Agenda item

Revenue Budget & Capital Programme Monitoring 2019/20

Report of the Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer

Minutes:

The Panel received a report from the Assistant Director Resources/Treasurer (ADR/T) on issues arising from the monitoring of the 2019/20 Revenue Budget and Capital Programme as at 30 September 2019. 

 

The Finance Manager introduced the report, highlighting the current challenges which were primarily around the delivery of the ambitious Capital Programme.  Slippage had occurred for a number of valid reasons; projects involving Police collaboration had been delayed as they reconsidered resource requirements following the announcement of additional funding for frontline police and extended staff consultation and estates staff resourcing had impacted on timescales of some projects.  High risk areas continued to be monitored.

 

The Panel sought reassurance that monitoring was taking place across the whole budget and queried errors in the budget for telephony (paragraph 2.2.1 of the report) and payroll miscoding (paragraph 2.5 of the report).  The Finance Manager confirmed that all areas of the budget were monitored through statistical analysis and by individual budget holders, however, resources were  focused on high risk areas and those larger budgets.  With regards to errors with the telephony budget, this had been caused by some confusion over contract end/start dates.  Information Technology Governance had carried out a full review and were confident that there were no further issues.  Payroll errors related specifically to firefighter pay and issues with how the system handled employer pension contributions.  These were being resolved by the Payroll Manager. 

 

The Panel asked about fleet management and the Assistant Chief Fire Officer (ACFO) confirmed that a comprehensive vehicle replacement strategy was in place.  This was currently based on an appliance having a 14 year life cycle, however, with advances in technology and engineering it was thought that lifecycles would increase.  Pressure had been placed on the fleet following losses at the Marlie Farm incident in 2006.  Four appliances had recently been received and were currently at Service Training Centre undergoing acceptance testing.  Better workforce engagement had resulted an improved receipt process and feedback on the new foam system tests and improved contamination control had been positive.

 

Discussion was had over the Grenfell Tower Inquiry Phase 1 Report.  The ACFO commented that although the report was still being considered, having only been published on 30 October, an early ‘lessons learnt’ around protection, fire safety and operational response had been undertaken.  Attendance had been reviewed and an inspection regime carried out.  Operationally the Service continued to support the ‘stay put’ policy, however, buildings needed to meet appropriate standards.  It was recognised that compartmentalisation could fail and that crews needed to aware of the potential of rapid spread, the importance of asking ‘what if?’ when attending certain incidents and adjusting swiftly to an evacuation strategy when appropriate.

 

The Panel welcomed the number of apprenticeships being taken up and noted that with regards to Sussex Control Centre, any changes to the planning assumptions and timeline would impact on the budget figures set out in the report.

 

RESOLVED: That the Panel:

 

1)    notes:

 

(i)            the risks to and the projected Revenue Budget underspend,

(ii)          the risks to and the projected underspend in the Capital Programme,

(iii)         the use of reserve,

(iv)         the monitoring of savings taken in 2019/20, and

(v)          the current year investments,

(vi)         the increase in the scheme budget for BA and Radio Equipment Scheme by £115,000 to £437,000 funded from underspends in the Fleet Capital Programme and £10,000 from Marauding Tactical Firearms Attack grant.

 

2)    approves:

 

(vii)        the variation the Capital Programme by £25,000 for improvements to the Combined Aerial Rescue Pump (CARP).

(viii)      the drawdown of up to £160,000 from General Balances to fund the in-year consequences of decisions taken by the Principal Officers Appointment Panel regarding the Principal Officer’s terms and conditions review and the role and remuneration of the Treasurer.

(ix)         an increase in the capital scheme for the Animal Rescue Vehicle from £200,000 to £322,000.

Supporting documents: