Issue - meetings

This report sets out estimates for income and expenditure on services in 2018/19.

The Committee received a report that set out estimates for income and expenditure on its services for 2018/19.

The report highlighted that the probable outturn for this Committee in 2017/18 was an under spend of £121,000. The key reasons for the major variances were set out in the report, in particular significant favourable variations in relation to Corporate Financial Management, Tax collection and Land and Property.  This had been taken into account in setting the 2018/19 budget.

The report set out a summary of the Committee’s revenue estimates for 2018/19, giving an overall base position of £2,669K.  This included recommended income from discretionary fees and charges.  The report highlighted that charges at the Town Hall for room hire and associated officer time fees had been raised between 3.3% and 4.9%, (resulting in a budgeted income of £497), and that Land Charge tariffs had been increased between 3.2% and 7.8% with one exception. Charges for an LLC1 had been increased by 13.6% to £25 in order to make it more comparable with other local authorities in Surrey. The annual budget for land charges was £120,000.

The Chairman clarified that in order to slow the depletion of reserves, the Financial Policy Panel had supported – not mandated - the possibility of using any surplus revenue funds, arising principally form dividend income received from the Epsom & Ewell Property Investment Company (EEPIC) to fund the capital programme in 2018/19.  The Financial Policy Panel would be further debating this issue at its meeting on 2 February 2018.

It was further noted that, in order to reflect the current management structure, the Committee was being asked to reconfirm a delegation in relation to the variation of fees and charges. This would now be delegated to the Chief Finance Officer.

Accordingly, the Committee:

(1)          Authorised the Chief Finance Officer to vary fees and charges for items generating income under £1,000 per annum and/or for one-off services or items;

(2)          Recommended the 2018/19 service estimates (including the increases to fees and charges set out in the report) for approval at the budget meeting of the Full Council on 20 February 2018.