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Item 17 - IRED BCR Report to Period 10

West Dunbartonshire Council · 22 May 2024
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 22 May 2024 and its agenda

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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL 
Report by Chief Officer - Resources 
Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee:
22 May 2024
___________________________________________________________________
Subject: Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Budgetary
Control Report 2023/24 to Period 10 (31 January 2024)
1. Purpose
1.1 This report provides an update on the financial performance to 31 January
2024 of those services under the auspices of the Infrastructure, Regeneration
& Economic Development Committee (IRED).
2. Recommendations
2.1 Members are asked to:
i) note the contents of this report showing the revenue budget forecast to
overspend against budget by £1.350m (9.33%) at the year-end taking
into account that this is subject to change, and
ii) note the net projected annual position in relation to relevant capital
projects which is highlighting a projected variance of £52.110m
(42.28%) due to re-profiling.
iii) note that future meetings of the IRED Committee will be presented with
separate revenue and capital budgetary control reports.
3. Background
Revenue
3.1 At the meeting of West Dunbartonshire Council on 1 March 2023, Members
agreed the revenue estimates for 2023/24. A total net budget of £14.173m
was approved for IRED services. Since then there have been various
adjustments and some services have moved outwith the IRED remit and the
revised budget is therefore now £14.469m, as follows:
£m
Starting Position 14.173
Staff Movements -0.132
Allocation of pay award funding 0.484
Allocation of Income Generalisation -0.056
Revised  Budget 14.469
ITEM 17

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Capital
3.2 At the meeting of Council on 1 March 2023, Members also agreed the
updated 10 year General Services Capital Plan for 2023/2024 to 2032/2033. 
The three years from 2023/24 to 2025/26 have been approved in detail with
the remaining years being indicative at this stage. The total project life budget
approved for projects that have either commenced or are due to commence in
that period total £155.891m.  
4. Main Issues
Revenue Budget
4.1  The current budgetary position is summarised in Appendix 1.  A more detailed
analysis by service is given in Appendix 2. 
4.2 Of the 14 services monitored 2 are showing either a favourable or nil variance,
with 12 services showing an adverse variance. Comments are shown in
Appendix 3 when there are projected net annual variances greater than
£0.050m and also where the net variance is below £0.050m but there are
offsetting variances of over £0.050m within the service.  
4.3 Appendix 1 shows the probable outturn for the services at £15.819m. As the
annual budget is £14.469m there is currently a projected adverse variance for
the year of £1.350m.
4.4 Since the budgetary control report presented at IRED committee meeting on 7
February 2024 there has been a reduction in the adverse variance of £595k.
This is mainly due to a review undertaken by The Chief Officer for Roads,
Neighbourhood and Transport. The main reasons for this decrease are noted
below:
4.5 Appendix 4 to the report summarises the current position against the saving
options agreed by council as part of setting the 2023/24 budget.
Capital Budget
4.6 The overall programme summary report is shown in Appendix 5. Information
on projects in the red category for probable underspends or overspends in-
Service Decrease 
(£,000)
Main Reasons for Variance
Roads
Services
146 Projects that are being funded from capital
rather than revenue.
Grounds
Maintenance
220 Funds received from developer contributions
Waste
Services
262 Changes to residual waste collection.

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year and in total is provided in Appendix 6 together with additional information
on action being taken to minimise or mitigate reprofiling and/or overspends
where possible and detail on projects within the green category are shown in
Appendix 7. 
4.7 The analysis shows there is a projected in-year variance of £52.110m. This
variance is mainly due to a comprehensive reprofiling exercise being carried
out to review the profiling of all projects in the capital programme to better
align the anticipated spend with project activity. Revised profiles were
reflected in the updated capital programme presented to Council at the
Council Budget Meeting on 6 March 2024  
4.8 From the analysis within the appendices it can be seen there are a number of
projects with identified re-profiling to date. Those with re-profiling valued at
greater than £0.500m, are listed as follows:
Project Name
Period 10
Re-profiling (£m)
Waste Transfer Station 1.780
Exxon City Deal 7.845
New West Bridgend Community Centre 1.053
Strathleven Place 1.540
Regeneration/Local Economic
Development
2.422
Regeneration Fund 3.824
Clydebank Can on the Canal 0.707
LUF 14.871
District Heating Network Expansion 7.109
River Leven Flood Prevention Scheme 0.620
Gruggies Burn 0.930
Vehicle Replacement Strategy 0.900
Vehicle Replacement 2.859
Depot Rationalisation 2.138
4.9 As detailed at the members seminar on 20 March 2024 capital monitoring is
changing resulting in a separate capital report to Council and all Committees.
This means this is the last combined report and from August 2024 a separate
revenue monitoring report and capital monitoring report will be presented. 
5. People Implications
5.1 There are no people implications.

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6. Financial Implications
6.1 Other than the financial position noted above, there are no financial
implications of the budgetary control report. Officers are currently reviewing
budgets and projections with a view to improving the position by financial year
end and progress will be highlighted in future reports to committee.
7. Risk Analysis
7.1 The present variances should be viewed in the knowledge that there are a
number of 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 The views of both Finance and Legal services have been requested on this
report and both have advised there are neither any issues nor concerns with
the proposal. As the report is for noting no further consultation is envisaged.
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:  15 April 2024
Person to Contact: Jackie Thomson - Business Unit Finance Partner, 16
Church Street, Dumbarton, G81 1QL.
e-mail jackie.nicol-thomson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk
Appendices: Appendix 1 - Summary Budgetary Position (Revenue)
Appendix 2– Detailed Budgetary Position (Revenue)
Appendix 3 – Variance Analysis (Revenue)
Appendix 4 – Efficiencies & Management Adjustments
Appendix 5 – Budgetary Position (Capital) 
Appendix 6 – Variance Analysis Red Status (Capital)

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Appendix 7 - Variance Analysis Green (Capital)
Background Papers: None
Wards Affected: All