Issue - decisions

Matter for Decision

The Officer’s report presented for the Environmental Services and City Centre Portfolio:

       i.          A summary of actual income and expenditure compared to the final budget for 2018/19 (outturn position).

     ii.          Revenue and capital budget variances with explanations.

   iii.          Specific requests to carry forward funding available from budget underspends into 2019/20.

Decision of Executive Councillor for Climate Change, Environment & City Centre

Approved carry forward requests:

       i.          Totalling £79,530 revenue funding from 2018/19 to 2019/20, as detailed in Appendix C of the Officer’s report.

     ii.          Of £960k capital resources from 2018/19 to 2019/20 to fund rephased net capital spending, as detailed in Appendix D of the Officer’s report.

Reason for the Decision

As set out in the Officer’s report.

Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected

Not applicable.

Scrutiny Considerations

The Committee received a report from the Head of Finance.

Officers said the following in response to Members’ questions:

       i.          Head of Finance: The budget variance for Tourism/Visit Cambridge and Beyond (ref P29 of the agenda pack) was also referenced in the February 2019 Budget Setting Report. When the Tourism Service transferred to Visit Cambridge and Beyond there were some set up costs recorded as a loan. It has become apparent Visit Cambridge and Beyond cannot repay the loan so it has been written off.

     ii.          Strategic Director: There was no target date for Vehicle Replacement Programme (ref P31 of the agenda pack). The City Council had a commitment to move to electric or low emission vehicles. This was dependent on what the market could supply in terms of practical vehicles. Older council fleet vehicles would be replaced first when they were at the end of their life cycle. Replacement depended on available electric vehicle options, rather than budget availability. Officers had undertaken a fleet review. Vehicles were travelling the minimum distance required to collect waste (ie operating efficiently).

The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.

The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.

Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor (and any Dispensations Granted)

No conflicts of interest were declared by the Executive Councillor.