    To note and agree the General Fund revenue outturn position of the Council as at the 30th June 2023 (Section 2 of the Executive Summary).

2.    To request that Cabinet approve the virements listed in Sections 2a - e of the Executive Summary that exceed the £0.100M threshold as per the Council's Financial Procedure Rules.

Capital

3.    To note the capital outturn position of the Council as at the 30th June 2023 (Sections 3a – e of the Executive Summary).

4.    To note the details of the Treasury Management Prudential Indicators as at the 30th June 2023 (Section 3f of the Executive Summary)

Corporate Plan Priorities

5.    To note the Quarter 1 progress updates for the Council’s Corporate Plan priorities (Sections 5 a – c of the Executive Summary) that include updates in respect of the Council’s on-going work to deliver its Climate Change ambitions..