Issue - meetings

That:

1)        the forecast outturn position of the revenue budget and the level of forecast balances in respect of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Schools’ Block and the Authority’s investment portfolio be noted;

2)        Supplementary Estimates for Children’s Services in the sum of £50,000 and Health and Wellbeing in the sum of £300,000 be approved.

The Executive considered a report setting out the forecast outturn position of the revenue budget and the level of forecast balances of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Schools Block and the Authority’s investment portfolio as well as requests for supplementary estimates for Children’s Services and Health and Wellbeing.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Finance went through the report and highlighted some of the pressures that had led to the variances which included: a grant that was expected but which was subsequently withdrawn after the budget was agreed; a reduction in healthcare funding; a rise in residential placements; and an increase in homelessness in the Borough.  As a result of these pressures supplementary estimates for Children’s Services and Health and Wellbeing areas were being requested.

With regard to the request for a supplementary estimate for Children’s Services Councillor Haitham Taylor highlighted the importance of the Multi-Agency Safeguarding Hub (MASH) as an important aspect of children’s safeguarding. By bringing all partners together in one place allowed intelligence to be shared and thereby better inform initial safeguarding decisions.  This would contribute to much better outcomes for children and young people in the Borough. 

RESOLVED that:

1)        the forecast outturn position of the revenue budget and the level of forecast balances in respect of the General Fund, Housing Revenue Account, Schools’ Block and the Authority’s investment portfolio be noted;

2)        Supplementary Estimates for Children’s Services in the sum of £50,000 and Health and Wellbeing in the sum of £300,000 be approved.