Contact: Ejner Knudsen, ext 7403

1 Summary

1.1 The attached report sets out the latest monitoring position for the Environment Services' revenue budget 2001/02. The Executive member for the Environment is being recommended to approve for submission to the Cabinet:

· That a projected overspend of £81,000 on the waste management budget for the disposal of abandoned vehicles be offset by utilising savings available elsewhere within the Environment Services revenue budget.

· That further projected savings of £642,000 on the highways and transportation services and on the planning services be carried forward as planned underspendings to the 2002/03 budget, to help meet deferred expenditure from 2001/02 and other budget pressures next year.

2 Reason

2.1 Financial regulations require revenue budgets to be regularly monitored and for corrective action to be taken to control expenditure within approved cash limits, including the identification of any planned underspendings which may be carried forward to future years' budgets.

3 Other options considered and rejected

3.1 The absorption of the projected overspending of £81,000 on the budget for the disposal of abandoned vehicles within the waste management cash limit was considered. However, this would have a serious negative impact on service delivery as the facilities management programme or planned expenditure on promotions and developments would have to be substantially reduced.

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or a member or officer consulted - not applicable.

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable.

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - not applicable

Approved by: (signature) Date: (date of decision)

Councillor K B Estlin