Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain which provided information of the Provisional Outturn for 2016/17.

The Chamberlain explained that, while there were underspends by most Departments, it did appear that Departments were making improvements in the accuracy of their expenditure forecasts. Members were advised of the causes of the most significant underspends, which were had typically been caused by delays in expenditure into 2017/18, additional funding being received during 2016/17, or income estimates for 2016/17being outperformed.

The Chairman commented that the consistent underspends by Departments would appear to indicate that it should be possible for Departments to achieve the 2% saving requirement under the Efficiency and Sustainability Plan.

Members noted that the slippages in spending would be dealt with through the carry-forwards procedure. Members agreed that a report on the outcomes of the requests for carry-forwards and the in-year budget increase requests from 2016/17 should be submitted to the Committee for information.

The Chamberlain confirmed that, for future reports such as this, positive variances would be indicated as positives in the report.

RESOLVED – That the Committee

a)    notes the report;

b)    requests that a report on carry-forwards and in-year budget increase requests for 2016/17 be submitted to the Committee.