Issue - meetings

(Report by Mr A Wilkinson, Managing Director, Environment and Regeneration)

(1)       Members received the draft 2008/09 Budget and Medium Term Financial Plan 2008/09 to 2010/11 together with an update of the current position in the current year.

(2)       The report specifically covered the Cabinet Member’s portfolios for Environment, Highways and Waste and Regeneration and Supporting Independence. 

 (3)      In introducing the report Mr Gould referred to the last meeting of the Policy Overview Committee which outlined the Medium Term Plan priorities.  This report showed the revenue gross expenditure, income and net expenditure, as contained in Appendices 1 and 2.  It also included the Capital Investment Programme in Appendices 3 and 4.

 (4)      The Committee were informed that the 2008/09 draft Revenue Budget for Environment, Highways and Waste reflected nearly a 15% increase on the current financial year on a “like for like” basis.  Attention was drawn specifically to the £5 million injection into Highway maintenance works and a £4 million injection for the expansion of the current year pilot of the “Freedom Pass”. 

(5)       The Committee noted that within the 2008/09 draft Revenue Budget for Regeneration and Supporting Independence there was a transfer in of the Supporting Independence Programme budget of £1 million including Towards 2010 target funding.

(6)       Within the Capital Medium Term Financial Plan the Local Transport Plan settlement from government offered a £37m programme of capital maintenance and integrated transport, though with a marked reduction in grant.  The proposals before the Committee reflected a full take up of the offer.  The programme also reflected a substantial investment in Waste Infrastructure (some £30m over the Medium Term Financial Plan) and as expected starts on East Kent Access Phase 2 and schemes in the Kent Thameside Growth Area.

(7)       Turning to the current year’s budget the Committee’s specific attention was drawn to the underspend in the Revenue Budget on Waste which was due to the non operation of the Allington Plant.  Paragraph 9 of the report before the Committee explained the movements in budget heads since the report to the Cabinet on 3 December 2007, which was attached as Appendix 5.  The current underspend forecast was £2.465 million.  It would be necessary to make further calls on the corporate centre’s Emergency Conditions Reserve due to the gales and floods in recent weeks. 

(8)       With regard to the Regeneration and Supporting Independence portfolio there had been little movement in the budget heads from that reported to Cabinet on 3 December 2007.

(9)       The Committee noted that the Capital Programme had seen significant rephasing into future years, as reported to Cabinet.  The latest position indicated that further rephasing would be necessary.  Every effort was being made to reduce the rephasing on Highways work programmes. 

(10)     For the Regeneration and Supporting Independence portfolio the forecast showed an increased spend from the report to Cabinet and that expenditure related to the EuroKent spine road.

(11)     Mr Gough informed the Committee that much of the regeneration activity goes on through other portfolios. Part  ...  view the full minutes text for item 56