The Audit and Governance Committee at Dorset County Council is meeting today to consider the Financial Management Report submitted by chief financial officer, Richard Bates, which provides an update on financial performance and projections for 2018-19.
The section in the agenda “Risk Assessment” says that the current risk is ‘high’, and the residual risk ‘medium’.
The council approved a balanced budget on 15 February 2018, based on a 5.99% increase in council tax for 2018-19, including the 3% social care precept.
The agenda to the meeting says: “Nothwithstanding this increase in council tax and 1.26% growth in council tax base, demand and cost pressures are such that there is still a requirement for more than £18m in savings to tackle the budget gap and base budget overspends being carried into 2018-19”.
The report says that the £18.8m of savings means the budget or 2018-19 still has risks, including within the Children’s Services budgets, the greatest source of pressure, the ability to recruit additional foster carers, and the inability to control the total number of children requiring care.
Room151 Events: Treasury, Pensions, Housing, Strategic Finance, Legal
