Council Meeting 14 October 2021
Budget Monitor 2021/22 Q2

1. The Council’s budget for 2021/22 was set at £176,916.93. A supplementary
estimate of £85,000 was made from reserves to RFF Committee bringing the
total budget for the financial year to £261,916.93.

2. At the end of Q2, the half year, £123,691.83 had been utilised leaving a
balance of £138,225.10 for the remainder of the financial year.

3. Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee

The Committee has spent £22,372.63 of its budget of £34,565 leaving only
£12,192.37 for the remainder of the year. However this is a false figure as the
Committee has borne the cost of VAT payable for the works to the car park.
This was taken into account when the supplementary estimate was made to
RFF Committee, so when the final VAT costs are known it will be appropriate
for the Council to make a virement from RFF to SPF to cover those costs so
that all the car park costs are properly paid out of the supplementary estimate.

Otherwise the Committee’s finances are in good order and may result in an
underspend.

4. Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee (General)

Whilst this Committee is still finding its feet under new Chairmanship, it has
spent very little of its budget of £26,650, merely regular payments for litter
picking and an annual payment for dog and litter bin emptying. At the end of
Q2, £21,680.06 is available for the ten budget heads which have not been
utilised so far.

5. Roads, Footpaths and Flatford Committee (Car Park and toilets)

The supplementary estimate boosted the budget from £21,500 to £106,500
and the main expenditure has been on the car park, in the sum of £64,137.52
(excluding VAT).

Aside from the car park improvement works, expenditure under the other
budget heads is progressing satisfactorily and the year should end with a
small underspend.

6. Playing Fields Committee

A number of major projects have been completed in the first half of the
financial year such as the outdoor gym and CCTV installation which account
for expenditure of almost £20,000 of the budget of £30,363. A similar level of
spending is not expected in the second half of the year, but even so the
Committee needs to keep a close eye on the budget so as not to overspend.

7. Burial Grounds Committee

Income in the form of cemetery fees has not quite matched the amount
anticipated and the sums spent on tree works has exceeded the budget
provision though remains acceptable within the overall budget of the
Committee. More than 50% of the budget has been spent in the first half of
the year and the Committee needs to monitor expenditure closely though
there is no cause for concern.

8. Neighbourhood Plan Committee

No major projects have been undertaken in the first half of the year though
village surveys are being designed. This means that the substantial budgets
for the neighbourhood plan review and for projects are largely untouched with
only just over £1000 spent out of budget provision of £39,000. If the budget is
to be utilised this year, the Committee needs to be commissioning projects
shortly.

9. Strategy, Policy and Finance Committee (Grants)

Despite having notified local organisations of grant availability only £950 was
awarded in Q1 and nothing at all in Q2. There remains available £12,310 for
awards to applicants meeting the grant aid policy criteria.

Graham White
Parish Clerk
7 October 2021