Issue - meetings

At the previous meeting members agreed to combine three potential items for its work programme into a single item, these were;

·  consideration of the Council’s role in the ongoing public health situation and the ongoing role for councils in test and trace activities;

·  consideration of the Council’s role in recovery - how is the Council able to support businesses and communities?

·  consideration of the ongoing implications for the organisation both financially and operationally, including consideration of alternative working practices adopted during the pandemic and their effectiveness.

Members discussed the way to address the items and The Policy Manager (Corporate) provided some detail to members in relation to the current recovery plan.

Members debated whether adding to the work programme, implementing a task and finish group and/or introducing a rapporteur would be the suitable way forward.

Members then resolved to delegate the implementation of a strategy to consider the response and recovery to the Covid 19 pandemic to officers in consultation with the Chair, which will be presented to members at the next meeting.

The subject of the decision

The Head of Financial Services submitted a report which sought to update members on the budget position to inform of the financial impact of Covid-19 on the authority.

Councillor J Lister moved the recommendations as per the report and thanked officers for their hard work in pulling the budget report together under such difficult circumstances.

The motion was seconded by Councillor A Pitcher.

The motion was unanimously agreed.

Alternative options considered

The report presented proposals to the potential budget pressures  arising from the Covid-19 pandemic.

The reason for the decision

To inform of the financial impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on the authority budget position.

The decision

Resolved

That –

1)  The report be noted

2)  Delegate to the S151 Officer in consultation with the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal, the increasing of the expenditure budget for the Business Grants – Discretionary Scheme for small businesses by the amount of grant allocated of £1,995,000

3)  Delegate to the S151 Officer in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and Portfolio Holder for Finance and Legal the variation of income payment terms and any associated contractual variations

4)  Reserves be protected by not allowing carry forwards of underspend into this financial year except in exceptional circumstances

5)  Members review the position on a monthly basis and give delegated authority for the S151 to release additional sums from General Fund balances to address the budget position.