Issue - meetings

Report of the Chief Executive

Presented by the Leader

The Leader presented the report to members and highlighted the following:-

•           The in-house repairs team were on track to carry out £1m more work this year compared to last year. Over the next 5 years it was planned to undertake the majority of the Decent Homes works in-house - up to almost £20m worth of work over the next 5 years.

•           The Coalville Job Centre Plus went "full service" from 7 February 2018 for the implementation of universal credit. This represented a significant change for residents and that the Council had worked collaboratively with agencies to support those affected.

•           In Coalville; the principles of the Marlborough Square development were agreed in January; the Christmas in Coalville event was a success, with 16 shops decorating their windows and the Enterprising Town Centres Grant Scheme continued to be popular - 25 expressions of interest, 12 applications and 2 approved in Quarter 3.

•           The practical support to businesses continued where the Business Focus team had supported the Coalville jobs fair, retail workshops, a disability confident workshop and business funding workshop.

•           Both the general fund and HRA were being well managed.

•           The forecast surplus outturn was £1.863m compared to £934k.

•           Additional income was forecast from recycling (£122k), building control (£35k) and Council Tax / NNDR summons income (£34k). This would offset some additional costs on ICT equipment (£124k), the leisure centre deficit (£159k) and less income from planning fees of £300k.

•           2.42 days per Full Time Equivalent (employee) were lost in Quarter 3 due to sickness, which was comparable with the same quarter the previous year which was 2.21 days. It was unlikely that the Council target of 8.5 days / FTE would be met as there had been an increase in cold / flu absences since Christmas.

•           Managers and the HR team continued to work closely to manage sickness absences.

The Chairman invited colleagues to highlight the performance in their  portfolios.

Councillor T Gillard stated that he was pleased to advise that the Council had secured £9,000 in funding to provide digital training workshops to local businesses.

Councillor N J Rushton advised that the General Fund Forecast outturn of £1.863m compared to budget of £934k was as a result of a £1.2m increase in business rate income due to the reduction of appeals provision and release of funds back into retention system, £122k additional recycling income, £32k additional council tax/NNDR summons income which would be offset by a forecast decrease of £300k in planning fee income; additional expenditure on ICT of £124k and an increase in net deficit on leisure centres of £159k. He stated that the outturn surplus would be paid into the Self-Sufficiency reserve, forecast to take reserve to £2.76m and that the Special Expenses was on target. He highlighted that the HRA forecast surplus was £338k compared to budget of £142k which was largely as a result of increase in rental income due to improved empty homes performance and that the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 120