Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercialisation and Partnerships, the Strategic Finance Manager (PSPS), and the Deputy Chief Finance Officer (Client) (PSPS)), which set out the provisional outturn position for South Holland District Council for 2021/22, subject to final audit, and provided information on the implications for the Council’s balances and reserves including the capital position for the year.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance commented that since the start of the pandemic, the Council has seen numerous impacts on its finances.  In addition, increased living costs impacted the public and also made it difficult for the Authority to budget, and there had been significant changes as South Holland District Council had separated from its partnership with Breckland Council and joined the South and East Lincolnshire Councils Partnership.  It had been a challenging year for the Finance Team and the Portfolio Holder thanked them for their dedicated work.

The following points were raised:

·         In response to a question as to whether local councils would receive any support themselves towards increased energy costs, the Deputy Chief Executive (Corporate Development) advised that representations had been made by Chief Executives regarding the impact that these increased costs were having on council finances and thus spending on public services.  However, councils were in the same position as many others, and it would be important to see the outcome of the settlement process.

·         It was encouraging to see the increased spend on Disabled Facilities Grants.

·         Collection figures were high and this was very encouraging, particularly during the period of the pandemic.

DECISION:

1)    That Cabinet notes the outturn position for 2021/22 as detailed in Table 1 and recommends to Full Council its financing from the Council Tax Reserve;

2)    That the reserve movements and balances, as detailed in Table 3 be noted;

3)    That Cabinet note the general fund capital position and recommends to Council to approve the 2021/22 capital budget carry forward to 2022/23 due to slippage/re-profiling as detailed in column 3 of Table 8; and

4)    That Cabinet note the HRA capital position and recommends to Council to approve the budget carry forward due to slippage/re-profiling as detailed in column 3 in Table 12.

RECOMMENDATIONS TO COUNCIL:

5)    That the outturn position for 2021/22 as detailed in Table 1 be financed from the Council Tax Reserve;

6)    That Cabinet recommends to Council approval of the following reserve movements:

a)    A contribution of £1,419,065 to the Earmarked Grants reserve of additional section 31 grants received in year which are required to fund the Collection Fund Deficit in 2022/23;

b)    A contribution from the Earmarked Grants Reserve of £2,922,033 which is required to drawdown section 31 grants received in 2020/21 but are required to fund the Business Rates deficit in 2021/22

7)    General Fund capital position – That the 2021/22 capital budget carry forward to 2022/23 due to slippage/re-profiling, as detailed in column 3 of Table 8, be approved; and

8)    HRA capital position – That the budget carry forward  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34