Purpose

Quarterly report

Content

The report set out the forecast
Revenue and Capital outturn position for Buckinghamshire Council
for the financial year 2025/26 as at Quarter 2. Overall, the
forecast revenue outturn was a balanced position. The Council
continued to experience significant financial pressures from
increases in demand and complexity of need in the key services of
Adult Social Care, Children’s Social Care, Temporary
Accommodation, Home to School Transport and High Needs budgets
within the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG). The forecast revenue
outturn position at Quarter 2 within Portfolios was an adverse
variance of £2.1m (0.4% of Portfolio budgets), compared with
£5.5m reported in Q1. This improvement was due to the success
of strong management action and political oversight with particular
focus on challenge in high-risk areas.
 
The pressures in the forecast
were in Children’s Social Care (£2.8m), Parking income
(£0.8m), Home to School Transport (£1.1m) and Temporary
Accommodation (£0.8m), offset by £0.6m underspend from
vacancies in Parking staffing budgets, £0.7m additional
planning income and £0.8m managed underspend from vacancies
in Resources and Health and Wellbeing. A balanced position overall
was due to a favourable variance in Corporate and Funding
budgets.
 
The Dedicated Schools Grant
budget has been set with a deficit of £22.9m. Currently the
forecast position was within budget, however there was continued
high demand for EHC Needs Assessments and a range of measures were
being considered to tackle the delays in waiting times. There was a
risk of increased demand impacting adversely on the financial
position in the second half of the year. The balance on the DSG
deficit reserve at the beginning of the year was £24.5m with
a forecast closing balance of £47.4m.
 
The forecast position on
capital budgets was £173.7m, which matched the current budget
after reprofiling to reflect an updated and prudent view on the
delivery of projects. The budget included an approved savings
programme of £115.6m over 3 years, with £76.9m to be
delivered in 2025/26. Delivery of savings for 2025/26 was currently
forecast at 0.9% above target with a total £0.7m of savings
above budget. Actions would continue to be required to closely
manage the in-year financial position.
 
RESOLVED that the report be noted.