Integrated Resources and Performance Report - May 2010

To present financial and performance information to assess progress in delivering the Council’s Integrated Plan.

That Cabinet:

1. Analyses resources and performance information and takes any remedial action as appropriate.

2. Approves the one-off revenue virement of £2.9m from the Pressures and Developments Reserve to the Services to meet the shortfall in funding following the announcement of cuts to Local Government funding in 2010/11 (see paragraph (para) 3.3).

3. Task Executive and Corporate Directors to resolve in-year budget pressures identified and commit to a 1% underspend as a contingency against further grant cuts and reductions (see para 3.3).

4. Task Executive and Corporate Directors to review capital programmes to take account of announced and possible further grant reductions (see para 3.3).

5. Approves the virements of £400k Social Care demography funding and £500k of mainstream Home to School transport funding to the Placements – Social Care budget (see para 4.4.5).

To present financial and performance information to assess progress in delivering the Council’s Integrated Plan.

Some details of the new Government’s £1.165bn in-year cuts for Local Government are now known with further cuts expected flowing from the 22nd June Budget and from reductions in the funding to central government departments. As a result of the known reductions, the following actions were agreed as set out in recommendations ii) iii) and iv) above.

The requested virements were as a consequence of the significant pressures faced by Children and Young People’s Services who as a result, are undertaking a thorough review of all budgets and developing strategies to offset the known pressures. Key elements of this strategy are the removal of savings from unplanned vacancies (assumed saving -£1.4m), transfer of £400k of Social Care demography funding and £500k of Home to School transport funding to the Placement budget, and the commitment of savings in other areas being maintained throughout the year to offset pressures.