Agenda item

To receive and scrutinise the Authority’s performance and financial management report. The report provides a full overview of both the budget and service delivery performance position across the Authority as at 31 March 2024.

The Committee received a report that had been considered by Cabinet at its 24 June 2024 meeting.

This report provided a full overview of both the service delivery performance and budget position across the Authority as of 31 March 2024.

In terms of performance, service delivery remained strong whilst there continued to be high levels of demand and financial implications in EHCP Needs Assessments, children in need residential placements, children in care, home care costs and nursing care placements.  These were identified to be similar pressures to other councils across the country.

The Head of Policy, Performance and Research reported that due to some national accounting matters the 22/23 Statement of Accounts audit had been delayed.  This would mean that outturn figures within the report would remain provisional until the audit’s completion.

A member queried the use of uncommitted S106 money, and officers agreed to provide more information on its utilisation in the next Performance and Financial management report.

A question was asked about the use of reserves detailed in the report, and the timing and use of these reserves.  Officers responded that some of the reserves that had been used had been initially earmarked for a specific expected financial pressure.  As those specific costs were built into the base budget, officers felt it prudent to release that same allocated reserve to alleviate that year end pressure.

A member enquired as to the reasons for the disparity between school’s level of debt. Officers discussed the different reasons for this, including schools not historically being at capacity and the efficiency of utilities and how discussions with these schools had, and were still, taking place with both the Council and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA).

Academisation, and specifically a case where schools academise when debts when we have a reduced reserve level, was mentioned and this risk was stated as being observed and managed – including the holding of a ringfenced reserve for assisting a school in deficit.

It was Agreed that the 2024/25 Performance and Financial Management Report to 31 March 2024 be noted.