Decision details

A copy of the 2024/25 Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring Report as presented to Cabinet at its meeting held on 6 February 2025 is set out at Annex 'A'.

The Chair welcomed CC Alan Vincent, Cabinet Member for Resources, HR and Property (Deputy Leader), Noel O'Neill, Interim Director of Finance and Commerce and Kate Lee, Head of Service Financial Management to the meeting.

The report presented provided an update on the county council's 2024/25 revenue budget and capital financial position, as at the end of Quarter 3.

It was reported that the forecast outturn position was an overspend of £12.737m which was a reduction of £4.338m from the position predicted at Quarter 2 following further mitigating actions. Actions were continuing throughout Quarter 4 to try to further improve the position.

The forecast outturn for capital delivery programme for 2024/25 was reported to be £200.697m which was an underspend of £2.542m (1.25%) on the planned programme.

Members were invited to ask questions and a summary of discussion detailed below:

With regard to workforce, it was confirmed that there remained challenges in sickness absence and recruitment. However, it was highlighted that some improvement had been seen in levels of sickness absence across the council. Vacancies remained across all services, particularly in the more public facing services, and to mitigate this, agency and consultancy use was ongoing which was reported to be more expensive.

A suggestion was made that workforce and sickness absence could be incorporated in each of the scrutiny committees work programmes. It was highlighted that workforce matters had been reported to a previous meeting of the Community, Cultural and Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee with a number of recommendations to be reported back to a future meeting. It was felt that this suggestion could be considered as part of an informal meeting of the Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs taking place in March.

On the subject of the care market, it was reported that further work was required on engagement. It was highlighted that there were ongoing challenges to in house Residential Care budget, primarily due to running costs such as buildings maintenance and oncosts. Further to this, members were advised that there was a surplus of places and ongoing recruitment challenges, resulting in increased reliance on agency workers across the care home sector. A request was made for a list of contracts and care home providers delivering services on the county council's behalf.

Resolved: That:

1. The 2024/25 Quarter 3 Financial Monitoring Report be noted with no further comments to Cabinet.
2. Further discussions on the reporting of workforce and sickness absence to individual scrutiny committees be held at the next meeting of the Scrutiny Chairs and Deputy Chairs in March to identify a way forward.