Agenda item

The Interim S151 officer, Finance, 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 21 to 22 of the main agenda report.

The Interim S151 officer, confirmed that the report covered the period April to June 2023.

Members were informed that the detailed revenue report, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; showed a projected outturn 2023/24 of £4k overspend. It was appreciated that this was an estimation to the year-end based of the following assumptions: -

·         A 2% pay award had been added to the projected outturn figures, as per the original budget.  There was a reserved £120k from last year surplus to accommodate an enhanced pay award in 2023/24.

·         If April to June 2023 spend on pest control continued on the same trend for the rest of year, there would be no overspend to be charged to partners on this service.  WRS officers would continue to monitor and analyse this spend and advise of any changes in the projected outturn figure at quarter 2.

·         The following was the actual bereavements costs April to June 2023 to be funded by partners. These costs were charged on an as and when basis. Due to the nature of the charge, it was not possible to project a final outturn figure: -                               

                        Bromsgrove District Council       £2k

                        Redditch Borough Council          £3k                                                                                                            

• Appendix 2 to the report, detailed the income achieved by WRS for April to June 2023.

• Any grant funded expenditure was shown separate to the core service costs as this was not funded by the participating Councils.

Fees and Charges increases were currently holding and slightly above where we needed to be.

The Head of Worcestershire Regulatory Services responded to a question from Members and in doing so stated that the 1% increase on salaries equated to approximately £60k.

The Technical Services Manager, WRS, explained that the Ukrainian Support Work – Bromsgrove & Redditch, as detailed on page 27 of the report, was to provide continued support to Bromsgrove and Redditch District Councils (BDC / RBC) Housing Teams, using the former COVID Advisors, who provided welfare checks, safeguarding and signposting for guests who came to the UK on the Homes for Ukraine scheme.   

Marlpool – Redditch, this was an ongoing project whereby WRS on behalf of RBC had completed a Contaminated Land Investigation.  A number of houses in Marlpool Drive, Redditch were situated on a former landfill site.  Urgent remedial works to retrofit each building was undertaken and costs for the additional electricity used, for the equipment installed to prevent landfill gas entering their properties.

Stray Dog Income – this was income generated by WRS providing ‘other’ dog related services to other authorities. The stray dog service continued to be incredibly busy with an ever increasing number of dogs received with welfare concerns.

The Head of WRS briefly explained that Bereavements costs were incurred where there were no relatives or no means to payment for a funeral, this was previously known as a ‘Paupers’ funeral. The number was relatively small, and the costs equated to approximately 5 burials over a three month period. Officers did their utmost to try and locate family members.    

RESOLVED that the Board notes the final financial position for the period April – June 2023, and that