Agenda item

Revenue Budget Monitoring Report to December 2018

Report of the Commissioner of Police.

Minutes:

Members agreed to vary the order of items on the agenda so that Item 8 (Revenue Budget Monitoring to December 2018) was considered next.

 

Members considered a report of the Commissioner of Police regarding Revenue Budget Monitoring to December 2018 and the following points were made.

 

·         The Interim Director of Finance noted that the revenue budget monitoring process had been challenging given the errors made in the original budget process. The reporting format had now been changed to reflect a pay/non-pay format. Members were reminded of the bottom-line overspend in the revised budget, with additional budget pressures such as the Force’s Rail Travel Scheme. Members were also reminded that the Force’s capital budgets remained to be reviewed.

 

·         In response to a request, the Interim Director of Finance agreed to circulate the additional budget schedule to Members outside of the meeting.

 

·         The Interim Director of Finance noted that of the £750k of planned income through the Force’s Corporate Plan, £500k had been achieved. There had been some shortfall in reaching income targets where the Force had experienced capacity issues.

 

·         The Deputy Treasurer noted that the Authority had concerns regarding the Force’s spend on overtime as set out within appendix 2 – at December 2018, the Force had already reached 88% of forecast spend. The Deputy Treasurer noted that the Authority would welcome, as mitigation, assurance from the Force that this item of spend was being actively monitored.

 

·         The Deputy Treasurer concluded by noting that, from the Authority’s perspective, key risks going forward included securing Home Office funding as part of the Medium-Term Financial Plan and leave/time off in lieu.

 

·         The Chairman noted that he shared the concerns expressed by the Deputy Treasurer and would welcome any assurances that could be provided from the Force regarding how these risks were being mitigated. It was of paramount important that the Force, in this context, set a strong budget for 2019/20.

 

·         In response to a request from a Member, the Interim Director of Finance agreed to provide a granular breakdown of the detailed forecast provided at appendix 2.

 

·         The Chairman requested that the Interim Director of Finance review how any Home Office monies received could be effectively accounted for when reported to Members.

 

·         In response to a question, the Interim Director of Finance replied that the Force would have a clearer idea of the figure of monies received from the Home Office in March 2019.

 

·         A Member noted that the new reporting format was useful in providing visibility of the numbers within the revenue budget. What he would now welcome in reporting going forward would be an element of analysis around the security of income.

 

·         In response to a question, the Interim Director of Finance replied that she was reasonably confident that the Force’s savings targets could be met, and agreed to provide an updated forecast at the next meeting.

 

·         In response to a question, the Interim Director of Finance confirmed that she had enough staff resource.

 

·         The Interim Director of Finance concluded by noting she would provide Members with detailed schedules and risks in future reporting.

 

RESOLVED, that the report be received.

Supporting documents: