Venue: Remotely via Microsoft Teams
Contact: Scrutiny Officer - 07980757686
Media
Items
No. |
Item |
5. |
Confirmation of Panel Convener
Minutes:
Cllr Chris Holley was confirmed as Convener of the Service
Improvement and Finance Scrutiny Performance Panel.
|
6. |
Disclosure of Personal and Prejudicial Interests.
Minutes:
In accordance with the Code of Conduct adopted by the City
and County of
Swansea, no interests were declared.
|
7. |
Prohibition of Whipped Votes and Declaration of Party Whips
Minutes:
In accordance with the Local Government (Wales) Measure
2011, no declarations of Whipped Votes or Party Whips were
declared.
|
8. |
Minutes of Previous meeting(s) PDF 289 KB
To receive the minutes of the previous meeting(s) and agree
as an accurate record.
Minutes:
The minutes of the Service Improvement and Finance Scrutiny
Performance Panel meeting, held on 10th May 2021, were agreed
as an accurate record.
|
9. |
Public Questions
Minutes:
There were no public questions
|
10. |
Overview: Understanding Financial Reporting
Minutes:
The Panel received an overview from the Chief Financial
Officer, focused on understanding and interpreting Council financial reports.
This included a brief summary of financial terminologies and concepts used throughout
general reporting.
|
11. |
Revenue Outturn, HRA Outturn and Capital Outturn and Financing 20-21
Link
to Cabinet Papers for 17 June 2021, which contain the Outturn and Financing 20-21
papers (expected to be available online from 9 June 2021)
Minutes:
Ben Smith, Chief Finance Officer / S.151 Officer, attended
the meeting to present the Revenue Outturn, HRA Outturn and Capital Outturn and
Financing Report 20-21 and answer questions. Cllr Rob Stewart, Cabinet Member
for Economy, Finance and Strategy also attended to present to the Panel and
answer questions.</AI4>
<AI5>
Discussions included:
- Revenue Outturn Report presents outstanding results.
- S.2 details Services
underspend of £20M.
- Welsh Government
compensation for failure to deliver planned savings and
also for extra digital costs to remain agile and flexible during
lockdown.
- 2.9.1 – Table summarises
scale of flows of money that came in and out, both to us as a Council and
also as an Agent of Welsh Government providing support to businesses.
- S4.4 School Reserves –
already highest in Wales, now significantly added to as surplus at
outturn. Council expect schools to significantly spend
in current year. Schools hold these monies.
- Future economic wash
through unknown / longer-term impacts unknown.
- Appendix A – Council did
not deliver planned £194,000 additional savings, however grant money has been awarded to more than compensate for this sum.
- Capital Financing
costs – in short to medium term significant underspends, due to deferring
the financing of the capital programmes by externalised borrowing.
- Council Tax deficit of
£2.5M, however this is neutralised due to grant
compensation from Welsh Government.
- The Panel commented on the
positive figures within the report.
- Members queried what the
next year will bring regarding Welsh Government
funding and economic outlook.
- Brexit uncertainty,
inclusive of supply pressures currently being
experienced, for example the shortage in construction materials.
- Levelling up this year in
Wales circa £40M. The Shared Prosperity Fund will be a competitive
process.
- Exceptional £50M reserves
figure noted.
- Capital Outturn and Financing Report demonstrated sheer scale
of finances. Panel noted astonishing figures.
- Largest ever capital
programme continued despite Covid-related challenges.
- The Leader highlighted
that a large field hospital was also built,
together with the continuation of major city developments alongside
lockdown restrictions.
- We were
told that to have delivered the school builds and housing
programmes was admirable, and the Leader paid tribute to all staff and
contractors involved.
- P.3 Financing
2020-21: the Panel queried revenue contributions to capital of £33M.
Officers clarified that HRA and general funds are pooled here (£29M of
this being HRA contribution).
- The Housing Revenue Account (HRA) report is modest at outturn in
terms of variations. Modest underspend, most services kept running.
- Focus on essential and
immediate housing repairs only, given Covid-related restrictions.
- Wider concerns on economic
scarring and possible bad debts amongst tenants.
- The Leader commented on
the hard work put in by the finance team, to ensure payments were processed to support the wider economy during the
pandemic.
The Panel commented on the unprecedented nature of this
report and the astonishing figures presented. The Panel considered the
information provided, asked questions, and gave views on the available
information. The Chair thanked all for their input.
|
12. |
Draft Work Plan 2021-22 PDF 530 KB
Minutes:
The Panel considered the draft work plan and agreed the
items for the forthcoming municipal year, noting possibility of some changes
and flexibility to items.
|
13. |
Letter(s) PDF 473 KB
|
|
Letter to Cabinet Member PDF 514 KB
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