Issue - meetings

At the request of the Chair of the Audit and Governance Committee this report has been produced to reflect on the recommendation of the COVID-19 - 2020/21 Budget Monitoring report to Cabinet on the 24 June 2020.

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

At the request of the Chairman, the Committee received a report produced to reflect on the recommendation of the COVID19 2020/21 Budget Monitoring report to Cabinet on 24 June 2020 and the various roles as between Council, Cabinet, the Leader of Council and the Audit and Governance Committee were explained and set out.

It was explained that the approach taken to treatment of budget pressures in 2020/21 was based upon a flexible mitigation strategy recognising the uncertainties around the financial impact of the public health emergency, the levels of additional central government funding and decisions around the allocation of resources throughout the remainder of the financial year.

It was reported that key actions being taken within Directorates were being monitored. Alongside this, the view of the External Auditors was being sought on an ongoing basis and the Auditor had expressed satisfaction with the steps being taken. For comparison purposes, the approach being adopted by other Local Authorities in response to the current financial challenges were summarised.

The Chief Executive referred the Committee to a number of issues which were under review including the use of the financial delegations within the Constitution and the examination of how all councillors could be engaged more widely within the budget setting process. This was within the context of the close political balance which currently existed within the BCP Council and reflecting the unprecedented impact upon the budget process that had resulted from the pandemic. The Chief Executive undertook to report back to a future meeting of the Committee on the outcome of this review and to ensure that the views of the Committee were taken fully into account.

RESOLVED that:-

(a)  the report on the governance of budget monitoring in the light of the impact of the COVID 19 pandemic be noted;

(b)  a further report on budget governance be submitted by the Chief Executive to a future meeting of the Committee.

Voting: Unanimous.