Agenda item

Report of the Executive Director, Community and Children’s Services.

The Committee received a report of the Executive Director of Community & Children’s Services presenting the actual expenditure against the billed Estimate for the period 1st April 2024 – 31st March 2025.

A Member asked whether the underspend in actual expenditure was a result of actions to reduce the budget, or inaccurate budgeting. In response, Members were advised that officers budget to the best of their ability at the time, and they were committed to ensuring any budget variances are clearly detailed and justified. However, officers did note that the increase in actual expenditure compared to last year’s budget was in line with inflation which could potentially signal overbudgeting. Future budgeting processes would be strengthened by scrutiny of the Service Charge Working Party and Reporting Committee, and the next budget be broken down by Planned Preventative Maintenance activity to provide a more detailed understanding of overspend and underspend.

In response to a question on what would be done with the underspend, officers advised it would be largely written off by the heat billing exercise which had an estimated £1million liability. Credits and debits could be provided simultaneously, so leaseholders would receive one final settle up demand in June 2026.

RESOLVED – that the Committee approve the outturn report for 2024/2025.