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Agenda item

Financial, Council Priority and Service Performance Report - 2020/21 - Q4 and Year End

Purpose

To provide an update on progress on the Council’s priorities and service performance

To provide information on the Council’s financial position

 

Recommendation

To review overall progress on the Council priorities, service delivery and financial performance for 2020-21 Q4

Minutes:

The Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report, explaining that this was a review of the 2020/21 year. The following points were highlighted:

 

(a)       The Council had continued to function throughout the Pandemic, despite the majority of staff working from home.

(b)       Over £57 million in grants had been paid out by the Council to small businesses during the Pandemic.

(c)       Financial support had been provided to residents who had been required to self-isolate during the Pandemic.

(d)       Leisure providers had been provided with financial support after they were forced to temporarily close during the Pandemic.

(e)       The Pandemic had resulted in a fall to Council income, particularly in relation to the reduction in car park usage. 

 

(f)       The Council had seen an increase in the amount of collected recycling due to the     increase in working from home and people staying at home due to national lockdowns.

 

(g)     The data within the report related to the revised budget which was submitted to Full Council in September 2020. There was a small budget surplus of £21,000, which would transfer to the Council’s General Fund.

 

(h)     Planning income had increased during the year and exceeded the target as outlined in the revised budget.

 

(i)     The report outlined the grants which had been received by the Government to support local communities and businesses throughout the Pandemic.

 

(j)     The significant fall in net business rates income had impacted on the Council’s Collection Fund. The grant received from the Government to support the decline in business rates would be placed into earmarked reserves for the forthcoming financial year and would be called upon to repay the Collection Fund deficit.

 

In relation to Planning, a view was expressed that it would be helpful for the Chair of the Planning Committee to receive regular updates on the financial information relating to this area of business.

 

The Committee noted that the contribution to the Council’s General Fund was around £180,000 less than when the original 2020/21 budget was set. This was a due to the impact of the Covid-19 Pandemic.

 

In relation to electric vehicle charging points, the Committee noted that work would be undertaken to determine which charging devices would be installed at each site according to anticipated demand, cost and charging performance.

 

A note updating Members on empty properties would be circulated for information.

 

The Committee noted that the implementation of the new revenues and benefits system had been successful. Any change of circumstances information had to be held before the data was migrated from the previous system to the new. Work was then undertaken to ensure that any delays associated with the system migration were kept to a minimum. The aim of the revised system was to improve the user experience.

 

It was noted by the Committee that a review of office space requirements was being undertaken which would determine how much physical office space was required at the Trinity Road site. Further reports on the results of this work would be shared with Members as the review progressed. Each Business Manager was responsible for ensuring that their staff were working in the most effective and appropriate way, whether this be office, home-based or a hybrid of the two. At the current time, CDC staff could choose to work from an office location subject to agreement with their line manager.

 

A note updating Members on the progress of providing high-speed fibre broadband to all

areas of the Cotswolds would be circulated.

 

With regards to the provision of affordable housing, Members expressed a view that it would be helpful to include a breakdown of properties within this category – the number of proposed social properties, affordable rent properties, etc.

 

The Committee requested that an update on cashless parking be brought to a future meeting.

 

RESOLVED that the Committee noted the report and provided comments on potential amendments in advance of submission to Full Council.

                  

Record of Voting – for 9, against 0, abstention 0, absent 1.

 

Supporting documents: