Issue - meetings

Consideration was given to report of the Chief Officer Resources.

The Chief Officer Resources spoke to the report which noted the Forecast financial position to 31^st March 2021 across all portfolios and gave details of the significant adverse and favourable variances as contained in the report.

At this juncture Members raised questions, observations and comments in relation to the report presented.

A Member asked if the costs incurred for the New HWRC Site in Roseheyworth were related to Covid-19.

The Chief Officer Resources advised that the costs were due to increased costs of the contractor which related to measures put in place due to Covid-19 to ensure work continued during the pandemic.

The Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services added that these costs had been reflected in contracts across the UK during the pandemic. The costs related to workforce having to implement social distancing and the cost of raw materials had risen and there had been delays in sourcing materials outside of the UK. The Corporate Director added that negotiations are ongoing to ensure increased costs are kept to a minimum.

A Member asked if the Workplace Transformation costs included the relocation of Democratic Services to the General Office. The Corporate Director Regeneration and Community Services confirmed that these monies were for previous works around the transformation programme. The 2021/2022 budgets would include costs incurred for the Democratic and Community Hubs.

In response to a question raised about Ebbw Vale Test Track, it was confirmed that the costs reported in the scrutiny reports regarding Consultancy fees related to costs incurred for 2018/19 & 2019/20. The £50,000 for 2020/2021 reported in the capital report was additional.

The Member felt that a report should be presented to the relevant Scrutiny Committee.

This course of action was AGREED.

The Committee AGREED, subject to the foregoing that the report be accepted and

 (a)        appropriate challenge was provided to the financial outcomes in the report;

 (b)        continued support for the appropriate financial control procedures as agreed by Council; and

 (c)        the budgetary control and monitoring procedures in place within the Capital Team, to safeguard Authority funding be noted.