Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that seeks Members to note year-end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the 3rd quarter ended 31st December 2018.

RESOLVED that it is noted that:

(1) The savings achieved in year to date total £150k with a further £197k in

progress.

(2) The forecast year end position is currently for an increase to the Council’s

General Fund balance of £95k against a budgeted increase of £163k.

(3) The details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions

being taken to address those issues

(4) The current level of Capital expenditure as shown on Appendix 2 of the report.

Cabinet considered the report of the Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources that sought Members to note year-end forecasts, and progress made against agreed savings targets for the 3rd quarter ended 31st December 2018.

The Cabinet Member for Performance and Resources highlighted the position for each portfolio and commented that positive progress was being made.  The Cabinet Member for Communities and Neighbourhoods advised Members that they would soon see the benefits of innovative work being undertaken with housing to help people and families with complex needs, particularly around homelessness prevention.  The Cabinet Member for Culture and Leisure acknowledged that the report reflected the challenges of the transitions over the past year in her portfolio but assured Members that the coming year would see exciting opportunities from those developments such as the transfer of the Life Museum to Gloucester Historic Buildings Ltd and a focus on the Guildhall.  She took the opportunity to announce that entry to the Museum of Gloucester would be free, only charging for special exhibitions, from the 1^st of April 2019 and that it would incorporate the Tourist Information Service and no longer be closed on Mondays from that date as well.  The Cabinet Member for Environment thanked officers at the crematorium for managing the extra work arising from difficulties at Cheltenham Borough crematorium which had contributed to the financial performance (10.4).  The Cabinet Member of Regeneration and Economy commented that more realistic targets and developments, such as securing a new operator for the markets, would have a positive impact next year.  The Cabinet Member for Planning and Housing Strategy emphasised the importance of looking at the context of the strengths and weaknesses revealed in the report and stated that overall the picture looked good for the year end. 

RESOLVED that it is noted that:

(1) The savings achieved in year to date total £150k with a further £197k in progress.

(2) The forecast year end position is currently for an increase to the Council’s General Fund balance of £95k against a budgeted increase of £163k.

(3) The details of specific budgetary issues identified by officers and the actions being taken to address those issues

(4) The current level of Capital expenditure as shown on Appendix 2 of the report.