Contact: Nick Gibbins, (01962) 847544; [email protected]

1 Summary

1.1 This report reviews the budget monitoring position for 2007/08, on the basis of the first quarter's budget monitoring and from reviewing the initial service budget monitoring reports submitted to Executive members.

1.2 The following decisions are sought:

· That the progress made in progressing plans for achieving the savings in the budget be welcomed and that the action being taken by all services to contain spending within cash limits be supported.

· That an invest to save contribution of £78,000 to fund a benchmarking review of support services, by Mott Macdonald and RsE be approved, to be repaid by top-slicing savings emerging from the review.

2 Reason

2.1 Budget monitoring reports are submitted regularly to the Cabinet to review whether any action is required to deal with variations between planned and actual spending.

3 Other options considered and rejected:

3.1 Not applicable

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker or other Executive member consulted - none

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - none

6 Reason(s) for the matter being dealt with if urgent - none

Approved by: Date:
Councillor T K Thornber CBE - Chairman