Decisions

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note and comment on the End of Year Achievements report at Appendix A;

b.

recommend to Council to approve the 2019/20 End of Year Achievements report for publication.

Reason:

To present a summary of outcomes achieved against the Council Plan Annual Action Plan for the year April 2019 to March 2020.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the current 2020/21 financial position of the Council;

b.

note the predicted variance to approved Directorate Budgets as detailed in paragraph 9, Table 1;

c.

note the transfers made to and from reserves outlined in paragraph 28 Table 3, the Area Reserves as detailed in Appendix B, and the Corporate Reserves as detailed in Appendix C.

Reason:

To provide Members with the current projection of the forecast spending and income (“outturn”) against the Council’s approved Revenue Budget for the financial year, and to explain projected variations against budget.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the content of the report;

b.

approve the revised Capital Programme spend profile as detailed in paragraph 7, Table 1

c.

approve the projects listed on Appendix B remain in the capital programme.

Reason:

To provide Members with an in-year projection in 2020/21 of the forecast spending (“outturn”) against the Council’s approved Capital Programme Budget, and to explain projected variations against individual projects and the Programme as a whole.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the net spending for the year of £16,357,133, an underspend of £834,349 (4.85%) compared to final budget, and explanations of variances from budget holders for the 2019/20 financial year as shown in paragraphs 7-10;

b.

approve budget carry forwards of £340,670 into the 2020/21 budget (as shown in Appendix B);

c.

approve individual service overspends are funded from general balances and the net underspend of £493,679 after carry forwards is returned to general balances;

d.

approve the budget virements in paragraph 38, table 7;

e.

note the virements in Appendix E;

f.

note the use of the specific reserves in paragraph 31 and the transfers to and from balances outlined in the General Fund table paragraph 32, table 5;

g.

note the position of the Area Committee balances in paragraph 35.

Reason:

To inform Members and confirm the actual spend against budgets for the 2019/20 financial year.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the content of the report including the total spend of £65.482m on capital schemes during 2019/20; and small variance of £13k underspent across 57 completed schemes;

b.

approve the revised Capital Programme spend as detailed in paragraph 10.

Reason:

To inform Members of the outturn of the capital programme of the Council for 2019/20.

RESOLVED:

That the District Executive:-

1.

approved the updated Executive Forward Plan for publication as attached at Appendix A, with the following amendments;

·         The Somerset Climate Emergency Strategy – moved to November 2020.

• Supporting Families & Improving Life Chances Project Update – December 2020

2.

noted the contents of the Consultation Database as shown at Appendix B, with the following addition:-

·         Developing a tree strategy for England

Reason:

The Forward Plan is a statutory document.

RESOLVED:

That District Executive agreed to:-

a.

note the updated Medium Term Financial Plan estimates;

b.

note and support the updated Financial Strategy as a result of updated forecasts of estimated available resources;

c.

note the anticipated need for the use of earmarked reserves to mitigate temporary falls in income;

d.

note the intention to revisit the funding of the regeneration schemes and report back to District Executive with revised forecasts and recommendations.

Reason:

To provide Members with an updated Financial Strategy for 2020/21 onwards and provide information regarding the initial Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) estimates for the period 2021/22 to 2024/25 incorporating the forecast impact of the Covid-19 pandemic. 

RESOLVED:

That District Executive Members agreed to:-

a.

note the impact on Covid-19 on Council Services and Finances;

b.

note the additional services the Council is having to provide in  response to the pandemic.

Reason:

To note the impact Covid-19 has had on Council finances, service performance, the demand for services we provide and additional services set up in response to the pandemic.