Agenda and minutes

To note the attendance at this meeting of any duly appointed Reserve Members.

Reserve Members may attend meetings:-

(i)            to take the place of an ordinary Member for whom they are a reserve;

(ii)          where the ordinary Member will be absent for the whole of the meeting; and

(iii)         the meeting notes at the start of the meeting at the item ‘Reserves’ that the Reserve Member is or will be attending as a reserve;

(iv)         if a Reserve Member whose intention to attend has been noted arrives after the commencement of the meeting, then that Reserve Member can only act as a Member from the start of the next item of business on the agenda after his/her arrival.

RESOLVED:  To note the attendance at this meeting of the following duly appointed Reserve Member:

To receive declarations of disclosable pecuniary or non pecuniary interests, arising from business to be transacted at this meeting, from:

(a)          all Members of the Sub-Committee;

(b)          all other Members present.

RESOLVED:  To note that there were none.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021 be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

RESOLVED:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2021, be taken as read and signed as a correct record.

To receive any public questions received in accordance with Committee Procedure Rule 17 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

Questions will be asked in the order in which they were received.  There will be a time limit of 15 minutes for the asking and answering of public questions.

[The deadline for receipt of public questions is 3.00 pm, 24 March 2022.  Questions should be sent to publicquestions@harrow.gov.uk  

No person may submit more than one question].

RESOLVED:  To note that no public questions were received at the meeting.

To receive petitions (if any) submitted by members of the public/Councillors under the provisions of Committee Procedure Rule 15 (Part 4B of the Constitution).

RESOLVED:  To note that no petitions were received.

To receive any references from Council and/or other Committees or Panels.

RESOLVED:  To that there were none.

Members received the Revenue and Capital Monitoring 2021/2022 Report at Q3, which had been presented to Cabinet on 10 February 2022.

The report sets out the Council’s 2021/22 financial forecast position at Q3.

The revenue budget in 2021/22 was £179.441m which was net of government and other specific grants.  A list of external grants was shown at Appendix 3 of the Report.  The net forecast position on the revenue budget at Q3 was an underspend of £776k, after the planned use of reserves which were largely applied to fund one-off projects and cross divisional adjustments.

The general fund capital programme budget in 2021/22 was £113.725m.  The net forecast position on the capital budget at Q3 is £62.349m which represented 55% of the total capital programme budget.  The variance of £51.376m was made up of proposed slippage of £46.680m and an underspend of £4.696m.

The Housing Revenue Account capital programme budget was £102.645m. The net forecast position on the HRA capital budget at Q3 was £40.678m which represented 40% of the total HRA capital programme budget.  The variance of £61.967m was made up of proposed slippage of £60.950m and a net underspend of £1.017m.

A Member asked the following questions, which were responded to:

1)              Citing page 6 of the Report, paragraph 2.1, which operating costs were attributed to the new Harrow Council Hub, and whether these would remain the same in future years. It was advised that it was envisaged that costs would change in the coming financial year as staff relocated from the Civic Centre to the Harrow Council Hub.  However, the budget figures would remain the same as they were now.

2)              Citing page 9 of the Report, why was the amount for staff and consultancy being paid under the Harrow Strategic Development Partnership?  It was advised that the payments were for Harrow staff working on regeneration, and that the Communities Directorate was in the process of deciding on a permanent structure.

3)              Citing page 17 of the Report, why were there revenue losses and how would the lost revenue be recovered on property rentals?  It was advised that there were vacant spaces at Kings House, which had led to revenue loss.  However, additional returns from other investment properties had partly made up for the losses.  Furthermore, there were plans to get the vacant places at King’s House rented out; and

4)              On the Capital programme, citing page 21 of the Report, if TfL funding was not received, which projects under that scheme be affected or would they still be continued?  It was advised that as it was TfL funded, if no money was forthcoming, the scheme would have to cease.

Another Member asked the following questions, which were responded to:

1)              Citing page 4 of the Report, why was there an overspend in insurance?  The overspend was because of schools exiting the Councils Insurance Service and moving over to the Governments RPA scheme.  Some of the costs had been partly mitigated by reduced insurance premiums.  It was  ...  view the full minutes text for item 87.

Members received the Final Revenue Budget 2022/23 and final Medium Term Financial Strategy 2022/2023 to 2024/2025, which was presented to Cabinet on 10 February 2022.

The report set out the final revenue budget for 2022/2023 and final Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) for 2022/2023 to 2024/2025.  In December 2021, Cabinet had approved the draft versions of the revenue budget and MTFS for general consultation. 

A Member queried what potential impact there would be on the MTFS given the projected high rate of inflation due to rising energy/gas costs, and other associated price increases.  It was advised that £4.75m was included in the budget to cover pay and non-pay inflation costs.

Another Member was concerned about budget risks for next year, and which sector would be most affected.  It was advised that the Council would maintain a tight grip on finances given that inflation would have a significant impact.  However, fuel and energy price increases were determined by external factors, outside the Council’s control.  It was hoped that Adults and Children’s Services would remain stable. 

RESOLVED:  That the report be noted.

Members thanked the Chair for her services to the Sub-Committee through the 2021/2022 Municipal Year and wished her well in her future endeavours.