Savings Will Protect Jobs And Protect Services In The Future

The Leader of Caerphilly county borough council has thanked staff for helping the authority deliver well within its budget during the last financial year. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s Cabinet considered a report this week (Wednesday 27th July) which contained details of Caerphilly’s financial position at the end of 2015/16. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This ‘outturn report’ shows that the authority achieved an overall underspend of £9.9 million (3.07% of the budget). ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

This excludes the housing service, which underspent by £6.8m. These funds will be allocated to improving council housing as part of a £200m investment programme. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It is clear to see that managers across the authority are identifying savings and reducing expenditure in response to the ongoing financial pressures facing local government” said Cllr Keith Reynolds. “Over recent years we have taken a prudent approach to budget management and this has placed the authority in a strong position as we navigate through these times of austerity.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“By working together we can continue to protect jobs, protect services and ensure Caerphilly council remains in a strong, well-managed position going forward,” he added. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The council’s prudent approach, which includes an effective vacancy management policy, has resulted in a number of savings being achieved in advance, therefore the total underspend is higher than would normally be the case. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Whilst this outturn report is a positive outcome for the council, we cannot be complacent as we still face difficult times ahead,” said Cllr Reynolds. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Cabinet also received a positive report from the Wales Audit Office following a review of the financial resilience of the authority. The findings concluded that the council has good financial management arrangements in place and has a good track record of operating within its budget. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The risk ratings for the council are low in terms of financial control and governance and medium for financial planning, which is a reflection of the uncertainties facing local government at the moment. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Outturn report and Financial Resilience report are available on the council’s website in the meetings section. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​