Issue - meetings

Report ACS12019

The Committee considered the budget monitoring position for 2011/12 based on activity up to the end of January 2012, which forecasted an underspend of £780,000. Officers reported that although these budgets continued to be very volatile, they were continuing to drive down costs and the latest projection was for an underspend in the region of up to £1m. A Member queried the number of contract waivers approved, but officers confirmed that there were tight controls and the Portfolio Holder added that he was informed of details of waivers. He also wished to record his appreciation for the work of Lesley Moore and other officers in controlling the budget, and this was endorsed by the Committee. 

RESOLVED that

(1) The projected underspend of £780,000, based on information as at January 2012, and the funding received from health as outlined in section 6 of the report, be noted;

(2)  The Portfolio Holder be recommended to -

(a) note the receipt of funding of £147,000 from the Department for Communities and Local Government for Preventing Repossessions, and request that Executive approve the draw down of the grant, which will be carried forward and spent in 2012/13; and

(b) note that following a successful bid, £85,000 had been received from the Department of Health from the Warmer Homes Healthy People Fund, and request that the Executive approve the draw down of this funding.

Report ACS12007

The Committee considered the budget monitoring position for 2011/12 based on activity up to the end of November 2011.

Members were pleased to note that despite having a large budget to monitor the variations were relatively small.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to:

1)  Note the projected underspend of £498,000.

2)  Approve an in-year virement of £170,000 from the Procurement and Contract Compliance budget within the Commissioning and Partnerships Division to Housing Needs, to fund a number of initiatives that will help reduce costs pressures of £700,000 following through into 2012/12.

3)  Note that £150,000 relating to Learning Disabilities growth pressures approved by the Executive as part of the 2011/12 budget will be returned to the central contingency.

Report ACS11048

The Portfolio Holder introduced a report outlining the budget monitoring position for 2011/2012 based on activity up to the end of June 2011.

In response to a question, the Head of ACS Finance reported that the Department had seen growth within the Physical Disabilities budget and it was likely that the budget would continue to grow.  The Department was currently reviewing spend-to-save initiatives around physical disabilities and this would enable cost pressures to be managed in the future.  Any proposals would be presented to the Executive for consideration.

The Head of ACS Finance also highlighted the cost pressures outlined on page 101 of the report and gave assurances to the Committee that officers within the Department would be meeting regularly to review and manage these pressures.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to note that a projected underspend of £295,000 is forecast, based on information as at June 2011.