To comment on the Cabinet report.

The Head of Finance presented the latest Council’s financial statement for 2017-18.

The Panel were informed that the main headlines were that it was predicted that the Council remained in a strong financial position with combined general fund reserves of £7,255,000.  This was substantially above the recommended minimal level of reserves and that across the country many authorities were struggling to maintain reserves. 

In addition appendix A showed that we were carrying forward £2,073,000 of capital fund reserves for eventualities that may arise.  The Head of Finance outlined by directorate the variances against controllable budget, which were:

There were a number of challenges within the Children’s and Adults Services that the Lead Members and officers had been tasked to resolve.  There had also been adverse movement in Housing Benefit Subsidy. 

There were also two additional recommendations in the report.  The approval of a £250,000 transfer from the Borough Parking budget to the Braywick Leisure Centre budget to enable the early provision of 200 parking places and the implementation of new discounted Advantage Card tariffs in the Magnet and Windsor Leisure Centre car parks.

(Cllr Brimacombe, Cllr L Evans, Cllr D Wilson and Cllr Saunders joined the meeting)

The Chairman asked if the York House project was still within budget and for clarification as to why there needed to be additional discounts for the leisure centre parking.

The Head of Finance informed that the York House project was within budget.  With regards to the leisure centre parking tariffs there was already an existing discount for leisure centre users to have parking for three months for £10 to use the facilities.  The additional discount was to bring the parking discount in line with the other borough car parks for Advantage Card users.  

Cllr D Wilson informed that he had been contacted by a local resident saying that there were no parking season tickets available for local car parks and they were advised that they could park at the Braywick leisure centre.  Was it possible to park with the discount at the centre if you became a member.  The Panel were informed that residents with an Advantage Card could park free for three hours.

The Lead Member for Finance informed that the existing leisure centre discount are for residents using the leisure centre.  During the budget build he said that all advantage card users would receive a discount at our car parks; this recommendation was addressing this so our leisure centre parking also received the same discount.

The Chairman questioned the redundancy costs and how many people this covered.  The Lead Member for Finance replied that this had been considered by the Employment Panel under Part II.  The Employment Panel had requested a further report on the nature of the redundancies.  Cllr Quick mentioned that the boroughs redundancy packages were generous.  

Cllr L Evans questioned the delay in those eligible receiving business rate relief.  The Lead Member for Finance informed that initial take up was disappointing especially when one of the discounts if not used funding would be return to Government.  Further activities were undertaken to help improve up take. 

Cllr Rankin informed that ward members had been utilised to contact local businesses and help promote discounts available. 

Cllr Ilyas asked what was happening about the pressure on the dedicated schools grant and was informed that there was a pressure regarding special education needs provision and that the Schools Forum were implementing an action plan to reduce the deficit. 

Resolved unanimously: That the Corporate Services O&S Panel considered the Cabinet report and unanimously approved the recommendations.