A Report by the Director of Resources, presented by the Senior Finance Business Partner set out how the 2022/23 budget would be monitored through the Committee system, which would facilitate the Policy and Services Committees to take ownership of their specific budgets and present appropriate challenge and scrutiny of Officers on the management and performance of those budgets.

Members were advised of the concurrent activity of budget setting for 2023/24, and how this would be approached,  incorporating:

 ·  revisions to the approved Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) – the   formulation of savings proposals and presentation of pressure/growth   items;

·  the application of the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS)   principles that underpin the budget process and decision-making,   with links to the Wirral Plan; and

·  how savings plans are to be configured

·  considerations of requisite consultation exercises; and

 ·  the role of the Finance Sub-Committee

Members observed that there had been an underspend on the ‘Transforming Care Short Breaks’ project and it was explained that the scheme was a capital scheme and the money would be used to purchase and refurbish a property to deliver a three bedroom children’s home.

Resolved That –

1)  the process for in-year monitoring of the 2022/23 budget be noted;

2)  the 2023/24 budget setting process be noted;

3)  a Budget Monitoring Panel be established to compriseof the Committee Chair and Spokespersons, in line with Section 3.12 of the report with sessions to be led by the relevant Director/Assistant Director; and

4)  budget workshops be held as detailed in Section 3.26 of the report, the outcome of which to be reported back to Committee in September 2022.