The Finance & Performance Scrutiny Committee were scheduled to meet to discuss leisure centre performance, the council's climate change strategy, and financial monitoring reports. The meeting also included discussion of the Infrastructure Funding Statement and feedback from the Scrutiny Commission.

Leisure Centres Update

The committee was scheduled to receive a presentation on the performance of leisure centres in the borough. Those scheduled to present included the Head of Contracts: Leisure, Waste and Environment, the Leisure Contract and Business Manager, and a representative from Fusion, the organisation contracted to run leisure services for the council. This presentation was included in response to questions and concerns raised at previous meetings.

Performance Monitoring (Quarter 1) Report

The Head of Transformation, Strategy and Performance was scheduled to present the Quarter 1 Performance Monitoring Report. The report included an overview of performance against the Corporate Delivery Plan, highlighting key performance indicators (KPIs) and actions.

The report noted that there were 52 actions in the Corporate Delivery Plan:

• 39 were on track (green)
• 8 had potential issues (amber)
• 1 had significant issues or delays (red)
• 3 were complete
• 1 was cancelled

Of the 27 KPIs, 18 of which were reported quarterly:

• 11 were on track (green)
• 2 had potential issues (amber)
• 5 had significant issues or delays (red)

The report also included sundry debtor information, which showed a collection rate of 92.75% for the 12 months to 30 June 2025.

Climate Change Strategy Action Plan

The Director of Commercial and Economic Development was scheduled to provide an update on the implementation of the council's Climate Change Strategy. The Climate Change Strategy was approved by the cabinet in October 2023, setting out the council's activities in response to climate change and how it will encourage similar steps across the borough.

The report included a performance report for 2024-25, which showed that of the 52 actions in the Climate Change Strategy Action Plan:

• 30 actions had been completed
• 14 actions were on track (green)
• 7 actions had potential issues (amber)
• 1 action had significant issues or delays (red)

The action ranked red related to the Charnwood Forest Landscape Partnership project and its bid to become a UNESCO Global Geopark. Actions ranked amber included those relating to the new Charnwood Local Plan, and the creation of a new water storage area on the Wood Brook watercourse.

2024/25 Infrastructure Funding Statement (S106 Agreement Monitoring Report)

The Head of Planning and Growth was scheduled to present the 2024/25 Infrastructure Funding Statement (IFS), also known as the S106 Agreement Monitoring Report. Local authorities are required to publish an annual report detailing funding received from developers for infrastructure development.

The report included details of:

• new Section 106 agreements entered into during 2024/25
• expenditure of Section 106 monies during 2024/25
• Section 106 financial contributions received during 2024/25
• affordable housing contributions
• future infrastructure delivery and the Infrastructure Delivery Plan

The total amount secured through new Section 106 agreements in 2024/25 was £2,655,200.

Scrutiny Commission - Scrutiny Feedback

The Democratic Services Team Leader was scheduled to provide an update on relevant scrutiny undertaken by the Scrutiny Commission. This included feedback on the Scrutiny Commission's scrutiny of void properties, following a request from the Finance and Performance Scrutiny Committee.

The Scrutiny Commission scrutinised the position with void properties at their meeting on 4 August 2025. They noted the substantial amount of ongoing work to improve the situation, and that the council was working with contractors to increase the pace of work on voids.

Revenue Monitoring Position (General Fund and HRA)

The Head of Finance was scheduled to present a report setting out the revenue position for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) at the end of period 4 (July 2025).

General Fund

• The General Fund full year's budget was £23,947k.
• The period 4 budget was £8,164k against actual costs incurred (including commitments) of £7,979k, an underspend of £186k.

The report highlighted a number of variances, including:

• Salaries & Agency costs: An underspend of £220k to date, although agency costs were a longstanding challenge .
• Utilities: Favourable variances due to the closure of the ICS building and efficiency savings.
• Options for Change: An adverse variance of £104k, as the first review of individual projects had not yet taken place.
• Bed & Breakfast costs: An adverse variance of £132k, although a significant year end overspend was not anticipated due to grant funding.
• Environmental services: A favourable variance of £71k, reflecting the increase in price and take up of the garden bin service.
• Planning: A favourable variance of £90k due to building control and planning application fees.
• Town hall bar sales: A favourable variance of £44k due to higher attendances at shows.
• Car parks: A favourable variance of £61k due to the increase in car parking charges.
• Commercial & Property Services: An adverse variance of £30k due to vacant units at Meadow Lane and Oak Business Centre.
• Other Private Lifeline Charges: A favourable variance of £42k due to an increase in customers and the benefits of converting from analogue to digital units.
• Government Grants: A favourable variance of £71k due to a MHCLG grant to compensate for the increase in employers NI contributions.

Housing Revenue Account

• The Housing Revenue Account full year budget was (£7,630k).
• Period 4 budget was net income of (£3,097k) against actual costs including commitments of (£2,774k), an overspend of £322k.

The report highlighted a number of variances, including:

• Salaries and Agency costs: An underspend of £648k, although agency costs were £103k overspent due to vacant posts.
• HRA General Repairs: A favourable variance of £67k.
• HRA Relet Repairs: An adverse variance of £177k due to ongoing work to clear the backlog on void properties.
• HRA Gas Appliance Repairs and Renewals: An adverse variance of £64k.
• Technical Support and Major Repairs: An adverse variance of £135k.
• HRA Cleaning of Properties and Pest Control Services: A favourable variance of £83k.
• Consultants Fees: An adverse variance of £122k due to costs associated with responding to disrepair claims.
• Professional Associations (Council): An adverse variance of £75k due to increased costs from the Regulator of Social Housing and other professional associations.
• HRA Council Tax Charges: An adverse variance of £128k due to the void properties position.
• Legal Costs and Court Fees: An adverse variance of £82k due to costs associated with responding to disrepair claims.
• Lost income on empty properties (voids): £406k.

The report also included information on rent arrears, which showed that current dwelling rent arrears had reduced by £28,236 to £521,955 between the end of July 2024 and the end of July 2025.

Capital Monitoring Report

The Head of Finance was scheduled to present a report setting out the capital spend position at the end of period 4 (July 2025).

• The General Fund full year capital budget was £17,167k, with a Period 4 profiled budget of £1,531k compared to spend of £1,974k, 129% with an overspend of (£443k).
• The HRA Full year capital budget was £18,274k, with a Period 4 profiled budget of £5,436k compared to spend of £4,183k, 77% with an underspend of £1,253k.

The report highlighted a number of variances, including:

• Bedford Square Gateway: This scheme is now complete.
• Shepshed Public Realm: Project is now within the defects and maintenance period.
• Town Deal Living Loughborough: The variance at period 4 is a profiling issue and this scheme is expected to come in on budget.
• Household Food Waste Caddies and Collection Vehicles: Additional budget required for some extra specification.
• Accommodation Review - refurbish Southfield Offices: The variance at period 4 is a profiling issue and this initial phase of works is expected to come in on budget.
• Beehive Lane Car Park Improvements and Refurbishment Scheme: Awaiting process for bringing forward £100,000 currently profiled for spend in 2026/27 forward to 2025/26.
• Disabled Facilities Grants: Criteria has recently been reviewed to encourage more applications and speed up grant application processes.
• Acquisition of Affordable Housing to meet Housing Needs and Create fund to purchase 'Off Development' properties: Budgets are being reprofiled to reflect expected handover dates for 21 x new build units in Shepshed during 2026/2027.
• Sheltered Accommodation Scheme: 2025/2025 spend being reprofiled.

Work Programme

The Director of Finance, Governance and Contracts was scheduled to present a report on the committee's work programme.