Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Strategic Director of Children, Families and Adults.

Fintan Bradley and Dominic Oakeshott, People Finance Lead, attended to present the mid term financial summary for the Children’s and Families Service. They explained that the report outlined an indication of where the budget was heading for the rest of the financial year in the five main areas of the Directorate and that it also set out the strategies for reducing the overspend in particular areas.

A number of comments were made with regards to the reporting of financial information to the Committee. Firstly, it was stated that financial information was not being reported to the Committee on a regular basis and that this was a concern as it should be a key function of scrutiny to understand policy in light of its financial context. It was also noted that when financial information was provided, it did not have the requisite amount of detail. It was asserted that the Committee only wanted the information so that they could offer some assistance and possible ideas to the Cabinet for savings and improvements.

Dominic Oakeshott, explained that it would have a resource implication in terms of officer time to provide a more detailed financial report as this information was not reported routinely. Having said that, he acknowledged that there needed to be a balance of headline and detailed information and that he would feed the Committees comments back to the Borough Treasurer.

In terms of the overspend outlined in the report, Councillor Hilda Gaddum explained that the overspends for the 2011/12 financial year were one-off requirements which would not be replicated in future budgets.

There was recognition from the Committee that the spending pressures in the Children and Families Directorate were real. Indeed, attention was drawn to the Southwark Judgement which would a real financial impact on the budget. With this in mind, Councillor Hilda Gaddum acknowledged the work of the Strategic Director and the Directorate in managing a considerable budget with all of its myriad challenges.

RESOLVED –

a)    That the report be noted.

b)    That a more detailed financial report be brought to the next appropriate meeting.

c)    That information regarding the 2012/13 budget be brought as soon as possible to a subsequent meeting.