RESOLVED

1.    That the financial reporting data for month 7, October 2019, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net underspend at year-end of £1,068k, -0.2% of gross budget be noted.

2.    That £165,620 from the Outstanding Council Programme Board (OCPB) Reserve relating to the Children, Schools and Families Merton Improvement Board (MIB) project bid for the scanning and digital archiving of files be approved.

3.    That the contents of Section 4 be noted and the amendments to the Capital programme contained in Appendix 5b and in the Table below be approved.

4.    That there will be a separate report on the wider impact of the DSG on the MTFS to the January 2020 Cabinet meeting.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance presented the report and thanked the officers involved for their work.  The headline figures were good and the Council was projecting a small underspend at year end, however the pressure on the Dedicated Schools Grant was a serious concern and the government needed to address the underfunding of local authorities.  A report setting out the implications of the DSG on the MTFS would come to the January Cabinet meeting for consideration.

The Chair thanked the Cabinet Member and the Director.

RESOLVED

1.    That the financial reporting data for month 7, October 2019, relating to revenue budgetary control, showing a forecast net underspend at year-end of £1,068k, -0.2% of gross budget be noted.

2.    That £165,620 from the Outstanding Council Programme Board (OCPB) Reserve relating to the Children, Schools and Families Merton Improvement Board (MIB) project bid for the scanning and digital archiving of files be approved.

3.    That the contents of Section 4 be noted and the amendments to the Capital programme contained in Appendix 5b an in the Table below be approved.

4.    That there will be a separate report on the wider impact of the DSG on the MTFS to the January 2020 Cabinet meeting.