Issue - meetings

A report is attached on Budget Monitoring.

Donna Parham - Divisional Director Business Support, introduced the item.

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Furse asked about the £3.4million overspend (paragraph 5.4) and what the figure will look like going forwards. He also asked about NHS Trusts claims (paragraph 5.16) and asked what the risk profile for this area was. Councillor Charles Gerrish, Cabinet Member for Finance and Efficiency responded to the first point by explaining that there are some improvements in the draft February outturn figures although the severe weather in the last couple of weeks was not helpful (decline in the use of Car Parks and Roman Baths along with the cost of grit). He also explained that £1million of the £3.4million is carry over from the previous year’s care home closures. On the second point Councillor Gerrish explained that some local authorities have been affected by NHS Trusts claiming charitable relief on their rents. The LGA are acting on behalf of local authorities. This is a substantial issue.

Councillor Anketell Jones asked about the Non Domestic Rates (page 37) and if this is the right model for funding local government. The officer explained that it was not the most stable income stream but it is there to encourage growth.