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)        the carry forward request as set out in Appendix B be noted.

The Executive considered a report setting out 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 Council’s investment portfolio.  The report also contained a carry forward request in the sum of £69k relating to a health and wellbeing project which was now due to start in July 2016 and not April 2016 as previously planned.

The Executive Member for Economic Development and Finance drew Members’ attention to the projected forecast overspends which were primarily due to: delays in savings relating to customer services and digitisation; issues around social worker retention, although this was being offset by savings in shared services; and issues around homelessness.  Councillor Pollock also reminded Members that funds were expected from the Department of Health following the judicial review of the change in eligibility criteria; however a response from the Department of Health on this matter had been very slow.

In addition Councillor Pollock was pleased that the Schools Block and Housing Revenue Account were showing a net surplus and the latter significant balances of £5m. 

The Executive Member for Children’s Services was pleased to inform the meeting that the investment in recruitment and retention was starting to show benefits as the number of social workers choosing to remain at Wokingham had increased.

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)        the carry forward request as set out in Appendix B be noted.