Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources 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 19 and 20 of the main agenda pack.

The report covered the period April to December 2023.

Members were informed that the detailed revenue monitoring report, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; showed a projected outturn 2023/24 surplus of £3k. It was appreciated that this was an estimation to the year-end based of the following assumptions: -

·         The pay award had been agreed and included in the revenue monitoring statement. There was a reserved £120k from last year surplus to accommodate the enhanced pay award in 2023/24.

·         Agency staff costs were being incurred due to backfilling of staff working on other contractual work e.g., food recovery programme, contaminated land and work for other local authorities, these costs were covered by vacant posts and income generation.

·         If April to December 2023 spend on pest control continued on the same trend for the rest of year, there would be an overspend on this service of £15k. WRS officers would continue to monitor and analyse this spend and advise of any changes in the projected outturn figure at quarter 3. The projected outturn figure to be funded by partners was: -

Redditch Borough Council£7k

Wychavon District Council£8k

This income was included in the income projected outturn.

·         The following was the actual bereavements costs April to December 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       £4k

                           Malvern Hills District Council     £1k    

                        Redditch Borough Council          £17k   

                          Worcester City Council               £10k                                                                                                         

·         Appendix 2 to the report, detailed the income achieved by WRS for April to December 2023.

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

There was not a massive change from Quarter 2.

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