Issue - meetings

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property and Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy submitted a monitoring report on finance and performance as at 31 December 2017.

The Head of Strategic Finance and Property stated that the budget overspend as at 31 December 2017, was £58k and this now stood at £55k.  She added that the overspend had been considered by Leadership Team and that going forward, the future aim was to come in on budget.  The Committee Chairman acknowledged that the overspend had been trending downwards.

Councillors K Crofton and J Wyllie referred to the underspend in relation to the Castle Weir micro hydro scheme and the apparent lack of progress in this project .  The Head of Strategic Finance and Property explained the budgeting arrangements on this issue and undertook to ask the Head of Operations to provide an update.   The Committee Chairman reminded Members that the Environment Agency had been slow to respond and had delayed progress. 

Councillor S Cousins supported the Castle Weir micro hydro scheme, adding that it would bring great benefit financially, to the running costs of Hertford Theatre. 

Councillor A Alder sought clarification regarding Decent Home Grants (Policy) and the Bell Street, Sawbridgeworth toilets and car park.  The Head of Strategic Finance and Property agreed to ask appropriate Heads of Service to provide Members with an update.

In response to a query by Councillor D Oldridge, the Head of Strategic Finance and Property explained how claw backs in the budget were approached, e.g., by not filling vacant posts, reducing office consumables to prevent over-ordering.

Councillor K Crofton requested further information regarding a £13k reduction in income predicted in orders for clinical waste collections.  The Head of Strategic Finance and Property undertook to ask the Head of Operations to respond to Members.

The Chairman referred to depressed rental incomes in respect of Charrington’s House, Bishop’s Stortford.  The Head of Strategic Finance and Property commented that there had been a number of new signings which would go some way to address the gap in the 2018/19 budget.  The Head of Communications, Strategy and Policy provided an update in relation to “Launch Pad” and the internal changes to the ground floor layout of Charrington’s House in order to attract smaller businesses.

The Committee Chairman referred to the increased costs in Legal and Democratic Services and was advised that an interim member of staff had been appointed to fill a position at the beginning of the year, however, the post had now been permanently filled. 

Members debated the issue of shortages and causes in recruiting sufficient planning staff.  Members supported the suggestion that this be referred to the Interim Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development as a first step and the possibility of including this in the work programme for review.

The Committee Chairman referred to the overspend of £110k in relation to BATs shared service and the increased costs in respect of cyber security and additional software licenses.  The Committee supported a suggestion that this  ...  view the full minutes text for item 392