Decision

Salford City Council - Record of Decision (Cabinet)

I, Councillor Jack Youd, Deputy City Mayor, in exercise of the powers contained within the City Council Constitution do hereby approve the recommendations to:

1. To note and review the financial position at the end of December 2025 (Quarter 3) and forecasted revenue outturn position of £0.630m underspend for 2025/26 compared to £2.686m overspend at Quarter 2. 
2. To consider and recommend to Council on 18th March a virement from the Integrated Fund contingency of £3.1m for Children’s Services and £4.842m for Adult Social Care Services to enable an increase to the Council’s contribution to the Integrated Fund under the risk-share with NHS GM based on Adult Social Care Contract forecast outturn position (section 4.4).
3. Approve net use of reserves of £238k for Adults and Public Health, a drawdown of previously received grant funding for housing initiatives.
4. Approve a virement of £604k from the Property Portfolio for £349k to Culture and £255k to Crime and Disorder within the Place Directorate (section 5.7).
5. Approve a virement of £490k from ‘Centrally Held’ budgets to meet the cost of the Communications team redesign (section 6.7),
6. Approve the transfer of £3.9m from unused creditor provision identified following a balance sheet review into the General Fund reserve to improve the resilience of the Council’s position (section 11.1).
7. To note the recommendation from Workforce Panel to Council on 18th March to approve the costs of the severance packages to achieve the required workforce reductions, in line with the Council’s agreed schemes for Voluntary Early Retirement and Redundancy (section 12).To formally note the financial position at the end of September 2025 (Quarter 2) and forecast revenue outturn position for the 2025/26 financial year.

The reasons are:

·         The forecast position for the year end is an underspend of £630k

·         This is a positive change of £3.316m compared to the Quarter 2 overspend position. This change in outlook is driven by targeted use of reserves, approved virements, and underspends across several service areas, despite ongoing pressures.

·         Assumes use of £9.942m of earmarked reserves and a £3.9m transfer to the General Fund reserve, strengthening resilience.

Options considered and rejected were: Not applicable.

Assessment of Risk:

Key budgetary control risks are identified in this report, including forecast variances and risk levels associated with the realisation of savings proposals. 

The source of funding is: Not applicable.

Legal Advice obtained: Not applicable

Financial Advice obtained:

Report produced by the Finance team working with budget managers across all service groups.  

Procurement Advice obtained: Not applicable.

HR Advice obtained: Not applicable

Climate Change Advice obtained: Not applicable.

Equality Impact Assessment and Implications: 

Equality impact assessments are assessed at an individual savings level by the service group responsible. 

Other directorates consulted:

All, council wide matter.

The following documents have been used to assist the decision process:

Service budget monitoring reports to Lead Members, savings proformas and other finance working papers. 

Contact Officers:                          

Name:Rachel Rosewell, Chief Finance Officer 

Telephone: 07855 066602? 

Email: Rachel.Rosewell@salford.gov.uk 

Name: Paul Hutchings, Deputy Chief Finance Officer 

Telephone: 0161 793 2574 

Email: Paul.Hutchings@salford.gov.uk 

Name: Tony Thompstone, Strategic Finance Manager (Corporate) 

Telephone: 0161 793 2016 

Email: Tony.Thompstone@salford.gov.uk 

The appropriate scrutiny to call-in the decision is the Overview and Scrutiny Board.        

Signed:       Councillor Jack Youd             Dated: 10.03.26

                        Deputy City Mayor

For Democratic Services use only

This decision was published on 10.03.26. This decision will come in force at 4pm on 17.03.26 unless it is called-in in accordance with the Decision Making Process Rules.