PAPER B5
Committee : SOCIAL
SERVICES, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SELECT COMMITTEE
Date : 15
OCTOBER 2002
Title : BUDGET
MONITORING REPORT AS AT END OF AUGUST 2002
REPORT OF THE 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
August. 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 31st
August 2002 for the Social Services and Housing budgets is set out in appendix
1.
The format of this report has been amended
in response to member’s request for a more informative statement. The main differences are that comparative
information for last year has been included, the figures shown now present the
net expenditure position rather than showing income and expenditure separately
and a forecast outturn and outturn variance has been incorporated. It is anticipated that this report is now
more informative and more clearly sets out the Directorate’s position.
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.
Based on the information available to date
the Directorate is currently projecting a potential overspend at the end of the
financial year of approximately £63,000. This is 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.
This is deemed to be within the limits of tolerance and no action is
proposed.
The position is somewhat different from that
indicated in last month’s report due to the benefit of another month’s data and
the ability to draw from that a more accurate trend in the activity
particularly within the community care budget.
It is now deemed that the current projection shows the most accurate
assessment available based on the information to date. 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.
C WADDICOR
Strategic Director of Social Services and Housing