The Cabinet received a report which set out the provisional outturn for 2010/11 and requests to carry forward certain revenue and asset maintenance budgets into 2011/12. It was noted that since the last forecast in February the Council had obtained a VAT refund of £364,000 which had significantly improved the position for the year.

The Cabinet had regard to the detailed comments and some concerns raised by the Finance Advisory Group (FAG) that were set out at the meeting by Councillor Grint. In recognition of these comments the Cabinet considered each of the carry forward requests where the FAG had recommended refusal or had sought more clarification:

Request A1 – Supporting the Paralympics Cycling Event

The Cabinet accepted that this was not a carry forward as the holding of this event in Sevenoaks could not have been anticipated when the budgets for the year were originally established. The Cabinet recognised that this was an event worthy of support and in alignment with many of the Council’s wider objectives including community participation and healthy living. It was proposed therefore that the £35,000 requested for this project could be funded from the underspend in the 2010/11 Community Development budget and that Council should be asked to approve this and set this sum aside as an earmarked reserve.

Request A3 – Extended Licensing Partnership

The Cabinet rejected this as a carry forward but agreed that a separate report should be brought forward when there was clarity on the direction that the partnership would be taking.

Request A4 – Healthy Eating

The Cabinet rejected this as it did not meet the criteria for a carry forward.

Request A6 – Civic Expenses

The Cabinet rejected this as it did not meet the criteria for a carry forward.   

Requests A15, B7 and C4 – Various IT Expenditure

The Cabinet decided to approve these carry forward requests in light of the further clarification provided by the Head of IT and Facilities Management.  

The Cabinet thanked the FAG for its diligence in considering the carry forwards and for its advice and recommendations.

            Resolved:

(a)    That the carry forward requests A1, A3, A4 and A6 outlined in the report be rejected as they do not fall within the definition accepted by the Cabinet and the Finance Advisory Group for a valid carry forward;

(b)    That all of the remaining carry forward requests contained in the report be approved;

(c)     That the Cabinet recommends to the Council that the £35,000 underspend in the 2010/11 Community Development Budget be set aside as an earmarked reserve to support the Paralympic Cycling event (Request A1); and

(d)    That a further report be brought forward at the appropriate time on the extension of the Licensing Partnership once there is greater clarity on the direction that the partnership will be taking (Request A3).