Decision details

The Chief Officer (Financial Services) submitted a report which presented the projected financial health position of the Authority following the first quarter of the financial year.

Members welcomed the report’s recommendation to submit proposals to the September Executive Board meeting to address the projected overspend within the Children and Families directorate.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board received further information regarding the budget pressure within the Children and Families directorate which related to Children’s Centre fee income, with Members receiving detail on the important role played by the centres and the actions being taken in Leeds regarding the early years offer provided. Further to this, it was requested that information be submitted to a future Board which presented Leeds’ position regarding the provision and take up of key Children’s Services during the current challenging financial climate, when compared with other Local Authorities.

The Board also received further information regarding the currently projected overspend in the waste management service, which it was noted in part related to the ongoing refuse review being undertaken, with the key role of Scrutiny in that review process being highlighted.  It was further highlighted that despite the current projected overspend in waste, overall the directorate was projecting a balanced budget.

Members also discussed the nature of the monthly financial health monitoring report to the Board, the strategic level of data it presented to Members, which it was noted could be supplemented with Member briefings where appropriate, and the key role the report played in helping the Executive regularly monitor the financial position of the Authority.  In relation to this, emphasis was also placed upon the work which continued to be undertaken behind such budgetary data by officers who looked to ensure that the Council’s services were provided as effectively as possible.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the projected financial position of the Authority as at Quarter 1 of the financial year, be noted;

(b)  That the Director of Children and Families be requested to identify proposals to address the projected overspend in that directorate, with such proposals being incorporated into the next Financial Health Monitoring report to be submitted to Executive Board in September 2019;

(c)  That information be submitted to a future Board which presented Leeds’ position regarding the provision and take up of key Children’s Services during the current challenging financial climate, when compared with other Local Authorities.