Item 15 - General Fund Housing Revenue Monitoring to Period 3
West Dunbartonshire Council · 20 August 2025
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 20 August 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer – Resources Housing and Communities Committee: 20 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: General Fund Housing and Communities Financial Report 2025/26 as at Period 3 (30 June 2025) 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of the report is to provide the Committee with an update on the financial performance to 30 June 2025 (Period 3) of General Fund Revenue services under the remit of the Housing and Communities Committee. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to i) note the account currently shows a projected annual adverse variance of £0.097m (10.8% of the net expenditure budget). ii) note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into 2025/2026 budgets. 3. Background 3.1 Revenue Budget Members agreed the 2025/2026 revenue estimates at the Council meeting on 5th March 2025. A total net expenditure budget of £0.902m was approved for services under the Housing and Communities services remit. Budget Approved 5 March 2025 Gross Expenditure £m Gross Income £m Net Expenditure £m Homelessness Services 5.069 -4.241 0.828 Private Sector Housing 0.016 - 0.016 Private Sector Housing Grant 0.425 -0.382 0.043 Anti-Social Behaviour & CCTV 0.480 -0.175 0.305 Housing Maintenance Trading Organisation 20.581 -20.871 -0.290 Total 26.571 -25.670 0.902 ITEM 15
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4. Main Issues 5. 4.1 Appendix 1 reports the forecast outturn for the services at £0.999m, a a projected annual adverse variance of £0.097m (10.8% of the net expenditure budget). 4.2 The Homelessness service is the only service forecasting an adverse variance, with a forecast overspend of £99,000. Higher than planned service delivery costs for the Ashton View supported accommodation service is the main driver for the overspend. Employee cost pressures are particularly acute within the Ashton View service because the service need to provide staffing cover in line with Scottish Social Services Council (SSSC) staffing ratios. High levels of sickness absence within the service have also led to increased use of agency and temporary staff to meet ratios. 4.3 The Homelessness service is reviewing staffing levels across other parts of the service and reviewing rent recovery performance across homeless lets to assess options to reduce the overspend and it is expected that the forecast overspend will reduce as action is taken to reduce net expenditure across other service areas Appendix 2 provides a detailed analysis by service area. Appendix 3 provides commentary of projected net annual variances greater than £0.050m. Appendix 4 shows progress on the delivering 2024/2025 saving options. 5. People Implications 5.1 There are no people implications. 6. Financial Implications 6.1 Other than the financial position noted above, there are no financial implications of the budgetary control report. 6.2 Agreed efficiencies for 2025/2026 are monitored with current indications being that all the budgeted savings of £0.222m will be achieved (see Appendix 4). 7. Risk Analysis 7.1 The present variances should be viewed in the knowledge that there are several variable factors which could arise between now and 31 March and which could affect the year end results for both the revenue and capital budgets. 8. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 8.1 The report is for noting and therefore no Equalities Impact Assessment was completed for this report.
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9. Consultation 9.1 All services involved in delivering the budgets have been consulted in the compilation of this report 10. Strategic Assessment 10.1 Proper budgetary control and sound financial practice are cornerstones of good governance and support Council and officers to pursue the five strategic priorities of the Council’s Strategic Plan. This report forms part of the financial governance of the Council. This report is for noting and, therefore, does not directly affect any of the strategic priorities. Laurence Slavin Chief Officer, Resources Date: 20 August 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Person to Contact: Jim McCarron - Finance Business Partner, 16 Church Street, Dumbarton, G82 1QL Telephone: 07772 322055 e-mail james.mccarron@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 - Summary Budgetary Position (Revenue) Appendix 2 - Detailed Budgetary Position (Revenue) Appendix 3 - Variance Analysis (Revenue) Appendix 4 - Monitoring of Efficiencies/Savings Options (Revenue) Background Papers: None Wards Affected: All