To review performance for Quarter 3 2021/22 and the forecast budget outturn for the year.

The cabinet member finance, corporate services and planning introduced the report. She highlighted the position in quarter 3 given continuing challenges from covid and that the council was working hard to improve the outturn position.

Group leaders presented the comments and queries of their group. It was noted that:

·       The treasury management strategy was clear that the council only deposited money in banks with a strong credit rating, there had been some occasions where deposits had been in accounts with zero percent interest but rates had increased since then;

·       The return of monies from phase 1a of the Green Homes Grant was disappointing but other authorities had also struggled to spend the grant due to a combination of a lack of local skills, supply chain issues for the type of work required and the stringent requirements on eligibility and spend deadlines, some of the funding had been reissued through the third phase grant and a different contractor was to be used for this phase to improve delivery;

·       The capital programme had been reviewed in the autumn and adjusted to reflect difficulties in delivering schemes, partly due to covid. The report showed the variances against the adjusted programme;

·       Additional project management support was being provided to progress work on section 106 projects;

·       Several communities were still struggling to access broadband and further progress on the Fastershire contract would be welcomed;

·       The current high rate of inflation would have an impact on the council’s services and expenditure.

It was resolved that:

Cabinet, having reviewed performance and financial forecast for year 2021/22 as set out in the appendices A-E, has not identified any additional actions to be considered to achieve future improvements.