Issue - meetings

1.     That the General Fund Revenue Outturn and Capital Programme Outturn be noted as set out in report CAB3352.

2.     That the proposal to establish an “Exceptional Inflation Pressures” risk reserve be approved and that £2m be transferred to that reserve pending the preparation of a revised forecast for the 2022/23 budget in October 2022 to assess the impact of current inflation and energy price pressures on the original budget.

3.     That the transfers to and from the Major Investment reserve be approved as detailed in appendix 1 of report CAB3352 and the reserves and closing balances at 31 March 2022 be noted (as set out in appendix 2).

4.     That the revised 2022/23 capital programme be approved, as set out in appendix 5 of report CAB3352.

5.     That the revised 2022-2032 capital programme be noted, as set out in appendix 6 of report CAB3352.

Councillor Power introduced the report.

At the invitation of the Leader, Councillor Wallace addressed Cabinet as summarised briefly below.  He requested confirmation that the intention remained for the garden waste collection scheme to be cost neutral, noting the higher than anticipated uptake.  He also asked for the data in support of the statement in the report that the new eastern park and ride site (the Vaultex site) would reduce traffic into the city and support the council’s carbon neutrality pledges.

Councillor Power and the Strategic Director and Section 151 officer responded to the points raised, including confirming that any decision on future charging for garden waste would be a matter for Cabinet.  The Strategic Director agreed to seek clarification regarding the impact of the new park and ride site.

Cabinet agreed the following for the reasons set out above and outlined in the report.

RESOLVED:

1.         That the General Fund Revenue Outturn and Capital Programme Outturn be noted as set out in report CAB3352.

2.         That the proposal to establish an “Exceptional Inflation Pressures” risk reserve be approved and that £2m be transferred to that reserve pending the preparation of a revised forecast for the 2022/23 budget in October 2022 to assess the impact of current inflation and energy price pressures on the original budget.

3.         That the transfers to and from the Major Investment reserve be approved as detailed in appendix 1 of report CAB3352 and the reserves and closing balances at 31 March 2022 be noted (as set out in appendix 2).

4.         That the revised 2022/23 capital programme be approved, as set out in appendix 5 of report CAB3352.

5.         That the revised 2022-2032 capital programme be noted, as set out in appendix 6 of report CAB3352.

RECOMMENDATION:

It is recommended that the committee scrutinise and comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3352 which is to be considered by cabinet at its meeting on the 19 July 2022.

Councillor Power, Cabinet Member for Finance and Value introduced the report, ref SC073 and CAB3352 which set out proposals for the General Fund Outturn, (available here). 

The committee was recommended to scrutinise and comment on the proposals within the attached cabinet report, ref CAB3352 which was to be considered by the cabinet at its meeting on 19 July 2022.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report. In summary, the following matters were raised:

1.    clarification of the higher than budgeted collection of business rates

2.    clarification of the variances at the Winchester Sport and Leisure Park (WSLP)

3.    whether sufficient transparency existed in the financial performance of the WSLP since the ending of the open book arrangement.

4.    the lessons learnt concerning the impact of the pandemic on future uptake of sports and leisure activities and specifically how actual usage compared to forecasted usage

5.    further information on the timescales and costs to achieve final contract closure regarding the WSLP

6.    clarification of the timescales for the Valuation Office determination of the River Park Leisure Centre

7.    further information regarding the variance relating to the general election expenses

8.    further information regarding the recycling and refuse collection costs

9.    whether further claims for Government support packages were awaiting a decision

10. the number of properties within the investment property portfolio listed in paragraph 23.1

11. clarification of the proposal for explanatory notes to be included in Appendix 3 regarding the Winchester Town Forum account.

12. further information regarding the revised budget for "Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funded community projects)” shown in Appendix 5.

These points were responded to by Councillor Power, both Strategic Directors present and the Corporate Head of Financeand were noted by Councillor Power.

RESOLVED:

1.             that officers provide further information to points 4, 5 and 10 above

2.             that the committee appreciated the amendments proposed regarding the presentation of the Winchester Town Account figures

3.             that officers discuss with the Chairperson as to whether future outturn reports would be presented directly at this committee or via the Performance Panel

that the Cabinet Member and officers note the comments of the committee.