Open Report Cabinet 20 August 2019 Financial
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Open Report Cabinet 20 August 2019 Financial Performance Report 2019/20 - Quarter 1 (Month 3) Report of Cabinet Member for Corporate Resource, Strategy and Partnerships Report Author Nick Edmonds, Assistant Director – Finance Kerry Cartlidge, Strategic Manager – Financial Strategy and Business Partnering Type of Decision For Information Wards Affected All Wards Stronger Together Priorities and how they are applicable: A commercial council, well governed and fit for purpose, driving efficiency in everything we do The budget is set based on delivering the city council’s priorities. This report summarises the financial position on the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Investment Programme as at the end of June 2019 and provides forecasts for the financial year ended 31 March 2020. 1.0 Reason and Purpose of Report: 1.1 To summarise the financial position of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Investment Programme as at the end of June 2019. 1.2 To highlight where there have been variances to budget, and mitigating actions. 1.3 To summarise the position of the 2019/20 saving proposals. 1.4 To summarise the position of the 2019/20 strategic contingency. 2.0 Recommendation(s): 2.1 That it be noted that as at the end of June 2019 the net forecast overspend is £5.5 million. 2.2 That it be noted that proposals to manage the potential overspend are contained within the Mid-Year Refresh Report elsewhere on this agenda. 2.3 That the progress against 2019/20 General Fund saving proposals be noted. 2.4 That the position on the strategic contingency be noted. 2.5 That the position on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) be noted. 2.6 That the forecast outturn on the Housing Revenue Account be noted. 2.7 That the forecast outturn on the Capital Investment Programme be noted. 3.0 Summary of Main Points: 3.1 The General Fund Revenue Account has a net expenditure budget of £218 million (gross expenditure £562 million; gross income £344 million). Current risks of £22.5 million have been identified and mitigating actions have been instigated resulting in a residual risk of £5.5 million. A summary of the forecast position at directorate level is included in Appendix A . 3.2 In 2019/20, including public health grant savings, £58.6 million savings have been approved for delivery (£45.2 million were approved as part of the 2017/18 and 2018/19 Medium Term Financial Strategy and £13.4 million in 2019/20). £21.5 million of the prior year savings have already been delivered, meaning that a total of £37.1 million will be monitored in 2019/20. As at June 2019 it is forecast that £3.6 million are at risk. These will be continually monitored in year, and mitigating actions are being taken if the saving cannot be achieved as originally planned. A detailed list showing the progress made against each of the saving proposals is shown at Appendix A, Annex A. 3.3 The Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2019/20 included a strategic contingency budget of £9.788 million which took account of a number of additional grants which were notified towards the end of last financial year; these have now been allocated as appropriate. At the end of June 2019 a balance remains of £0.515 million. Details of commitments from the strategic contingency are included in Appendix A . 3.4 The city council receives £226.002 million Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG), before academy recoupment and direct funding of high needs places by the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA), of which £32.539 million is within the High Needs Block. In 2019/20 the DSG reserve carried forward a deficit balance of £14.240 million. As at June 2019 there were in year pressures identified of £5.253 million. An action plan is currently in place to bring the DSG back in to balance; this is subject to Department for Education approval. Further details are shown in Appendix A , and the High Needs Action Plan is included at Annex B . 3.5 The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) is forecasting a surplus balance of £0.4 million for 2019/20, an improvement of £0.3 million when compared to the budget. This is mainly due to overachieved income as a result of a continuing reduction in the number of void properties. Further details are shown in Appendix A, Annex C. 3.6 The council is budgeted to invest £216.5 million in capital schemes during 2019/20. Further details can be found in Appendix A, Annex Di and Dii . Technical Appendix: List of Background papers/sources of information used for this report: Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 – City Council 28 February 2019 Housing Revenue Account (HRA) - Rent Setting Report 2019/20 – City Council 24 January 2019 List the appendices included as part of this report: Appendix A – Financial Performance Report 2019/20 as at the end of June 2019 (Month 3) Implications taken into consideration in this report (Please list as separate appendix if required) : Financial and Commercial: Early indications show risks within the General Fund have been identified, three quarters of which have identified solutions, which leaves a residual risk of £5.5 million. Further proposals to manage the potential overspend are contained in the Mid-Year Refresh Report elsewhere on this agenda. There is an in year pressure highlighted within DSG budgets of £5.253 million. This is in addition to the DSG reserve deficit balance brought forward of £14.240 million. An action plan is currently in place to bring DSG back into balance over a 5 year period. The Housing Revenue Account is forecasting an increase in the surplus balance of £0.3 million for 2019/20. Forecasts show investments of £216.5 million into capital schemes for 2019/20. Legal: Section 151 of the Local Government Act 1972 requires the Council to make arrangements for the proper administration of its financial affairs. The Council’s section 151 officer has established financial procedures to ensure the Council’s proper financial administration. These include procedures for budgetary control. It is consistent with these arrangements for Members to receive information about the revenue and capital budgets as set out in the report. Human Resources: None Public Health and Public Services (Social Value) Act 2012: None Equality Impact or Environmental Impact Assessments: Not applicable Key Risks: Key risks are detailed at Appendix A The following section must be completed for Executive Decisions i.e. Cabinet * Options Considered: 1. There are no options associated with this report. 2. * In accordance with the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012 Appendix A Financial Performance Report 2019/20 as at the end of June 2019 (Quarter 1) Contact Officers: Nick Edmonds, Assistant Director – Finance Kerry Cartlidge, Strategic Manager – Financial Strategy and Business Partnering 1. Purpose 1.1 The report summarises the financial position of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account and Capital Investment Programme as at the end of June 2019. 2. Recommendations 2.1 That it be noted that as at the end of June 2019 the net forecast overspend is £5.5 million. 2.2 That it be noted that proposals to manage the potential overspend are contained within the Mid-Year Refresh Report elsewhere on this agenda. 2.3 That the progress against 2019/20 General Fund saving proposals be noted. 2.4 That the position on the strategic contingency be noted. Page | 1 2.5 That the position on the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) be noted. 2.6 That the forecast outturn on the Housing Revenue Account be noted. 2.7 That the forecast outturn on the Capital Investment Programme be noted. 3. Summary and Key Messages 3.1 General Fund - The General Fund Revenue Account has a net expenditure budget of £218 million (gross expenditure £562 million; gross income £344 million). As at the end of June 2019, current risks of £22.5 million have been identified and budget management actions have resulted in a residual risk of £5.5 million. Although the budget management actions have reduced the pressure on the General Fund, risks remain; the largest of which is within Children and Families Directorate. Plans have been developed to manage the risks, and all risks will continue to be monitored to ensure the impact on this and future years is minimised. Included in the current risks are £3.6 million of savings which may not be achieved. A summary of the forecast position is shown at section 4.1. A summary of the progress made against savings proposals is shown at section 4.2 and full details are included at Annex A. A detailed list of risks and mitigations are included at section 4.3. 3.2 The main residual risk at the end of June 2019 relates to Children and Family Services, particularly Children’s Social Care. The recent Ofsted inspection of children’s social care services resulted in the service being judged to be inadequate. Since the Ofsted inspection, the city council has been working closely with the Department for Education, Local Government Association (LGA) and regional improvement colleagues to take forward actions at pace. An improvement board has been established which is supported by the LGA, an improvement plan is in place, and operational changes have been made to areas that required immediate responses during the inspection. The financial position shown in this report includes additional investment that is required to drive the changes that are needed. 3.3 Strategic Contingency – When the budget was set for 2019/20, this included a strategic contingency budget of £9.788 million which took account of a number of additional grants which were notified towards the end of last financial year; these have now been allocated as appropriate.