Purpose

Quarterly report

Content

This report ses out the forecast Revenue and Capital outturn
position for Buckinghamshire Council for the financial year 2025/26
as at Quarter 1. Overall, the forecast revenue outturn was a
balanced position. The Council continued to experience pressures
from increases in demand and complexity of need in the key services
of Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Temporary
Accommodation, Home to School Transport and High Needs budgets
within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).
 
Portfolios were reporting an
adverse variance of £5.5m (1% of Portfolio budgets), offset
by a favourable variance in Corporate and Funding budgets. This
challenging position was mainly due to pressures in
Children’s Social Care (£3.2m), Home to School
Transport (£1.7m) and Temporary Accommodation (£0.9m).
Contingency actions, that could be deployed if required, were being
considered to mitigate such pressures.
 
The Dedicated Schools Grant
budget had been set with a deficit of £22.9m and this
remained the current forecast. The balance on the DSG deficit
reserve at the beginning of the year was £24.5m with a
forecast closing balance of £47.4m.
 
The forecast position on
capital budgets was £220.5m, which matched the current budget
after reprofiling to reflect an updated and prudent view on the
delivery of projects.
 
The budget included an approved
savings programme of £115.6m over 3 years, with £76.9m
to be delivered in 2025/26. Delivery of savings for 2025/26 was
currently forecast at 0.7% above target with a total £0.51m
of savings above budget. The report also contained recommendations
to update Fees & Charges which were set out in detail at
Appendix 3 of the report. Actions would continue to be required to
closely manage the in-year financial position.
 
RESOLVED that the report be noted and the changes to Fees and
Charges in Appendix 3 of the report be agreed.