Issue - meetings

A report by the Director of Finance and Support Services setting out the finance, performance, capital and workforce position as at the end of March 2019 and Outturn for 2018/19.

The Committee is asked to examine the data and supporting commentary for the March 2019 and Outturn 2018/19 TPM report and make any relevant recommendations for action to the Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources or a relevant Select Committee.

7.1  The Committee considered the Total Performance Monitor (TPM) as at end of March 2019 and Outturn 2018/19 report from the Director of Finance and Support Services (copy appended to the signed minutes).

7.2  The Director of Finance and Support Services introduced the finance element of the TPM report, highlighting that the overspend has been mitigated by non-portfolio and contingency funds to come to a balanced budget position. This was aided by additional funding in the last settlement announcement regarding business rates plus funds from the improved Better Care Fund. Significant budget pressure is anticipated in the coming year due to the investment required in children’s services.

7.3  The Committee made comments in relation to the finance element of the TPM including those that follow. It:

·                  Noted in relation to the section 151 officer’s report that budget margins have become tighter and reiterated the need to make this known to the government. The Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources confirmed this is regularly raised with central government, Ministers, the County Council Network and the LGA.

·                  Recognised that the Better care Fund is only available for the current year and if no further funding is received there will be a large financial challenge to be mitigated.

·                  Queried where the £3m saving has come from in the IPEH programme. The Director of Finance and Support Services will provide the information.

·                  Queried where an additional £5m funding pledged to Children’s Services by the Chief Executive has come from. The Director of Finance and Support Services will provide this extra information to the Committee.

·                  Commented that the lessons learned in this outturn TPM report should inform the 2020/21 budget process.

·                  Noted the Highways overspend due to issues with awarding the new maintenance contract and requested the Cabinet Member for Highways and Infrastructure be asked to clarify what is causing the repeated pressures on the highways budget.

·                  Commented in relation to highway white lining pressures that in the 2018/19 budget an extra 1% was pledged for white lining and signs, and queried how this money had been spent. The Director of Finance and Support Services will provide the detail of this spend.

·                  Noted the overspend in Facilities Management for reactive maintenance and cleaning and queried why the causes were not foreseen. The Cabinet Member for Corporate Relations will seek clarification for the Committee.

7.4  The Head of Intelligence and Performance introduced the performance element of the TPM report, and highlighted that three quarters of the 68 performance indicators had been met or nearly met including child healthy weight, key stage 2 attainment, cycle paths and delayed transfers of care. Failed indicators were highlighted and further narrative provided on each in the report.

7.5  The Committee made comments in relation to the performance element of the TPM including those that follow. It:

·                  Members expressed concern that the KPIs for the Best Start of Life priority do not reflect the reality within the service and the concerns shown in the recent Ofsted report, nor highlight ‘danger’ areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7