Agenda and minutes

There were no apologies for absence.

There were no declarations of personal interests.

No public questions had been received. 

The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the Authority’s Corporate Budget Monitoring Report and the Chief Executive’s and Corporate Services departmental reports as at 31st December 2022 in respect of the 2022/23 financial year. The report also included an appendix detailing Savings Monitoring 2022-23.

Amongst the issues and queries raised on the report were the following:

·      TheMedia and Marketing Manager, in response to a query, stated that response times at customer contact centres was improving and that vacancies were constantly advertised;

·     In terms of the continued income shortfall at the leisure/sports centres attributable to the drop in attendances it was projected that there would be a gradual recovery;

·     Reference was made to the relatively high number of vacant posts and members were assured that the situation was continually monitored;

·     The Head of Financial Services commented that whilst additional funding had been provided for schools in the 2023/24 budget, primarily to assist schools in providing post-covid catch-up for pupils, details of those schools whose budgets remained in deficit could be provided as part of the statement of accounts process;

·     It was acknowledged that the use of agency workers in some service areas was unavoidable due to the difficulties faced in recruiting staff particularly as the same issues were being faced by other local authorities. Whilst the authority was looking to develop its own workforce in these areas this would take some time;

·     In response to a query relating to ICT back-up and restore procedures the Head of ICT and Corporate Policy stated that there was a robust and resilient infrastructure in place and regular tests were undertaken;

·     The Head of Financial Services, in response to a comment, stated that the post-covid difficulties in the construction sector appeared to be easing which was positive news in terms of the capital programme.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to receive the report.

The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the Quarterly Treasury Management and Prudential Indicator Report for the period 1^st April 2022 – 31^st December 2022 which listed the treasury management activities which had occurred during the first quarter of the year in line with the Treasury Management Policy and Strategy 2022-2023 adopted by Council on the 2^nd March 2022.

The Authority had not breached any of its Prudential Indicators during the period.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED to endorse the report.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the list of forthcoming items to be considered at the next scheduled meeting be received.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 30^th January 2023 be signed as a correct record.