Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance and Assets

RESOLVED

i)     To note the changes in the Council’s financial position in 2020/21 and the Medium Term.

ii)    To recommend Council approve a £50k capital budget for the refresh and refurbishment of the museum whilst it remains closed during 2020/21.

iii)   To recommend Council approve a £125k capital budget increase to the £180k Henfield Library car park capital project, to address significant issues in the foundations.

iv)   To enter into a four year £0.75m scheme to deliver supported accommodation for rough sleepers, providing full funding is approved by MHCLG.

v)    Subject to iv) above,  to recommend Council approve a £69k capital budget and £25.5k revenue expenditure budget in 2020/21 and the associated matching income obtained from MHCLG.

REASON

i)     The Council needs to acknowledge the highly unpredictable nature of the national and local situation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge impact this is having on its financial position both in the short and longer term. This has moved the council from what has been a long term healthy financial position to one with predicted large deficits unless action is taken.

ii)    Work is needed to modernise and refresh museum displays, introduce a digital cultural heritage offer, and improve the customer experience.

iii)   The more expensive dig out and rebuild of the car park in Henfield will address structural defects and make the asset last much longer and is therefore more economical in the long term.

iv)   & v) establishing supported accommodation will help support and reduce the number of rough sleepers in the district.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Finance & Assets presented an update on the projected scale of the financial impact from Covid-19 in 2020/21 and how the ongoing considerable uncertainty could impact on current forecasts.

This uncertainty was effecting the medium term financial strategy and the identified potential savings of £1.5m, as set out in the report, would not be enough and further substantial action would therefore be needed to achieve a balanced 2021/22 budget.  Work was being undertaken on what could be done to reduce costs further and there would be an update to Cabinet in November with possible further updates before the budget is agreed in February 2021.     

The Cabinet Member advised that there had already been cost reductions at the museum and the £50k for museum improvements would help it operate with a lower subsidy when it re-opens. It was noted that the £125k towards the Henfield carpark included essential work to address underlying problems with the foundations.

RESOLVED

i)      To note the changes in the Council’s financial position in 2020/21 and the Medium Term.

ii)     To recommend Council approve a £50k capital budget for the refresh and refurbishment of the museum whilst it remains closed during 2020/21.

iii)    To recommend Council approve a £125k capital budget increase to the £180k Henfield Library car park capital project, to address significant issues in the foundations.

iv)   To enter into a four year £0.75m scheme to deliver supported accommodation for rough sleepers, providing full funding is approved by MHCLG.

v)    Subject to iv) above,  to recommend Council approve a £69k capital budget and £25.5k revenue expenditure budget in 2020/21 and the associated matching income obtained from MHCLG.

REASON

i)      The Council needs to acknowledge the highly unpredictable nature of the national and local situation occasioned by the COVID-19 pandemic and the huge impact this is having on its financial position both in the short and longer term. This has moved the council from what has been a long term healthy financial position to one with predicted large deficits unless action is taken.

ii)     Work is needed to modernise and refresh museum displays, introduce a digital cultural heritage offer, and improve the customer experience.

iii)    The more expensive dig out and rebuild of the car park in Henfield will address structural defects and make the asset last much longer and is therefore more economical in the long term.

iv)   & v) establishing supported accommodation will help support and reduce the number of rough sleepers in the district.