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.

A query was raised regarding earmarked capital for Poynton Leisure Centre that had not been spent and what the reason for this was. It was requested that this be looked into.

Members were asked to consider the serious financial challenges being  experienced by the Council, and other local authorities across the country, and to recognise the important activities aimed at minimising the impact on services.

A request was made for future reports to be clearer when information was for noting only. Some members felt that the use of ‘consider’ in recommendations could appear that members were being asked to do more than receive the information.

An amendment to the recommendations in the report was moved and seconded which sought to amend ‘consider’ to ‘note’. This was carried by majority.

RESOLVED (by majority):

That the Environment and Communities Committee:

1.    Note the report of the Finance Sub Committee, 2 November 2023

2.    Note the factors leading to a forecast adverse Net Revenue financial pressure of £3.5m against a revised budget of £48.7m (7.2%)

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

4.    Note the in-year forecast Capital Spending of £10.2m against an approved MTFS budget of £12.0m, due to slippage that has been re-profiled into future years

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