Issue - meetings

To enable the Cabinet to consider recommendations made by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee following that Committee’s scrutiny of the Council’s financial performance as at the end of the second quarter together with the update of the financial forecast.

RESOLVED that the comments and recommendations of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.

Cabinet was aware that, at the meeting of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 16 November 2020 (Minute 97 referred), the Committee had been provided with an overview of the Financial Performance report of the Council’s financial position against the budget as at the end of September 2020 as well as an updated long term financial forecast.

During the consideration of this report the Committee had made the following recommendations to Cabinet:-

1.         That Cabinet be recommend to record the sincere appreciation for the sterling work of the revenue and benefits team and the Section 151 officer in rapidly developing and deploying grant schemes for businesses to help maintain the economic fabric of the District in these difficult times for those businesses.

2.         That consideration be given when reporting on the in-year position on the budget to include reference to the comparable position from the previous year.

The Cabinet had before it the following response thereto which had been submitted by the Portfolio Holder for the Corporate Finance & Governance –

“I thank the RSOS Committee for their comments; I actually recognised the sterling work by both, the Financial and Benefits and Revenue teams for the sterling work they have rendered to all of us, Members, Residents and Businesses alike, in my speech at the last Cabinet meeting on 13^th November, when I presented the Financial Performance Report.

I would further add that it goes without saying that the work and effort undertaken by Officers across the whole Council in response to COVID19 has been incredible, which also includes Members. This has been placed on public record several times over the last few months.

In respect of point 2, the Committee are able to independently request what information they think they need to support their overview and scrutiny role regardless of whether or not it is included within reports to Cabinet. However, any request for additional information needs to balance its value with the level of Officer time required to produce and maintain it, especially given the complex nature of local authority accounting.”

Having considered the recommendations submitted by the Resources and Services Overview & Scrutiny Committee together with the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance & Governance’s response thereto:

It was moved by Councillor Stock OBE, seconded by Councillor Porter and:-

RESOLVED that the comments and recommendations of the Resources and Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee be noted and the comments of the Corporate Finance & Governance Portfolio Holder, in response thereto, be endorsed.