Agenda and decisions

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To provide Cabinet with information on the Authority’s final financial results for the 2022/23 financial year in respect of the revenue budget, capital programme, and associated reserves position.

Author: Jonathan Davies, Head of Finance (Deputy S151 officer)

Contact Details: jonathandavies2@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet recognises a net revenue budget deficit at outturn of £3,503,000 that requires a contribution from earmarked reserves to fund the additional expenditure incurred.

That the primary drivers of this budget deficit are:

·       Overspends within Adult’s and Children’s social care services of £367,000 and £4,147,000 respectively where increased demand, increased complexity of cases, and high cost placements have been a feature during the year.

·       An overspend of £881,000 within Additional learning needs specifically in relation to placement costs in independent and out of county provision, alongside increased transport costs following a sustained period of inflation.

·       Additional costs in relation to Homelessness of £1,352,000 where the Council is unable to claim full housing benefit subsidy for those housed within temporary accommodation.

·       Where pay awards agreed during the year were £2,050,000 above budgeted levels.

·       These have been significantly offset by the receipt of unbudgeted grant, improved income, significant staff vacancies across services, higher than budgeted investment and Council tax income, and lower costs in some non-pay service areas.

That Cabinet recognise that the deficit at outturn represents a significant improvement from the position forecast at month 9, with £2,557,000 less needing to be contributed from reserves. This is primarily as a result of £990,000 of additional eligible costs being financed from capital receipts under capitalisation direction; £1,300,000 of additional grant funding being received or allocated to core expenditure in relation to Adult social care costs, and; a net £1,738,000 improvement in service budget positions driven by budget recovery action enacted by services during the year, and significantly where additional income has been identified and staff vacancies have been held.

That Cabinet note the ongoing financial risk represented by the current volatile operating environment within Adult’s and Children’s services and require the respective Chief Officers and the Responsible Financial Officer to continue to closely monitor and manage operational and financial performance to ensure that all possible remedial action is taken to constrain cost, and that this is reported to the Cabinet Portfolio Holder regularly.

That Cabinet endorse the strategy to rationalise reserves as noted within paragraph 4.10 of this report, and task officers with considering a further rationalisation exercise once the medium-term financial strategy is developed that outlines the financial framework and alignment to the Council’s approved Community & Corporate plan.

That Cabinet approve the use of capital receipts totalling £3,271,000 to fund the eligible revenue expenditure as outlined in Appendix 3 under the Welsh Government’s “flexible use of capital receipts” direction.

That Cabinet acknowledge the reduction in Schools balances during the year of £2,698,908 as outlined in Appendix 1 and Appendix 4, significantly lower than the £4,653,000 that had been previously forecast. Five schools ended the year in a deficit balance with several schools continuing to carry structural budget deficits that will need to be addressed.

That Members note capital expenditure for the year of £43,693,000, with £33,098,000 of budget requested to be slipped into 2023/24. As a result of net under spends across various smaller schemes within the programme, £220,000 of  ...  view the full decision text for item 3.

Division/Wards Affected: Osbaston

Purpose: To seek Cabinet approval to reopen Monmouth Cemetery for ‘on-demand’ coffin burials.

Author: Rhian Jackson, Cemeteries Officer

Contact Details: rhianjackson@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve the proposed policy change to reopen Monmouth Cemetery for the offer of ‘on-demand’ coffin burials.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose:To seek Cabinet approval to cease the offer to reserve grave spaces (not including cremated remains plots)

Author:Rhian Jackson, Cemeteries Officer

Contact Details: rhianjackson@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approve the proposed policy change in Council managed cemeteries.

To commence a review of remaining burial space in Monmouthshire, to inform a strategic assessment of future cemetery provision, inclusive of additional or alternative sites.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: To seek authorisation to proceed with the purchase of a residential, family property in Abergavenny to enable the Council to alleviate the pressures with homelessness and the reliance on unsuitable Temporary Accommodation, for example Bed and Breakfast. 

Author: Frances O’Brien – Chief Officer, Communities and Place

Cath Fallon – Head of Enterprise and Community Animation

Contact Details: FrancesOBrien@monmouthshire.gov.uk

Cathfallon@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet approves the acquisition of the property, utilising Social Housing Grant and drawing on the existing borrowing headroom and budget envelope of the capital programme, to address the purchase price shortfall.