The Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee met to discuss the final financial outturn report for 2024-25 and the integrated performance report for quarter one. Councillors also agreed to appoint members to the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) Working Group. Finally, the committee discussed its work programme, raising concerns about NHS funding, food waste strategies and the level of the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) allowance.

Integrated Performance Report

The committee discussed the integrated performance report for quarter one, although Leader of the Council, Ian Cooper, noted that the report covered the period up to May 2025, before the current administration was elected.

Electric Vehicle (EV) Rollout

The council is reviewing the previous administration's policy on EV charging infrastructure. Councillor Rose raised concerns that cancelling the EV rollout in the short term could risk the council losing central government funding and grants. Councillor Rose also suggested that the council could generate revenue by investing in EV infrastructure and setting its own charging rates, rather than allowing private enterprises to set prices.

Councillor Cooper responded:

We don't talk about money from central government. This is taxpayers' money we're talking about. Anybody who pays tax is a taxpayer. We have a duty to spend taxpayers' money wisely, and that's why it's going through a proper review process through the Cabinet system.

Children in Care

Councillor Doherty noted that as of March 2025, there were 1,311 children in care in Staffordshire, and that recent updates suggest the true number is now 1,415 and likely to rise. Councillor Doherty asked how this would be addressed and what impact it would have on placements and social work capacity.

Cabinet Member for Finance and Resources, Chris Large, responded that a new director had reorganised the children and families area and that this would be developed over the next three to four months, with action expected towards the end of the year.

High Needs Block Deficit

The committee discussed the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG) deficit and the high needs block¹. Councillor Large said that the council's mitigation plans involve asking the Chancellor of the Exchequer for more money. He added that half of councils across England and Wales are going to suffer because of the overspend in this area, with Staffordshire facing a £53.6 million overspend.

Councillor Large also mentioned that the council is taking steps to reduce single occupancy travel to reduce costs.

Final Financial Outturn Report

The committee accepted the final financial outturn report for 2024-25.

Councillor Griffiths asked about a £200,000 saving made by early call on a Lobo loan². An officer explained that a Lobo loan stands for Lender Option, Borrower Option, and that the lender had called the loan for repayment, saving the council £200,000 in interest.

Councillor Griffiths also noted that the council had extra revenues from interest rates being higher for longer, and asked whether this would cause problems in the future given the amount of borrowing the council has. An officer responded that interest rates will fluctuate and an adjustment is made each time in the Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS).

MTFS Working Group

Councillors Baker, Bagley, Doherty, Griffiths, Orlandi-Fattini and White were appointed to the MTFS Working Group. The MTFS Working Group is convened each year to look at the medium-term financial strategy and make recommendations to the Cabinet in January.

Work Programme

Councillor Doherty suggested that the committee should look at how to better align NHS and council funding responsibilities to reduce the risk of cost shifting.

Councillor Rose asked about the council's long-term strategic plans for food waste management schemes and how this would be incorporated by new councils following government reorganisation. This was noted as an item for economy infrastructure.

Councillor Bagley raised a question regarding the Discretionary Housing Payment (DHP) allowances, the history behind why it was reduced, and a review of how the DHP programme works. Councillor Bagley suggested a communal way of managing the allowance, as some councillors use all their budget while others do not.