Agenda item

The Committee considered the 2017/18 Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring reports for the Housing, Regeneration, Planning and Leisure and Recreation Services for the period up to the 3Oth June, 2018. It was noted that the revenue budget was forecasting a £300k overspend, the capital budget a £362k underspend, whilst the Housing Revenue Account was forecasting a £237k underspend.

The following questions/issues were raised on the report.

·        The Head of Planning in response to a question on the projected £326k overspend within the Planning Division advised the position was not expected to change in the near future and that mirrored the trend across Wales where planning services were recovering an average 60%. The Division, through existing targets was expected to recover 80%, but in reality was recouping around 60% in line with the Wales average. The Division was examining alternative ways of increasing its income stream which could, for example, include charging for pre-planning advice. However, it should also be noted there were some services for which it was not allowed to charge for such as enforcement duties.

·        The Head of Leisure in response to a question on increased revenue at Pembrey Country Park, advised there was potential for that trend to increase over the next few years especially having regard to the Council’s investment proposals which included new infrastructure, wi-fi, amenity block and restaurant. However, there would come a time when income levels would plateau.

·        Reference was made to the operating deficit at the Pendine Outdoor Education Centre and whether the Council had a strategy to address the deficit.

The Head of Leisure confirmed whilst there was a strategy in place, which was achieving a deficit reduction, the site was in need of investment with some of the buildings having been on site in excess of 50 years, and consideration was being given to addressing that position, which may result in the submission of a capital funding bid.

·        The Head of Leisure referred to a question on the £10k cost to the museums budget for employing a documentation assistant and confirmed the post had been created on a one year fixed contract to assist with the backlog in recording artefacts held by the service, which was a requirement to achieving accreditation.

He also advised that with regard to the level of artefacts held by the Museums Service there was an adopted collections and disposals policy in place.

·        Reference was made to the £494k variance in the authority’s housing rental income with clarification being sought on the reason for the 0.8 % increase in the level of void properties and the resultant increased loss of rental.

The Interim Head of Homes and Safer Communities advised that every year, as part of the budget setting process, an assumption was made on the level of voids during the year. For 2018/19 that had been estimated as being 2.1% of rental income, but was now projected to be 2.9%. The main reason for the variance was a number of voids requiring extensive works prior to returning to the housing stock. However, finance was available to undertake those works. Additionally, a number of properties were being held back to accommodate tenants decanted whilst renovations were undertaken to their properties.

·        Reference was made to the recent contract entered into by the Authority with Burry Port Marine Ltd for the management of Burry Port Harbour and its £100k contribution towards the cost of a dredger. Clarification was sought on the terms of the contribution and to whether the authority would receive income from the dredger’s use at other harbours.

The Head of Leisure confirmed a profit share arrangement was in place, with any income re-invested into the harbour

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the Revenue and Capital Budget Monitoring Report be received.