Purpose

The report provides comparative
information on the Council’s revenue expenditure for the period for the first
half of the financial year.  Members were
invited to consider the financial performance and any corrective action that
may be deemed appropriate.

 

The report provides summary
information on the overall spending position against the revenue budgets in the
current year, as set out in the following tables:

 

General Fund


Budget
2025/26


Budget to
30 Sept 25


Actual to
30 Sept 25


Variation




 


£000s


£000s


£000s


£000s




Service Budgets


16,196


433


4


-429




Non-Service budgets


-1,874


-17


-17


0




Net Budgets


14,322


416


-13


-429

 

Revenue spending plans are currently
showing a net underspend for the first half of the financial year.  Any underspending achieved by the end of the
year will contribute to the balances held in the Council’s reserves.  For 2025/26 there was a balanced budget set
without the need to draw down from reserves.

 

There are a number of areas where
spend is in excess of the budget and some areas are likely to continue to be
overspent through to the end of the financial year unless changes are made
during the revised budget setting process. 
However, current forecasts against the base budget are predicting that
the half-way position overall will continue to the end of the year.

 

It therefore remains appropriate
to continue to monitor financial performance closely over the remainder of the
financial year to ensure that any slippage does not change this position or adversely
affect the services provided to residents and customers.

 

Commentary on the most significant
variations is set out in the briefing papers accompanying the report.

Decision

RESOLVED that the Executive notes the General Fund Revenue
Monitoring Report.