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Item 9 - Appendix 3

West Dunbartonshire Council · 7 February 2024
Back to Infrastructure, Regeneration & Economic Development Committee — 7 February 2024 and its agenda

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Page 1

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL ITEM 9 - APPENDIX 3REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL 2023/24
ANALYSIS FOR VARIANCES OVER £50,000
PERIOD END DATE
Total Budget Forecast
Spend RAG Status
£000 £000 £000 %
Corporate Asset Maintenance 0 0 0 0% 
Service Description
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
Transport, Fleet & Maintenance
Services (601) (366) 236 -39% 
Service Description
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
31 October 2023
Budget Details
Variance Analysis
Variance
Overspend anticipated at present.
Transport services across WDC
The cost of specialist repairs and materials/parts has increased to levels
not reflected in current budgets. VTU income remains adverse (£55k) due
to continuing restrictions on what MOTs are undertaken.
Expenditure and income  will continue to be monitored.
This service delivers maintenance a services to the council's corporate
property assets
The forecast overspend in supplies and materials is associated with the
type of work that is being undertaken. The higher spend is offset by higher
recharges to client budgets.
None required
Breakeven position

Page 2

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL APPENDIX 3
REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL 2023/24
ANALYSIS FOR VARIANCES OVER £50,000
PERIOD END DATE
Total Budget Forecast
Spend RAG Status
£000 £000 £000 %
31 October 2023
Budget Details
Variance Analysis
Variance
Roads Services 3,014 3,430 417 14% 
Service Description
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
Outdoor Services 194 278 84 43% 
Service Description
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
An adverse variance is anticipated.
This service relates to Roads operations, design, structures, street lighting,
road safety and school crossing patrols 
Plant hire costs have increased during the year to a level not foreseen
when the budget was set (£268k) . Similarly, electricity and street lighting
costs have increased during the year to a level not anticipated when the
budget was set due to unique inflationary pressures (£289k). Miscellaneous
property costs are also £12k greater than anticipated (the largest being the
depot cost allocation including a higher electricity element). Payments to
contractors/materials (£520k) are anticipated to be higher than anticipated
when the budget was set. As a result of higher operating costs income,
including capital recharges, are anticipated to be greater than budgeted
(£673k)
Management will continue to monitor all budget heads with a view to
minimising the overspend.
This service covers the outdoor sporting facilities provided by WDC and
public conveniences
Income from fees and charges is unlikely to be as budgeted (£71k). Other
costs - principally electricity - higher than when the budget was set.
Income will be monitored to establish whether there has been a downtown
in demand.
Overspend anticipated.

Page 3

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL APPENDIX 3
REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL 2023/24
ANALYSIS FOR VARIANCES OVER £50,000
PERIOD END DATE
Total Budget Forecast
Spend RAG Status
£000 £000 £000 %
31 October 2023
Budget Details
Variance Analysis
Variance
Crematorium (1,101) (983) 118 -11% 
Service Description This service provides crematorium services within the Council area
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
Waste Services 9,757 10,429 672 7% 
Service Description Waste Collection and Refuse disposal services
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
The increased income target is unlikely to be met
Overspend anticipated
Although there are savings on gas costs income from cremations is less
than budgeted with income less than the corresponding period last year.
Income and expenditure will continue to be monitored throughout the year.
Waste removal/tonnage costs in particular will be closely monitored.
Employee costs are higher due to the knock-on effect of the higher pay
award , higher turnover targets and higher overtime than reflected in the
budget (£114k) . Transport costs, principally hires, are greater than
anticipated when the budgets were set because of delays in acquiring new
vehicles (£275k). The number of tonnes going to landfill is also greater than
anticipated (£271k).

Page 4

WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL APPENDIX 3
REVENUE BUDGETARY CONTROL 2023/24
ANALYSIS FOR VARIANCES OVER £50,000
PERIOD END DATE
Total Budget Forecast
Spend RAG Status
£000 £000 £000 %
31 October 2023
Budget Details
Variance Analysis
Variance
Corporate Assets (2,361) (2,060) 301 -13% 
Service Description This service provides asset and estate management
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome
Economic Development 155 183 28 18% 
Service Description
Main Issues / Reason for Variance
Mitigating Action
Anticipated Outcome An overspend is anticipated
Income is adverse due to delays in filling staff vacancies on posts that are
budgeted to be internally recharged. While these posts are vacant there is
no possibility of recharging these. This is being partially offset by a
favourable variance in staffing due to the same vacancies.
Income and expenditure will continue to be monitored throughout the year.
Promotion of regeneration activities within West Dunbartonshire Council
Savings options have not been realised in respect of re letting of proposed
sites, which has therefore left the Council liable.
The unachieved amount of saving (£0.427m) will be funded from the
smoothing fund for 2023/24.  It is anticipated that the full saving will be
achieved in future years.
After use of the smoothing fund, a favourable variance is anticipated.