Item 15 - HAC General Fund to 30 June
West Dunbartonshire Council · 12 August 2026
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 12 August 2026 and its agenda
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Official WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer – Resources Housing and Communities Committee: 12 August 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: General Fund Housing and Communities Financial Report 2026/27 as at Period 3 (30 June 2026) 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of the report is to provide the Committee with an update on the financial performance to 30 June 2026 (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 favourable variance of £0.117m (9.1% of the net expenditure budget). ii) note the progress on efficiencies incorporated into 2026/2027 budgets. 3. Background 3.1 Revenue Budget Members agreed the 2026/2027 revenue estimates at the Council meeting on 4th March 2026. A total net expenditure budget of £1.287m was approved for services under the Housing and Communities services remit. Budget Approved 4 March 2026 Gross Expenditure £m Gross Income £m Net Expenditure £m Homelessness Services 5.314 -4.389 0.925 Resettlement Services 0.440 -0.440 - Private Sector Housing 0.016 - 0.016 Private Sector Housing Grant 0.430 -0.382 0.048 Energy Efficiency Area Based Scheme 1.570 -1.570 - Anti-Social Behaviour & CCTV 0.519 -0.221 0.298 Total 8.289 -7.002 1.287 ITEM 15
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Official 4. Main Issues 4.1 Appendix 1 reports the forecast outturn for the services at £1.329m, a projected favourable variance of £0.117m. Exhibit 1 - Forecast BCR03 compared to Budget 26/27 Service Area Forecast Outturn BCR03 £m Budgeted Net Expenditure £m Variance £m Homelessness Service 0.630 0.925 -0.295 Resettlement Service 0.201 - 0.201 Private Sector Housing 0.016 0.016 - Private Sector Housing Grant 0.047 0.048 -0.001 Energy Efficiency Area Based Scheme - - - Anti-Social Behaviour & CCTV 0.276 0.298 -0.022 Total 1.170 1.287 -0.117 4.2 The Homelessness Service underspend is due to vacant posts. The service is actively recruiting to vacant posts to ensure the effective delivery of services and support to its clients. 4.3 The Resettlement Service is forecasting a £201,000 overspend. The council receives Scottish and UK government grant funding to support Ukrainian refugees and other refugees resetting within the UK. The grant funding is based on the number of individuals settling within a local authority area, with the grant income provided over multiple years. The early forecast is for 2026/27 service expenditure to exceed grant funding. It is difficult to forecast grant income because of the uncertainty over the number of individuals who will settle within the area each year. 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 2026/2027 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.
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Official 6.2 Agreed efficiencies for 2026/2027 are monitored with current indications being that the savings of £0.049m 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. 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: 12 August 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ 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