Issue - meetings

The Charter Trustees of Bournemouth achieved a favourable outturn position for the 2019/20 financial year, carrying forward reserves of £7,994 against a budget of £4,400.

The forecast for the 2020/21 financial year is that the Charter Trustees of Bournemouth will underspend significantly against the budget due to reduced activity caused by the Covid-19 restrictions. The forecast is that £37,519 of reserves could be achieved in-year against a budget of £4,400.

The Responsible Financial Officer (RFO) presented a report which provided an update on the budget, 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 Charter Trustees were advised that the report covered three areas backward looking into the financial outturn for 2019/20.  The RFO reported that at the August meeting of the Charter Trustees the high-level accounting statements had been approved and it was agreed that the detail of the statements would be submitted to this meeting. He explained that Appendix A to the report detailed the outturn position for last year against the approved budget and indicated a contribution to reserves of nearly £8k.  The RFO explained that the second part of the report looked at this year’s budget which shows due to Covid-19 that civic budgets had not been spent and if that continues in the same way it was expected that an additional £37k contribution would be made into reserves with closing reserves of just over £45K.  Officers recommended that arrangements be made for a budget workshop for the Charter Trustees towards the end of November in preparation for the budget for next year to take account of aspirations for Council tax, understanding the tax base, recharges and the use of reserves.

The Charter Trustees considered the nominations for the budget workshop.  It was suggested that this include the budget signatories, the current Mayor, previous Mayor and one other Charter Trustee.  It was also suggested that this workshop could be undertaken jointly with Poole and Christchurch if appropriate.

The Mayor called on Councillor Kelsey to report on the development of the risk register as detailed at item 7 on the agenda.  He reported on the work of a small group of Charter Trustees to ensure that the risks associated with the Charter Trustees including the role of charter trustees, governance arrangements, health and safety, equality and diversity, accommodation, consultation were addressed in the risk register.  He explained that it was proposed to report back to the Charter Trustees in January 2021. 

RESOLVED that

(a)  The Charter Trustees note the budget outturn position for 2019/20.

(b)  The Charter Trustees note the in-year budget position for 2020/21.

(c)  The Charter Trustees nominate members to form a budget workshop in November to discuss the draft budget for 2021/22 in accordance with the suggestion detailed above.

Voting: Agreed