Issue - meetings

This report presents the third monitoring information for the Authority as a whole for the financial year 2013/14 to the end of December 2013. The report also includes a number of budget transfer requests for both revenue and capital.

Councillor Bellotti in proposing the item said that this was a report on the Council’s performance in the current financial year. He said that performance had been outstanding, highlighting three aspects:

(i)  the number of visitors attracted to the area;

(ii)  skilful cash flow management;

(iii)  an increase in recycling and a reduction in landfill charges.

In addition, a large number of capital projects were being delivered, including the £34m project at Keynsham, which was on time and on budget.

Councillor Stevens seconded the proposal, commenting that Heritage Services had made a huge contribution to the Council’s budget; the £5m profit they had earned was equivalent to an additional 6.5% on Council Tax.

Councillor Roberts said that she had recently visited areas of B&NES subject to severe flooding last and where deaths had occurred. The work that officers had done in these areas had prevented any recurrence this year. She expressed her thanks to everyone who had been on flood watch over Christmas and in recent weeks.

Councillor Crossley said that it was very fortunate that Bath and North East Somerset was able to generate income in ways that other local authorities did not. The Council need to look for further sources of income so that it could maintain services to residents.

On a motion from Councillor Bellotti, seconded by Councillor Stevens, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1)  to agree that Strategic Directors should continue to work towards managing within budget in the current year for their respective service areas, and to manage below budget where possible by not committing unnecessary expenditure, through tight budgetary control;

(2)  to note this year’s revenue budget position as shown in Appendix 2 to the report;

(3)  to note the capital expenditure position for the Council in the financial year to the end of September and the year-end projections detailed in  Appendix 3 of the report;

(4)  to agree the revenue virements listed for approval in Appendix 4(i) of the report; and

(5)  to note the changes in the capital programme listed in Appendix 5(i) of the report.