Overview and Scrutiny Committee minutes

Committee minutes · Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Wed 10 Dec 2025 · Hastings Borough Council

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Members noted a forecast adverse variance to budget of £621,298 for direct service expenditure to 31 March 2026, partly offset by £217,937 of unbudgeted earmarked reserves, with the General Reserve forecast at £6.4 million against a recommended minimum of £4 million. p10

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p107. Financial and Performance Monitoring Kit Wheeler, Chief Finance Officer provided a summary of the financial outturn position for services at the end of Period 6 (September 2025). Members were asked to note that the report now linked finance with performance. The forecasted outturn for the 12 months to 31 March 2026 was an adverse variance to budget of £621,298 for direct service expenditure. However, this was partially offset by a use of unbudgeted earmarked reserves £217,937. Budgeted savings identified through the PIER programme were ongoing. Of the budgeted £429,500, it was expected the full amount of savings would be achieved. In line with the revised reserves policy the recommended minimum balance for the General Reserve was £4m. The General Reserve balance was forecasted to be £6.4m at the year-end. The Chief Finance Officer explained that addressing temporary housing issues would significantly improve HBC’s financial position, as temporary accommodation pressures were greater locally than elsewhere. Capital sums were identified as the largest risk, requiring greater scrutiny. Councillor Haffenden reported that a housing task force would address temporary accommodation, and proposed that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee could examine that further. The Ashdown development had been delayed but was expected to be resolved soon. Councillor Marlow-Eastwood queried how the social impact of the Ashdown development would be measured. Councillor Haffenden explained that Ashdown was not 100% social housing but included mixed tenures such as shared ownership and affordable housing. Feedback from Ashdown residents had been positive, and a document setting out the tenure types would be circulated to Committee members. Councillor Smith noted that temporary accommodation trends had stabilised and asked whether that would continue. Councillor Haffenden replied that it would stabilise with appropriate funding.

Places and organisations it names

Hastings Borough Council
Bexhill Road (named in passing; not checked that it's about here)

Other papers for this meeting

2025-26 P6 Financial Update Report to end of September 2025, 01/12/2025 Cabinet · Committee report
Overview and Scrutiny Committee agenda · Committee agenda
Appendix 1 - Budget Monitoring Tables 2025-26 P6 September 2025, 01/12/2025 Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 2 - P6 2025-26 Capital Monitoring, 01/12/2025 Cabinet · Committee report
Appendix 3 - 2025-26 PIER Savings P6, 01/12/2025 Cabinet · Committee report
Final ESHT report Dec 2025 · Committee report
Final LGR report Dec 2025 · Committee report
Minutes Public Pack, 10/09/2025 Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Committee report
Minutes Public Pack, 18/09/2025 Overview and Scrutiny Committee · Committee report
Q2 O&S Work Programme 2025-2026 · Committee report

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