Decision details

45.1     The Cabinet considered a report by the Chief Operating Officer.

45.2     It was RESOLVED to:

1.             note the financial outturn position for the Conservators’ Core Budget for 2020/21;

2.             approve the provision of £69,792 as one-off financial support to meet the overall deficit in 2020/21, arising primarily as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic;

3.         approve the Conservators’ Core interim budget for 2021/22,noting that the Board of Conservators has provided assurance that the balanced budget is deliverable and there is no requirement for the County Council to provide additional funding in 2021/22; and

            4.         approve the annual grant for 2020/21 from the Ashdown Forest Trust Fund

Reason

45.3     While the County Council has a statutory obligation to meet the shortfall between expenditure and income of the Conservators, it also has the responsibility for approving the level of expenditure. It is recognised that the 2020/21 deficit in the Core budget has arisen as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic and was not foreseeable when the budget was agreed. 

45.2     The interim budget for 2021/22 has been approved by the Board of Conservators. In doing so, the Board has provided assurance that the balanced budget is deliverable and there is no requirement for the County Council to provide additional funding in 2021/22. The Board has committed to providing quarterly update reports and work to deliver a Medium Term Financial Plan by September 2021, that will support the strategic objectives of the Conservators of Ashdown Forest.