Issue - meetings

It was proposed by Councillor David Saunders, seconded by the Leader and Members agreed the recommendations as shown in the report, namely that the Council:

1. “Approve a one-off 2021-22 supplementary General Fund revenue budget of £60,000, for legal costs associated with a Private Sector Housing unlawful eviction case, to be funded from the Risk Management reserve;
2. Approve the 2021-22 supplementary capital budgets, as set out in section 3.1 and Annex 2; and 
3. That a £897,000 supplementary HRA revenue budget be approved for 2021-22, for the deployment of a waking watch service at the five tower blocks until fire alarm sounders are installed at each site, to be funded from HRA balances.”

Cabinet discussed the second budget monitoring report for 2021-22 with an indicative £1.96 million General Fund overspend, which was largely due to the ongoing impact of Covid. The report assumed the use of Government funding of £1million, leaving a net overspend forecast of £0.96 million to be funded from reserves that were set aside last year specifically for this purpose.

The report also identified the following:

• The latest General Fund Capital programme forecast for 21-22;
• The latest Housing Revenue Account position;
• The need for Cabinet to recommend to Council the decision to provide a supplementary budget for Legal costs associated with Private Sector Housing;
• The need for Cabinet to agree the latest position for the GF Capital Programme, including the need for virements to realign;
• The need for Cabinet to recommend to Council the decision to approve supplementary capital budgets pertaining to Covid Response, Ramsgate Harbour, Ramsgate Port, Homelessness and Ellington Park;
• The need for Cabinet to recommend to Council the decision to approve a supplementary budget of £897,000 for the Housing Revenue Account to cover the cost of the waking watch service at five tower blocks, this being until such time as new fire alarm sounders can be installed.

Councillor Yates spoke under Council Procedure Rule 20.1.

Councillor Saunders proposed, Councillor Bayford seconded and Cabinet agreed the following:

1.  To note the following:

a.  The General Fund revenue budget 2021-22 forecast position.

b.  The General Fund Capital Programme 2021-22 forecast position.

c.  The Housing Revenue Account position.

d.  The anticipated funding solution to the budget gap;

2  To recommend to Council for approval a one-off 2021-22 supplementary General Fund revenue budget of £60k, for legal costs associated with a Private Sector Housing unlawful eviction case, to be funded from the Risk Management reserve;

3.  To the 2021-22 Capital Programme budget adjustments and virements, numbered 1 to 6, as set out in section 5.3 and Annex 1 to this report;

4.  To recommend to Council for approval the 2021-22 supplementary capital budgets, numbered 7 to 10 as set out in section 5.4 and Annex 1; and

5.  To recommend to Council that a £897k supplementary HRA revenue budget be approved for 2021-22, for the deployment of a waking watch service at the five tower blocks period until fire alarm sounders are installed at each site, to be funded from HRA balances.