Agenda item

(a)  That the reported underlying financial position of the Council for the year end 2020-21 be noted;

(b)  That the Council’s provisional reserve balances for the year end 2020-21 be noted;

(c)  That budget transfer (virements) for 2020-21 as requested in Section 9 of the report be approved.

(d)  That write offs for the first quarter of 2020-21 as requested in Section 10 of the report be approved.

The Interim Service Lead for Finance introduced a report that updated on the financial position of the Council’s revenue account for the second quarter of the 2020/21 financial year to the end of September 2020.

It was noted that the forecast year end position for all Council run services was a balanced position for the current year.  This took into account the Covid-19 grants from Government totalling £14.7m.  There were substantial directorate pressures arising from Covid-19, particularly in Adult Social Care which was reporting £6.5m Covid related pressures during the current year, and Finance & Resources with £2.1m of indirect costs as savings targets had not been met.  Where savings targets had been unachievable services had been asked to try to identify compensatory savings where possible.

The Cabinet recognised the significant financial impact on Covid-19 on the Council’s budget position.  It was noted that there had been various tranches of Covid grants from central government which helped offset some of the immediate increase in costs and lost income.  However, there still remained significant uncertainty and risks in the medium term and these challenges would be considered as part of the budget setting process for 2021/22 and the Medium Term Financial Strategy.  Lead Members discussed a range of issues including the directorate pressures, specifically those in adult social care, and the current position relating to Slough Children’s Services Trust financial position.

Speaking under Rule 30, Councillor Strutton for more detail about the increased adult social care costs and the Director of Adults & Communities responded.  A response would be provided separately to Councillor Strutton on care home costs pre and post Covid-19.

The Cabinet considered the virement and write off requests as set out in sections 9 and 10 of the report.  After querying the reasons for the apparent increase in write off requests in the 2^nd Quarter, the report was approved.

Resolved –

(a)  That the reported underlying financial position of the Council for the year end 2020-21 be noted;

(b)  That the Council’s provisional reserve balances for the year end 2020-21 be noted;

(c)  That budget transfer (virements) for 2020-21 as requested in Section 9 of the report be approved.

(d)  That write offs for the first quarter of 2020-21 as requested in Section 10 of the report be approved.