RESOLVED that Cabinet:-

(a)  notes the Council’s in-year financial position at the end September 2024;

(b)  approves the proposed adjustments to the 2024/25 budget, as set out in Appendix 1H and requests Officers to review the potential on-going impact in 2025/26 and beyond where necessary as part of developing the forecast and detailed estimates for further consideration by Cabinet later in the year;

(c)   in respect of the additional sum of £0.040m made available to support North Essex Councils collaborative activities and Joint Health Post with Health Partners that is set out in Appendix 1H, authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Governance and the Portfolio Holder for Partnerships, to utilise this funding to support any associated work; 

(d)  in respect of the additional £1.200m set aside to support the cost of homelessness, requests Officers to present a report to a future meeting of Cabinet setting out further details relating to the current challenges faced by the Council along with potential actions / proposed activities to support the Council going forwards;

(e)  in respect of the Project Delivery Unit budget:

(i)      authorises the Director for Governance and the Director for Finance & IT, in consultation with the Corporate Director (Place and Economy), to enter into an agreement with Essex County Council (ECC) to increase existing procurement capacity for Tendring District Council;

(ii)     agrees a sum of up to the value of £120,000 over two years from the associated approved budget to fund the additional procurement capacity from ECC;

(iii)   authorises the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Economic Growth, Regeneration and Tourism, to agree further expenditure where capacity is procured from external bodies / organisations / individuals as an alternative to recruitment.  

(f)    notes the updated financial forecast set out in this report and requests Officers, in consultation with Portfolio Holders, to further develop the financial forecast proposals alongside the development of the Council’s priorities; and

(g)  invites the views of the Resources and Service Overview and Scrutiny Committee on the information set out in this report along with the Council’s wider financial position as part of its work programme for the year.