Agenda item

The Sub-Committee is provided the latest Financial Performance Monitoring report, to review by exception, with a view to considering whether it is reassured about the delivery of the 2023-24 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery Budget.

The Sub-Committee considered a report set out on pages 19 to 56 of the agenda that provided the Cabinet Report on Period 7 Financial Performance for Members to ascertain whether they are reassured about the delivery of the 2022-23 Sustainable Communities, Regeneration & Economic Recovery (SCRER) Budget. The Corporate Director of SCRER introduced the item.

The Chair asked if the forecasted breakeven for 23/24 was realistic, and the Corporate Director of SCRER responded that, at Period 7, it was. The Chair queried budget variances and a vacancy in the Culture team. It was explained that this vacancy sat outside the ‘Borough of Culture’, which was funded by grant funding, and would not affect its delivery. Members were informed that information on vacancies in the Culture team could be provided following the meeting.

Members queried risks in the Parking and Planning departments and the volatility in this income, and asked what the Council could do to generate income for these areas in a way that was less demand led. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that these risks were inherent to income budgets for these departments, but that the Council needed to ensure it could set realistic targets and forecast figures; however, it was acknowledged that these income budgets were vulnerable to changes in the economy and demand.

The Sub-Committee asked about underspends due to reduced utility costs and heard that this had been as a result successful bids for government funding to subsidise General Fund spend on energy costs for swimming pools and leisure facilities.

Members asked whether the bid in progress for the ‘Planning Skills Delivery Fund’ had been decided and what this money would go towards if successful. The Director of Planning & Sustainable Regeneration explained that the Council had submitted a number of bids for Planning grants and that more information on these bids and their purposes could be provided outside of the meeting.

The Sub-Committee asked about the numbers of major planning applications and predicted underachievement of income at Period 7. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that major planning applications generated a significant amount of planning income. The opportunity in this area (listed at 4.91 in the report) acknowledged that there were several major schemes in development that could generate large fees, but it was explained that the Council needed to be careful not to project these too soon, as the decision as to when these were submitted fell to the developer. Members heard that there had been a reduction in major applications in 23/24 due to a number of factors, including the increased cost of development and new regulatory requirements; there were still a good number of major applications in the borough compared with other boroughs. The Chair asked how officers could ensure there was not an overestimation of the number of major applications and associated income in future years. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that predictions were based on the number of applications received in past years in combination with the knowledge of forthcoming developments and other factors.

Members asked about risks associated with a decreased demand for parking and what mitigations had been put in place. The Corporate Director of SCRER acknowledged that there had been a change in behaviours since the pandemic, but stated that some demand had recovered in some areas as people returned to office based work.

The Chair asked about ANPR cameras and the timeline for all schemes to be operational. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that there had been a change in the ANPR contractor during 23/24. The Head of Highways & Parking Services explained the new contact had specified that 125 camera would be in place by January 2024; 119 of 125 cameras where operational, with six cameras offline due to vandalism associated with the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ). Members asked if the same cameras were being targeted or if the cameras being vandalised where in a specific area. Members were informed that vandalism was across the network, but that there were also specific pockets in the north of the borough. The Head of Highways & Parking Services explained that anti-vandal collars had been fitted to cameras as well as signage to state that the cameras were not associated with ULEZ. The Sub-Committee asked about further remedies for the vandalism and heard that the solutions were bespoke depending on the act of vandalism as these were varied. The Sub-Committee heard that the provider was currently operating the contract to the satisfaction of the Council.

Members asked about issues with the printing process for around 3100 Penalty Charge Notices (PCN) between October and December 2023; this had meant that initial PCNs had not been issued to motorists, giving them no chance to pay the discounted rate. The Corporate Director of SCRER apologised for this, and explained that those affected would be written to, the PCNs cancelled, and any fines paid in error refunded. A phone number and email address had also been published so that residents could contact the Council to check whether they were affected; the automatic reply from the parking enquiry email address has also been updated. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that there would be further reassurance around the PCN issuing process, with letter templates being reviewed to ensure that they met statutory guidance and regulatory changes.

The Chair asked about the framing of staffing underspends as an opportunity when these could pose a risk to the delivery of services. The Corporate Director of SCRER explained that vacancies were an opportunity to aid in achieving a balanced budget for 23/24, but acknowledged that these could be a barrier to the Council in achieving good outcomes for residents. The Corporate Director of SCRER stated that that there was a difficult recruitment environment, with it sometimes taking longer periods to get staff in post, which could lead to a saving in staffing costs.

Requests for Information

1. The Sub-Committee requested information on current vacancies in the Culture and Community Safety Division that were contributing to a £0.4m underspend at Period 7.

2. The Sub-Committee requested information on the factors contributing to a £0.1m underspend for the Coroner’s Service at Period 7.

3. The Sub-Committee requested information on bids submitted by the Planning department during 23/24, including for the ‘Planning Skills Delivery Fund’, detailing the amounts bid for; the purpose of each bid; and the results of where bids had and had not been successful.