Agenda and draft minutes

There were no apologies for absence received.

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That the minutes of the meeting from 4 March be approved.

It was confirmed that agenda items 5-8 would be heard in Part I and agenda item 9 would be heard in Part II.

None.

The Chief Operating Officer, Corporate Director of Place, Director-Strategic & Operational Finance, Head of Finance – Counter Fraud & Finance, Head of Finance – Place, Head of Strategic Finance and Head of Capital Programme provided an update on the Council’s budget and spending.

The senior officers provided an overview of the financial performance relevant to the Corporate Resources and Infrastructure Select Committee’s remit. Members received detailed breakdowns of the Committee's budget by portfolio and service area, adjustments made for inflation, corporate adjustments, growth and savings.

Members heard about the proposed structure and approach to financial monitoring, emphasising transparency and rigorous scrutiny of the Council’s finances. It was reported that future reports would cover spending against the profiled budget, delivery against expected savings and actions to mitigate any issues.

The Chair opened Committee discussions by addressing the challenging financial situation both inside and outside the Council and noted the Committee’s focus to scrutinising the Council's financial situation, assisting senior officers with budget monitoring and issuing interim reports to the Cabinet concerning budgetary pressures. The Chair emphasised the importance of financial scrutiny and budget monitoring, stating that the Committee would hold officers and Cabinet Members accountable.

Members raised queries about the financial robustness of the Council and how departments were working differently to ensure the delivery of savings across all service areas. It was explained that there were measures in place to monitor and manage savings, including regular meetings of the corporate management team, a performance management framework and transparent reporting. It was highlighted that the goal was not only to achieve savings but also to stick within the budget. The involvement of external expertise and the finance team to ensure the quality of savings and avoid cost shunting was noted. Additionally, improvements in financial management and systems were noted as new and different approaches compared to previous years.

In response to questions around the savings in the customer experience service budget, specifically how such a significant reduction in the budget would maintain the quality of the department. It was explained that the investment in digital data and technology had allowed the Council to improve customer service despite budget reductions.

A recent online article with the headline "Hillingdon Council faces financial crisis amid budgetary shortfall” was mentioned and the possibility of issuing a Section 114 notice due to declining reserves, overspending practices and failure to achieve savings targets. Members sought assurance that things had changed and queried the measures being taken to ensure financial stability and deliver savings. The Committee was advised that the Council had made significant investments in understanding the organisation better, leading to improved decision-making and better data analytics around services. Processes such as the ZBB review, and star chamber exercise had been implemented, and officers stressed the significance of regular monthly monitoring and early interventions to manage financial risks effectively.

In terms of the impact of the current economic market on investments and pensions, it was reported that the Council's General Fund investments were in money market funds, which offered  ...  view the full minutes text for item 71.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Forward Plan be noted.

RESOLVED: That the Work Programme be noted.