Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

Resolved

(1)  That Councillor Caryl Billingham be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Budget and Financial Strategy Committee for the municipal year 2020-21.

Resolved

(1)  That Councillor Caryl Billingham be appointed Vice-Chairman of the Budget and Financial Strategy Committee for the municipal year 2020-21.

To confirm the Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 March 2020.

The Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 March 2020 were confirmed as a correct record and would be signed by the Chairman in due course.

There were no Chairman’s announcements.

There were no items of urgent business.

Report of the Executive Director - Finance

Purpose of report

This report summarises the Council’s Finance monitoring position as at the end of each month.

Recommendations

1.1         To note the contents of the report.

Resolved

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Finance which summarised the Council’s Finance Monitoring position at the end of June 2020.

In introducing the report, the Executive Director – Finance advised Members that there is an overspend of £536k the deficit included costs for Covid-19 £2,346k, grant funding (£1,207k) and draft surplus 2019/2020 (£530k). After the Covid-19 costs were excluded this resulted in an outturn position of a surplus of (£73k) against the 2020/2021 budget.  Central Government had announced further grant funding for Fees & Charges and Leisure which would assist to mitigate that pressure.

In response to questions from Members regarding shortfall from costs of Covid-19 the Executive Director: Finance explained that the Council had petitioned Central Government for further funding and that the Council would identify areas of expenditure that would be restricted and that the Council had general fund balances and earmarked reserves which would be used in emergency situations.

In answer to questions from the committee about fraudulent cases related to Covid grant funding and applications for assistance the Executive Director: Finance reassured the Committee that robust measures had been in place early to ensure that grants to small business’ had been distributed appropriately and the risk of fraud minimised.

Resolved

(1)  That the contents of the report be noted.

Report of Assistant Director: Customers and Corporate Services and Strategic Business Partner and Deputy Section 151 Officer

Purpose of report

This report summarises the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance monitoring position as at the end of June.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report.

Resolved

(1)  That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director – Customers and Corporate Services and Strategic Business Partner and Deputy Section 151 Officer which summarised the Council’s Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring position at the end of June 2020.

The Committee asked detailed questions which were duly answered by the Executive Director: Finance.

Resolved

(1)  That the monthly Performance, Risk and Finance Monitoring Report be noted.

Report of Executive Director (Finance)

Purpose of report

This report is to update Members on the work undertaken to date by the relevant Task and Finish Groups and the process for developing budget proposals for the new West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority.

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        To note the recommendations of the Task and Finish Groups and the proposed budget process for 2021/22

Resolved

(1)  That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Groups and the proposed budget process for 2021/22 be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Executive Director – Finance which provided an update on the work carried out by the relevant Task and Finish Groups and the process to develop budget proposals for the new West Northamptonshire Unitary Authority.

The report explained that the new West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) would come into existence on 1 April 2021 and would replace the County Council and the three district councils in the West of the County – Daventry, Northampton Borough and South Northamptonshire. The Shadow Authority was created in May, comprising of all the existing district members and those County Council members representing wards in the West. In February 2021 the Shadow Authority would need to approve a General Fund Budget and Council Tax for 2021/2022, as well as a Housing Revenue Account budget and rent setting and a Capital Programme.

The Committee asked detailed questions regarding the split of assets and debts during ‘Disaggregation’ which were duly answered by the Executive Director: Finance.

The Committee asked questions regarding the Council Tax Harmonisation and Council Tax Reduction Scheme which were answered in detail by the Executive Director: Finance.

In answer to the Committees questions regarding Budget and Medium-Term Financial Planning the Executive Director: Finance confirmed that the working group was active, and that the annual budget would be presented to the Shadow Council the February 2021 meeting.

Resolved

(1)  That the recommendations of the Task and Finish Groups and the proposed budget process for 2021/22 be noted.

Report of Assistant Director: Planning and Economy

Purpose of report

To summarise the latest position concerning Section 106 money

Recommendations

The meeting is recommended:

 1.1        Note the summary tables at Appendix 1

Resolved

(1)  That the summary tables be noted.

The Committee considered a report from the Assistant Director: Planning and Economy, which provided an update on the current position concerning Section 106 money.

The Assistant Director: Planning and Economy advised the committee that the monitoring of Contributions held by South Northants Council with clawback due in 2020/21 is on target to be spent in December 2020 and March 2021 to avoid monies being returned to developers.

The Committee asked detailed questions regarding the Section 106 monies and the National Health Service which were answered in detail by the Assistant Director: Planning and Economy.

Resolved

(1)   That the summary tables be noted.