Issue - meetings

To receive the second financial review of 2023-24.

The committee received the report which provided the second review of the Cheshire East Council forecast outturn for the financial year 2023/24.

In relation to the Dedicated Schools Grant, members suggested considering a spotlight review, LGA peer review or having conversations with local authorities which were holding a surplus to consider best practice. Officers advised that there was a significant amount of scrutiny from the Safety Valve programme which Cheshire East had entered into, and that they were happy to work with other authorities on best practice. It was noted that there were some areas of best practice at Cheshire East.

RESOLVED:

That the Children and Families Committee:

1.    Consider the report of the Finance Sub Committee: Finance Sub-Committee, 2nd November, 2023

2.    Consider the factors leading to a forecast adverse Net Revenue financial pressure of £10.8m against a revised budget of £80.3m (13.4%)

3.    Consider the forecast and further mitigations needing to be identified, aimed at bringing spending back in line with budget

4.    Consider the in-year forecast Capital Spending of £36.5m against an approved MTFS budget of £53.8m, due to slippage that has been re-profiled into future years

5.    Scrutinise the contents of Annex 1 and Appendix 2 and note that any financial mitigation decisions requiring approval will be made in line with relevant delegations