Agenda item

Worcestershire Regulatory Services Revenue Monitoring April - December 2020

Meeting of Virtual meeting, Worcestershire Regulatory Services Board, Thursday 11th February 2021 4.30 p.m. (Item 35/20)

Minutes:

The Senior Business Support Accounting Technician, Bromsgrove District Council (BDC), introduced the report and in doing so drew Members’ attention to the Recommendations as detailed on pages 29 and 30 of the main agenda report.

The Senior Business Support Accounting Technician, BDC explained that the report covered the period April to December 2020, Quarter 3.

The detailed revenue report was attached at Appendix 1 to the report. The revised budget for 2020/2021 excluded the increase in ICT and rent at Wyre Forest District Council, as discussed during Agenda Item 4. There was a projected outturn for 2020/2021 of £44k surplus.

It was appreciated that this was an estimation to the year-end based on the following assumptions:-

· There were two vacant posts within the service, we have assumed no recruitment to either the Business & Relationship Manager and the Regulatory Apprentice for the current year.

· If April to December 2020 spend on pest control continued on the same trend for the rest of the year , there would be an overspend on this service of £14k.

Appendix 1 to the report detailed the WRS – Profit & Loss Report 2020/2021 showing an overall projected outturn of £88k surplus reducing to a £44k surplus by the year end.

The following variances were highlighted: -

· Savings due to employees working on the Local Outbreak Response Team.

· Reduction in car allowances, due to a change in working patterns with the current pandemic.

· Savings due to a reduction in dogs straying.

Appendix 2 to the report detailed the WRS Income for 2020/2021, Income from Partners, an additional income of £290k.

Councillor J. Squires, Worcester City Council queried the funding received from Public Health. Councillor Squires had noted that the report stated that, any grant funded expenditure was shown separate to the core service costs as this was not funded by the partnership. Where was the accountability for this funding?

The Head of Regulatory Services clarified that effectively Worcestershire County Council (WCC) had commissioned WRS to do a number of pieces of work, so from a financial probity situation, the responsibility for ensuring that the funds were spent well and obtained best value for money would sit with WCC and the Director of Public Health.

The governance of the expenditure fell with WCC.

Members agreed that they were happy with the explanation provided and would ask the Head of Regulatory Services to only provide the Board with further information should there be any future variances to his statement.

RESOLVED that

a) the final financial position for the period April to December 2020, be noted,

b) partner authorities be informed of their liabilities for 2020/2021 in relation to Bereavements as follows:-

Council	Apr–Dec 20 Actual for Bereavements £000
Redditch Borough Council	9
Malvern Hills District Council	6
Worcester City Council	10
Bromsgrove District Council	5
Total	30

c) partner authorities are informed of their liabilities for 2020/2021 in relation to Pest Control as follows:-

Council	Estimated Projected Outturn Recharge in Relation to Pest Control 2020/21 £000
Redditch Borough Council	7
Wychavon District Council	6
Bromsgrove District Council	1
Total	14

d) partner authorities are informed of their liabilities for 2020/2021 in relation to three additional Technical Officers as follows:-

Council	Estimated Projected Outturn 2020/21 Tech Officer Income Generation £000	Estimated Projected Outturn 2020/21 Tech Officer Animal Activity £000	Estimated Projected Outturn 2020/21 Gull Control £000
Redditch Borough Council	2	2
Malvern Hills District Council	1	8
Worcester City Council	2	3	35
Bromsgrove District Council	1	5
Wychavon District Council	2	7
Wyre Forest District Council	1	4
Total	9	29	35

Supporting documents: