Issue - meetings

The report considers the projected year end position for the DSG budget 2022-23 of a £1 million reduction in the £16.7 million budgeted funding gap for the year.

The cumulative deficit at 31 March 2023 is forecast to be £36.0 million.

The Assistant Chief Finance Officer presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'A' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The report considered the projected year end position for the DSG budget 2022-23 of a £1 million reduction in the £16.7 million budgeted funding gap for the year.

The cumulative deficit at 31 March 2023 was forecast to be £36 million.

It was confirmed that there was an expected £36m deficit in the DSG budget.  There would be an update at the January 2023 meeting.

It was discussed that the High Needs block budget, was a cumulative deficit, which would need years of underspending to overcome.  It was confirmed that from early indications received, nothing had really changed from the predictions that the Council had put forward.  This was a nationally shared problem.  The issues were being fed back to Government.  Councils could not solve the deficit by taking mitigating options, whilst the curve could be flattened, Councils could not remove the financial gap. 

It was advised that the delivering better value pack of diagnostics would be circulated to the Forum membershipwhen finalised.  The Council was looking at ways to reduce the deficit but it would be a small reduction only and was working towards 2028. 

RESOLVED that the contents of the report be noted.

Voting: Nem.Con