Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to the report of the Chief Officer Resources.

The Chief Officer Resources spoke to the report which provided the forecast financial outturn position across all Portfolios for the current financial year and referred to the information related to the actions taken forward to move towards a balanced budget as detailed in the appendices. The Chief Officer noted the impact on the budget and advised that the forecast overall financial position as at 31^st March, 2020 showed a small adverse variance of £7,200 against the total net budget.

The Chief Officer Resources noted the reasons for adverse variances in Education and Environment and outlined the actions taken towards the favourable variance in Social Services. The Chief Officer reported that the Education Portfolio received a virement of £60,000 to assist in costs incurred for Looked After Children attending schools out of Blaenau Gwent.

The Leader welcomed the good position of the budget which showed excellent budgetary control and was a good example of how CLT, and portfolio holders managed the resources allocated to the Authority. The Deputy Leader concurred with the comments raised and hoped that the position could be sustained going forward.

RESOLVED that the report be accepted and the appropriate challenge to the financial outcomes was received. The action plans attached at Appendix 4 to address the forecast adverse variances as at the end of September 2019 be noted and the budget virements attached at Appendix 5 which exceeded £250,000 be approved.