Agenda item

The Executive Director of Resources, Bromsgrove District Council (BDC) and Redditch Borough Council (RBC), introduced the report and in doing so drew Members’ attention to the Recommendations as detailed on pages 15 and 16 of the main agenda report.

The Executive Director of Resources confirmed that the report covered the period April to December 2021. 

The detailed revenue report was attached at Appendix 1 to the report.  This showed a projected outturn 2021/2022 of £141k refund to partners.  It was appreciated that this was an estimation to the year end based on the following assumptions: -

·         A number of employees were working on grant funded Covid related work and a small amount of work in other grant related areas.  Agency staff costs were being incurred to backfilling of these employees.  However, due to the national shortage of suitable qualified staff, which had created difficulties in recruiting agency replacements; this had resulted in a significant saving within salaries.

·         Officer Members of the Board had agreed to reserve a further £20k for the purchase of stray dog vans in 2022/2023.  This was due to further delays in the supply chain due to the international shortage of micro-chip components.  Each partner authority’s contribution was as follows: -

Bromsgrove District Council          £3k

Malvern Hills District Council         £3k

Redditch Borough Council             £3k

Worcester City Council                   £3k

Wychavon District Council           £5k

Wyre Forest District Council          £3k

·         The following was the actual bereavement costs April to December 2021 to be funded by partners.  These costs were charged on an as and when basis.  Due to the nature of the activity, it was not possible to project a final outturn figure: -

Bromsgrove District Council          £2k

Malvern Hills District Council         £10k

Redditch Borough Council             £2k

Worcester City Council                   £4k

Wychavon District Council           £1k

• If April to December 2021 spend on pest control continued on the same trend for the rest of year, there would be an overspend on this service of £16k.  WRS officers would continue to monitor and analyse this spend and advise of the final recharges for 2021/2022 as soon as possible.  The projected outturn figure to be funded by partners was: -

                    Bromsgrove District Council            £1k

Redditch Borough Council             £7k

                      Wychavon District Council             £8k     

Appendix 2 to the report shows details of the income achieved by WRS during April to December 2021.  

The Head of Regulatory Services responded to brief questions with regard to bereavement costs and highlighted that WRS officers had a good working relationship with suppliers of funeral services to ensure that only reasonable costs were incurred.

The Head of Regulatory Services responded to further questions with regard to the dog warden vans, and in doing so explained that officers had carried out a lot of work looking at electric vans, their battery life and mileage capacity.  WRS carried out dog warden work for other authorities including Gloucester City, Cheltenham and Tewkesbury, so a vast area to cover, hence officers felt that electric vehicles did not currently have sufficient range for efficient use in this role.  However, officers would continue to look at other less polluting vehicles.

RESOLVED that

a)    the final financial position for the period April to December 2021, be noted; 

b)    the £20k transfer to WRS reserves towards the purchase of a dog warden van, be approved;

c)    partner councils are informed of their liabilities for 2021-2022 in relation to Bereavements.

d)    partner councils are informed of their liabilities for 2021-22 in relation to Pest Control

e)    partner councils are informed of their liabilities for 2021-2022 in relation to three additional Technical Officers.