Council Meeting
10 June 2021
Budget Monitor 2020/21

1. As the Council is aware, throughout the 2020/21 financial year the budget has
been monitored on a monthly basis and reported to Council quarterly. This
report covers Quarter 4 and the year end, the tables for which are attached
2. This financial year has been extremely unusual due to the pandemic and with
the lockdowns and social restrictions a number of projects planned for the
year have had to be deferred. In consequence it is unsurprising that the
Council ended the year with a significant underspend of £82,784.25.
3. Approximately half of that underspend was the East Bergholt Neighbourhood
Plan Committee budget of which less than £500 was spent from a provision of
£39,000. This was because most of the major projects associated with the
neighbourhood plan review could not be undertaken and will now be
programmed for 2021/22.
4. The Burial Grounds Committee ended the year with a surplus which exceeded
its budget. This was due to the income of £13,500 which exceeded the
anticipated income by 50% and also more than accommodated the
Committee’s expenditure. Although additional income is welcomed, it is
saddening that it is as a result of an increase in burials.
5. The Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee was the other main
underspending committee with some £16,000 unspent on its general budget
due to the inability to pursue a number of modest projects. An underspend of
£5600 on the car park and toilets budget was due entirely to drainage works
being deferred by the contractor with the costs falling due in the 2021/22. The
delay in the drainage works had a knock on effect of causing a delay in
addressing the surfacing of the car park, the cost of which will now fall into the
financial year 2021/22.
6. It was disappointing to see that grants had not been requested by a number of
local bodies leaving half the grant budget unused. The relatively recent
requirement that bodies have to ask for grant aid rather than just being
awarded it without more ado has not filtered through to some and steps will be
taken to alert them to the requirement in the 2021/22 financial year.
7. The Playing Fields Committee undertook a major project of refurbishing the
tennis courts. This was not programmed but arose as a result of a resurgence
in interest following the re-forming of the tennis club. The project cost in
excess of £25,000 which was offset by a £10,000 contribution from the Sports
Council. As a result the Committee was heading for an overspend which was
averted by a virement from Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee and
ensured that the Committee ended the year with a zero balance.

8. The Council should plan for the use of the underspent money and projects
which can come to fruition in the 2021/22 financial year would be entirely
suitable.

Graham White
Parish Clerk
3 June 2021