Agenda item

The Deputy Chief Executive and 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 21 and 22 of the main agenda pack. The report covered the period April to December 2024.

Members were informed that the detailed revenue monitoring report, as attached at Appendix 1 to the report; showed a projected outturn 2024/25 of £8k surplus; and was based on the following assumptions: -

• The agreed pay award for 2024-25 was included in the revenue monitoring reports, the report also reflected the additional funding from partner councils of £21k agreed by the Board at the meeting held on 21^st November 2024.

• If April to Dec 24 spend on pest control continued on the same trend for the rest of year, there would be an overspend on this service of £19k. The projected outturn figure to be funded by partners was:-

                           Redditch Borough Council     £11k

                           Wychavon District Council    £8k     

• The following was the actual bereavements costs Apr – Dec 24 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       £5k

                          Malvern Hills District council       £4k

                          Redditch Borough Council          £7k

                          Worcester City Council               £1k

           This income was included in the income projected outturn.

The Licence for Victoria Forms was £32k.

• Appendix 2 to the report showed the detail of the income achieved by WRS April – Dec 24, the income had increased which was very positive.

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

Information on the National Insurance (NI) contributions 2025-26 onwards and the Employer National Insurance Contributions Grant – Explanatory Note, were briefly explained on page 24 of the main agenda pack.

Appendix 3 to the report provided figures on the 2025-26 Unavoidable Salary Pressures – NI Increases, with a cost to WRS at £72k.

Members queried if any pest control issues were of a concern in any particular Ward or if fly-tipping had caused any pest control issues.

The Director of Worcestershire Regulatory Services (WRS) explained that with regard to pest control, each partner authority had specific criteria for charges for pest control services. In all five district areas where it was offered, only residents in receipt of certain qualifying benefits who needed support with pest control could get free or discounted treatments, depending on which pest control service was required and the qualifying benefit they were in receipt of. Redditch, Borough Council used to offer all residents free treatment for rats, but this ceased in 2017.

The Director of WRS agreed to liaise with the Technical Services Manager, WRS to provide Members with information on any Ward areas where there was a concern that possible pest control issues were due to fly-tipping.

The Director of WRS responded to a further question of air pollution and the use of greener fleets for WRS.

In doing so, Members were informed that officers had scoped electric vans for the dog warden service. However, due to the vast area covered by the dog warden service (which included Malvern, Cheltenham, Birmingham City, Gloucester City and Tewkesbury); the mile range of electric vans was not sufficient for the area covered by WRS. Hence, the service chose the best quality diesel vans. However, officers would continue to keep an eye on the potential use of electric vans, as there would come a time when electric vans had a longer mile range. With regard to using HVO fuel this would be an expensive option, as at the present time it is a significantly higher cost per litre than diesel.

The Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Resources, responded to queries with regards to NI and the local government finance settlement.

In response to a question on the Ukrainian Support Work, the Director of WRS explained that WRS currently delivered this work for Bromsgrove District and Redditch Borough Councils only; with a small number of staff and that currently the Government had agreed to fund this work for into the new financial year.

The Chairman then took the opportunity to draw Members’ attention to the Recommendations. On being out to the vote, it was

RESOLVED that the Board

1.1    note the final financial position for the period April – Dec 2024

     1.2    partner councils are informed of their liabilities for Apr – Dec 24

              in relation to Bereavements,  as follows:-

1.3    partner councils are informed of their liabilities for 2024-25 in

         relation to additional Technical Officers, as follows:-

and

1.4       note that following the Government’s guidance for reclaiming of

            National Insurance increases for 25-26 onwards, because these

            increases were linked to Revenue Outturn data forms, these

            increases to be funded by partner councils as outlined in the

            report approved at the meeting of the WRS Board on 21^st

            November 2024, the financial summary of which was 

            included in the spreadsheet attached at Appendix 3, to the

           report.