The  Lead Member for Finance and Economic Development introduced the latest Financial Update Report.

Cabinet were informed that we were coming towards the end of the financial year with a General Fund Reserves of £7,986,000, which remained in excess of the £5,860,000 recommended minimum level set at council in February 2018.

The report detailed ongoing pressures by directorate and the Lead Member for Finance and Economic Development highlighted the pressures of children in care costs.  It had previously been reported that there had been a pressure in this area and future demand had been forecasted to continue.  The actual increase in costs for children in care had not been as much as projected with the increase in demand being less than the trend.  This resulted in a favourable movement to the budget. 

Cabinet were informed that further efficiency savings in Children’s Services had been planned with great care so not to impact on vulnerable people.  Although savings had been achieved the mitigations were not as high as projected and were being offset by the favourable movement within children in care. 

The Lead Member for Finance and Economic Development informed that as we approached year end there would be a number of reconciliations to the accounts to areas such as Revenue and Benefits and he looked forward to presenting them to Cabinet in April 2019. 

(Cllr N Airey joined the meeting)

The Chairman informed that he wished to add an additional recommendation to the report to provide free Sunday parking for the Magnet Leisure Centre.  Currently the leisure centre charged for parking on Sunday.  With the closure of the town hall car park an additional 160 car parking spaces had been provided and he wished these spaces and car parking at the leisure centre to be free on Sundays.  If approved the change would come into effect on the 8 April 2019 when the new fees and charges were introduced, including free parking in the town centre after 6pm for Advantage Card holders. 

The Lead Member for Environmental Services reported that he supported the additional recommendation as it was important to our resident to be able to continue to park in Maidenhead following the closure of the town hall car park.

Resolved unanimously: that Cabinet:

1.    Notes the council’s projected outturn position for 2018-19.

2.    Approves the introduction of free car parking on Sunday’s at the Magnet Leisure Centre, including the additional 160 car parking spaces, from 8 April 2019.