AN overspend of just £245,000 by Warrington Borough Council on its General Fund revenue budget in a year of unprecedented economic conditions and budget pressures is a “significant achievement”, according to Town Hall finance chiefs.
Taking into account an underspend of £288,000 on the Dedicated Schools Grant – which is ring-fenced and must be carried forward to the new financial year – the council has actually achieved a surplus of £43,000, members of the executive board have been told.
Councillors have agreed to finance the General Fund overspend from reserves rather than the usual policy of carrying it forward to the new year.
A report on the council’s performance and spending for the year 2008-9 has been accepted by the executive.
Councillors have been told of a number of key improvements during the last year.
These include the number of schools achieving the National Healthy Schools standard rising from 61 per cent to 85 per cent, bus use increasing by 10 per cent, the number of roads needing maintenance falling and participation in culture and community development in the inner borough increasing by about 80 per cent.
In addition, the number of older people discharged from hospital who achieve independent living has risen from 76 per cent to 91 per cent.
More than 600 additional homes have been provided and all council homes now meet decent homes standards, excluding those where tenants have refused to have work carried out.
A smaller number of concerns have been identified.
Town centre footfall has fallen by three per cent – probably because of the recession.
Timeliness of assessments for children’s social care has deteriorated, due to staff shortages and increasing numbers of referrals. The proportion of 16-18 year-olds not in education, employment or training has increased in line with national trends.
In the longer term, council chiefs see recent investments yielding further benefits. Already, a £563,000 investment in kerbside collection has boosted recycling from 30 per cent to 39 per cent.
Street cleanliness has improved as a result of a £107,000 investment in new equipment. More youth workers have been taken on after a £100,000 boost for the youth service.
The statement of accounts will be presented to the governance committee on June 29 and will be subject to external audit.
1 Comment
Reads like a box ticking exercise. Not impressed.
Perhaps the drop in the Town centre footfall has more to do with empty shops and traffic problems than the recession.
I was particularly confused about the fall in the need for road repais. These people must travel on different roads to myself.