The Senior Finance Manager introduced the report which provided a summary of the projected year-end revenue and capital position for Economy, Regeneration & Development Committee as at the end of Quarter 2 (September 2021) of the 2021/22 financial year.

The report provided Members with an overview of budget performance to enable the Committee to take ownership of their specific budgets and provide robust challenge and scrutiny to Officers on the performance of those budgets. The Committee was accountable for ensuring that the committee budgets remained within the relevant envelope and would take collective responsibility via the Policy and Resources Committee to ensure that the whole Council budget remained in balance at all times, by agreeing mitigating actions to bring the budget back in line, should a deficit be forecast.

Councillor David Mitchell queried the Merseyside Environmental Advisory Service and a managed cost return for this. Councillor Mitchell also queried the cost of IT within the directorate.

The Director of Regeneration and place confirmed that the service level agreement was being revived. In regard to the IT query, the Senior Finance Manager confirmed that the IT costs were to ensure that the infrastructure in building control was updated and included training. Members were assured that this would ensure savings could be made by harmonising the systems and the Director of Regen and Place advised he would update on the current status of the project.

Resolved – That

(1). Note the projected year-end revenue forecast variance of £0.128m favourable position as reported at quarter 2 (Jul_Sep) of 2021-22.

(2). Note progress on the achievement of approved savings and the projected year[1]end forecast position at quarter 2 (Jul_Sep) of 2021-22.

(3). Note the reserves allocated to the Committee for future one-off commitments

(4). Note the projected year-end capital forecast expenditure position of £17.649m as reported at quarter 2 (Jul_Sep) of 2021-22.