Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a number of financial matters as set out in the agenda  report. The Cabinet Member with Responsibility for Finance (also the Leader of the Council) explained that due to the developing position with regard to Covid 19 some additional information and recommendations had been circulated the day before. Due to the flooding in January and the Covid 19 virus it was unlikely that the previously expected overspend would be fully resolved by year end and additional resources would be required. Additional funds were being made available by the Government and it was expected that all the funds would be required to respond to the virus within the County, for example by setting up hubs to arrange for support for vulnerable people. The County Council was prepared to do whatever it took and therefore spend whatever was needed.

The Cabinet Member for Adult Services clarified that an extra £15 million would be made available for adult care and the Council would not run out of money, however planning was underway to accommodate people who would not be accepted to nursing homes unless they had been tested for the virus. Community resilience forums had been set up and money was available for 10 weeks.

The Cabinet Member for Education and Schools pointed out that the wording of recommendation G needed to be updated to refer to the Act rather than Bill. The Higher Needs block overspend could not be written off and could not be covered by either using mainstream council tax funding or top slicing the amount from the National funding formula. Additional money had been made available for schools but the Council would continue to lobby for more money for the DSG.

The Cabinet Member with responsibility for Communities wished to thank volunteer groups and individuals who were helping within their communities. The Council had launched Here to Help and all groups were asked to register what they were doing so people offering help could be matched to those who needed it. The Council was setting up hubs, aiming for one in each postcode, to support and deliver to the most vulnerable which was expected to be around 15,000.

The Leader thanked Healthwatch who had made their staff available to help. He thanked the Chairman of the Overview and Scrutiny Performance Board for allowing the new information to be dealt with as an urgent item at short notice.

RESOLVED that Cabinet:

(a)   noted the 2019/20 revenue and capital budget monitoring up to 31 January 2020;

(b)  noted that £0.25 million has been made available from earmarked reserves to provide support for communities directly affected by the recent flooding incidences and that further updates will be brought back to Cabinet on this spend and any Bellwin claim;

(c)   agreed that up to £0.7 million expenditure (the amount beneath the Bellwin Scheme threshold) is allocated from earmarked reserves to support recovery expenditure from recent flooding; and  

(d)  noted that £0.2 million has been made available this financial year from earmarked reserves as an initial sum to contribute towards costs arising in response to the Covid-19 outbreak – recognising that further support including from Central Government is likely to be available as circumstances continue

(e)   note the current situation regarding the development of the Covid-19 virus and the Council’s response to this

(f)     note the receipt of un-ringfenced grant for dealing with the impact of coronavirus in the county, and the Chief Financial Officer be authorised to include in the revenue budget

(g)   delegate authority to the relevant Strategic Director, or in their absence Assistant Director or in their absence the Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Financial Officer, Monitoring Officer, Chief Executive, Leader of the Council and relevant CMR, to take appropriate action in relation to the coronavirus pandemic, including authorising expenditure and making temporary changes to Council policies arising from the Coronavirus Act, and any other legislation, national guidelines and Government directions and report back to Cabinet.