Report - London Borough of Hillingdon

Standards and Inclusion :- £245k Underspend
6. After virements from central Standards Fund budgets to support SEN budgets
and finalisation of prior year inter-authority liabilities for SEN, the SEN position is
now forecasting an underspend of £111k (£11k worsening on the £122k reported in
month 8). These forecasts include assumptions about new SEN placements. A
review of SEN support services budgets has identified underspends of £133k in
staffing budgets that were not forecast in previous months. These underspends arise
due to failure to fill posts, where previously it was assumed that they would be filled,
for Pupil & Family Support (£73) and Learning and Support Services (£60).
Lifelong Learning: £30k Overspend
7. The Early Years and Childcare team has identified budget pressures (£130k), due
to underachievement of income targets (principally) in the three Early Years Centres,
which transferred from Social Services on 1st April 2003 . These budgets are
regarded as high risk and are being considered each month. There are some
offsetting savings within the Early Years Team and these will reduce the overspend
for the team to between £50k and £100k. Overall projected position is a £30k
improvement on that forecast on month 8.
8. EYL officers are looking to identify strategies for ensuring that, in the longer term,
these facilities operate within their approved budget. This is unlikely to produce a
balance in 2003/04. Officers have sought some support from the Council's
Contingency Budget, which earmarked up to £40k of funding in the event of the Early
Years Centres being unable to meet income targets. Other opportunities for savings
in this area are modest and an overspend may be inevitable.
Cultural Services: £107k Overspend
9. Cost pressures and income shortfall at Hayes Pool (£90k) and a mixture of
pressures and savings elsewhere in the Leisure budget (ie projected income shortfall
of £11k at Cwm Pennant offset by a forecast increase in rent income on golf courses
(£42k), under-achievement of income at Queensmead Sports Centre (£25k), cost
pressures at Minet Country Park (£25K), and a range of modest ups and downs for
the remainder). There are some offsetting pressures and savings within the Library
Service.
10. These pressures are expected to be managed within Cultural Services. The
scope for doing this is in uncommitted funding for an Asset Management Review
Manager and some opportunities for vacancy management. Savings have been
identified by Cultural Services managers.
Compensating Savings (Provisions): - (£120k) Underspend
11. The latest assessment of potential compensating savings suggests that the
following would appear to be achievable:
PART I – MEMBERS & PUBLIC (INCLUDING THE PRESS)
Cabinet Reports - 4 th March 2003 Page 160