Issue - meetings

1)    To accept the report on the end of November 2023 review of the Revenue Budget and consider the latest financial situation regarding the budgets of each department / service.

2)    To note that significant overspend is anticipated in the Adults, Health and Well-being Department, the Children and Supporting Families Department, and the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department this year.

3)    Approve the transfer of £4,241k of underspend on corporate budgets to the Council's Financial Strategy Reserve.

The report was submitted by Cllr Ioan Thomas. ⁠

DECISION

1)    To accept the report of the end of November 2023 review of the Revenue Budget and to consider the latest financial situation regarding the budgets of each department / service.

2)    To note that significant overspend was anticipated in the Adults, Health and Well-being Department, the Children and Supporting Families Department, and the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department this year.

3)    Approve the transfer of £4,241k of underspend on corporate budgets to the Council's Financial Strategy Reserve.

DISCUSSION

The report was submitted, and it was noted that the review detailed the latest review of the Council's revenue budget for 2023/24, and the forecasts towards the end of the financial year. It was explained that the review suggested that all the ten departments would overspend by the end of the year. It was added that there would be a substantial overspend by the Adults, Health and Well-being Department, the Children and Supporting Families Department and the Highways, Engineering and YGC Department.

It was noted that the department anticipated a financial gap of £8.1m compared to the £9.1m noted in the August review. It was explained that the position was better by a million because of the use of one-off funds to assist the situation within departments.

The following main issues were highlighted:

Adults, Health, and Well-being Department - It was noted that the latest forecasts suggested £5.4 million overspend, which was a combination of several factors including several new and costly cases, higher staffing costs and sickness levels and high rates of non-contact hours.  It was conveyed that the work commissioned by the Chief Executive was now underway to obtain a better understanding of matters and create a clear response programme.

Children and Supporting Families Department - it was explained that the financial situation had worsened substantially since the end of August review, and this was due to an increase in the costs of out-of-county packages. It was noted that the Department anticipated an overspend of £1.3m. 

Education Department - It was noted that there was increasing pressure on the
transport budget with an anticipated overspend of £1.15m. It was explained that there was a strategic review to try and manage the increase and to try and reduce the overspend. 

Byw'n Iach - it was expressed that Covid had had an impact on Cwmni Byw'n Iach and it was noted that the financial support would continue this year and the required amount for this year had been decreased to £360k.

Highways, Engineering and YGC Department - an overspend of £780k was anticipated by the department, it was noted that this was because of a reduction in the commissioned work that had had a negative impact on the income of highway services. It was noted that income losses in ground maintenance and public toilets were also a factor.

Environment Department - it was noted that there was an annual trend of overspending in the waste collection and recycling fields, it was explained  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6