PAPER F

Committee : SOCIAL SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE

Date : 14 JANUARY 2003

Title : BUDGET MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF NOVEMBER 02

REPORT OF THE ACTING STRATEGIC DIRECTOR OF SOCIAL SERVICES AND HOUSING

1. SUMMARY/PURPOSE

This report sets out the budget and spending position on both revenue and capital for the services within this Committee remit, as at the end of November. The figures do not include budgets that are controlled elsewhere. These are monitored by the Committee, which bears responsibility for the item concerned. (For example, Resources Select Committee monitors the building maintenance budget centrally, and building maintenance costs are not therefore shown against individual services below).

2. REVENUE EXPENDITURE (2002/03)

The net expenditure statement up to 30th November 2002 for the Social Services and Housing budgets is set out in appendix 1.

The promoting independence grant was unexpectedly reduced this year leading to a cost pressure of £148,000 on the two independent living resource centres. These are of central importance in reducing hospital bed blocking and promoting independence.

The implementation of the Supporting People Programme is estimated to be overspent at the year end by approximately £50,000. It is planned to contain this overspend within the overall directorate budget.

Based on the information available to date the Directorate is currently projecting a potential underspend at the end of the financial year of approximately £45,000. This is approximately 0.2% of the net budget for the Directorate. This takes into account the above cost pressure caused by the reduction in the promoting independence grant and supporting people. This is deemed to be within the limits of tolerance and no action is proposed.

This projection may still be subject to fluctuation as the financial year progresses and more data becomes available. The position will be monitored vigorously and members will be appraised of the situation in subsequent budget monitoring reports.

3. CAPITAL EXPENDITURE (2002/03)

The expenditure is set out in appendix 2. We will be reporting on this area at each Committee. Most of the allocation is for social housing. In most years, the Housing Capital Programme is approved early in the year, when the funding/programme is committed. Building works proceed during the year, with the delivery/spend occurring largely in the last quarter of the year. The amount of capital spend so far in 2002/03 is therefore typical for this time of year, but all the funding is committed, and both the Council’s own Home Improvement Programmes (codes 46A), and the Housing Associations LASHG funded Development Programme (codes 46H or J), are on target.

Contact Point: Kerry Hubbleday/Dawn Cousins, ( 520600 ext.2213/2240

J DOYLE

Acting Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing