Agenda and decisions

Ward/Division Affected: All

Purpose:

The UK Government is continuing to implement its programme of welfare reform. The programme has a number of policy objectives, to encourage those on benefits to find work and to move away from dependency on benefits payments, whilst at the same time contributing a significant proportion of savings towards Governmental public spending reductions.

The report summarises the main impacts of the welfare reform programme particularly with reference to reductions in Housing Benefit and the ability of Monmouthshire households to afford their rental payments. It includes reference to a further significant reform, the lowering of the household Benefit Cap.

The main practical mitigation offered by the Council is via the administration of Discretionary Housing Payments to assist customers to meet the rent shortfall incurred due to the welfare reforms. Cabinet is asked to consider the revised Discretionary Housing Payment Policy.

Author: Richard Davies, Head of Shared Benefits Service

Contact Details: Richard.davies@torfaen.gov.uk

To approve the Discretionary Housing Payment Policy attached below and to reaffirm the criteria for decision making.

To note the recommendations of the Adult Select Committee scrutiny as noted in paragraph 4.19 below.

That Cabinet are alerted of any shortfall as soon as is possible, for further consideration.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose: The purpose of this report is to make recommendations to Cabinet on the Schedule of Applications for the Welsh Church Fund Working Group meeting 2 of the 2016/17 financial year held on the 22nd September 2016.

Author: David Jarrett, Senior Accountant – Central Finance Business Support

Contact Details: davejarrett@monmouthshire.gov.uk

To resolved that the grants be awarded as per the schedule of applications

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose:

To highlight the context within which the Medium Term Financial Plan (MTFP) will be developed for 2017/18 to 2020/21

To agree the assumptions to be used to update the MTFP, and provide an early indication of the level of budget savings to be found.

To update Members with the implications arising from the provisional settlement announcement of Welsh Government.

To agree the process for developing the MTFP and budget for 2017/18.

Author: Joy Robson - Head of Finance

Contact Details: joyrobson@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That the budget assumptions outlined in paragraphs 3.19 to 3.21 in the report are agreed and updated during the budget process should better information become available.

That Cabinet approves the draft response to the Welsh Government on the provisional settlement.

That the budget process as outlined in paragraph 3.24 is adopted including member budget scrutiny and consultation conducted with Select Committees, and consultation with the public, businesses, JAG, schools budget forum and the Equality and Diversity Group.

Division/Wards Affected: All

Purpose:

The purpose of this report is to provide Members with information on the forecast revenue outturn position of the Authority at the end of period 2 which represents month 6 financial information for the 2016/17 financial year

This report will also be considered by Select Committees as part of their responsibility to,

·         assess whether effective budget monitoring is taking place,

·         monitor the extent to which budgets are spent in accordance with agreed budget and policy framework,

·         challenge the reasonableness of projected over or underspends, and

·         monitor the achievement of predicted efficiency gains or progress in relation to savings proposals.

Author: Mark Howcroft – Assistant Head of Finance

Contact Details: markhowcroft@monmouthshire.gov.uk

That Cabinet notes the extent of forecast revenue overspend at period 2 of £839,000, an improvement of £529,000 on previous reported position at period 1.

That Cabinet expects Chief Officers to continue to review the levels of over and underspends and reallocate budgets to reduce the extent of compensatory positions needing to be reported from month 6 onwards.

That Cabinet appreciates the extent of predicted schools reserve usage and an anticipation that a further 4 schools will be in a deficit position by end of 2016-17.

That Cabinet approves a caveated use of reserves to finance £318,000 employment tribunal costs if the Council’s budget is not able to absorb the effect of this extraordinary expenditure over the remaining 6 months of financial year.

That Cabinet considers the capital monitoring, specific over and underspends, and importantly that Cabinet recognises the risk associated with having to rely on a use of capital receipts in the year of sale and the potential for this to have significant revenue pressures should receipts be delayed and temporary borrowing be required.