Jenny Spick, Senior Manager, Financial Planning and Policy, introduced the report of the Director of Finance and Investment which set out the Council’s revenue and capital monitoring position for 2018/19 quarter 1. The report also provided details of the Medium Term Financial Strategy 2019/20 to 2022/23 and preparation of the budget for 2019/20.

The quarter 1 revenue report showed an £88,000 underspend for Business. The quarter 1 capital report showed an expenditure of £2.1 million on a programme of £43.5 million.

Jenny Spick gave a presentation to the Committee which included further details on:

·  The 2017/18 outturn

·  The 2018/19 budget

·  Key dates in the lead up to the setting of the 2019/20 budget.

Responding to comments from Members, Jenny Spick stated that she did not have any details on the West Kirby Flood Alleviation capital spend but that she would find out more and furnish Councillor Elderton and the Committee with the information. The increased legal fees of £1m relating to Children’s Services were in respect of the rise in the number of Looked after Children during 2017/18. The cost of £0.5m for vacant buildings was in respect of the rationalisation of buildings and their disposal which sometimes took longer than expected while costs such as business rates and security would still have to be paid. A Member suggested that vacant buildings could be used by social enterprises for hosting events and that there could be many exciting and innovative proposals to be explored.

With regard to the capital spend of £86.4m for 2018/19 and only £5m having been spent in the first quarter, she referred to the preparatory work which needed to be undertaken to schedule the spend with different programme managers. There were also some large capital programme projects which would happen towards the end of the year. In respect of the style of the report, she stated that more tailored reports would be provided for Overview and Scrutiny committees in the future and acknowledged the need to provide any financial presentations in advance.

She was not aware of when the Leisure Services review would be announced. In terms of business rates and the building of new homes she acknowledged the balance which needed to be struck between the building of new homes and the need to maintain easy access and parking for small shopping areas.

The Chair invited Councillor Stuart Whittingham, Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, to respond to questions on the current spend from the Pot Hole Action Fund, with only £33,000 of the £563,000 having been spent in the first quarter. Councillor Whittingham stated that he did not have the most up to date figures to hand but that information was now available on the Council website as to those roads where action had been taken to fill pot holes. Information could be provided on how much was forecast to be spent in the second quarter.

With regard to the £305,000 as commercial settlement with BAM Nuttall, Jenny Spick confirmed that this was for the purchase of assets and equipment which the Council required for operational need when the Highways Maintenance contract returned in-house from 1 October, 2018. Philip McCourt, Director of Governance and Assurance, informed the Committee that the contract for Highways Maintenance had involved a very complex series of negotiations and a more detailed briefing on this could be provided to the Member.

Resolved – That the report be noted.