Decision

RESOLVED
that Cabinet:-
 

1.   
Note the £6.0M projected cost pressure on the
Council’s 2024/25 General Fund budget, a deteriorating
position since Q1; and
 

2.   
Note the ongoing cost pressures within
Children’s Social Care and theplans in place to mitigate
these pressures as far as is possible; and
 

3.   
Agree to receive further updates from Executive
Directors on the delivery of their service reviews/efficiency
savings and future spending plans, ensuring that these are managed
within agreed budget envelopes; and
 

4.   
Note that the previously reported budget gap in
25/26 of £19M, is not fully reflective of the forecast
outturn position in this report, which depending on the Local
Government Financial Settlement, may require further savings over
and above those already provisionally identified; and
 

5.   
Note the advice of the Director of Finance (S151
Officer) that the first call of any betterment in the forthcoming
Local Government Finance Settlement be used to offset these
increased pressures; and
 

6.   
Agree to receive an updated Medium-Term Financial
Strategy later in 2024 following the Autumn Budget and Local
Government Finance Settlement; and
 

7.   
Approve the further drawdown of earmarked reserves
(£0.636M General Fund services) to fund previously approved
expenditure in 2024/25; and
 

8.   
Note the Housing Revenue Account is forecast to
outturn a balanced position; and
 

9.   
Approve the accounting write-off of historic bad
debts totalling £0.941M as detailed in the report [NB: all
debts remain liable for collection]; and
 

10. Note the forecast position on the
Capital Programme; and
 

11. Note scheme slippage totalling
£9.725M; and
 

12. Approve the net increase in scheme
costs of £1.480M; and
 

13. Note the key messages from the
Council’s Q2 Treasury Management activities.