The People Overview and Scrutiny Committee received a report of the Acting Section 151 Officer that set out the financial monitoring information for this Committee. The report provided a basis for Members to scrutinise budget performance and set out the projected revenue and capital monitoring position for 2016/17, as at close of quarter 1 (30 June 2016) and as reported to Cabinet on 18 July 2016.

The People Overview and Scrutiny Committee noted that the quarter one revenue report had forecast an overspend of £1.1 million for the year and had sought approval from Cabinet for the allocation of £11.1 million from the Revenue Contingency Budget contingency to Directorates and similarly the use of £1.6 million of General Fund Balances. The report also updated on other budgetary movements which had arisen since the 2016/17budget was agreed.

The Committee further noted that the capital report had updated the capital programme to reflect re-profiling of schemes between years which produces a capital programme of £58.97 million for 2016/17 and that expenditure after the first quarter concluded was £2.7 million.

A Member stated his belief that given a handful of variations contained within the report, there could be room for improvement during the initial setting of the budget projections.

Another Member raised a question reqarding the level of outstanding Council Tax payments and whether this Council’s collection levels were similar to those of other local authorities. The Committee was informed that this Council’s current level of collection stood at 95.3% which was favourable, consistent with other local authorities nationally (average 95.4%), and broadly on target with the Council’s targets.

Resolved: That the report and appendices be noted.