Social Value Ideas for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council

Year-to-date expenditure vs budget

Management accounts show net operating expenditure for April–May 2526 at £6,251,317 against a budget profile of £6,627,270.

“"the net operating expenditure for the period amounted to6,251,317 out of a budget profile for the period of £6,627,270"”

Reserve policy uplift

CFO Allison recommends a minimum general reserve balance of £4.4m (8% of revenue income or 10% of net expenditure), noting an increase from prior balance to bolster financial resilience amidst uncerta…

““the minimum General Reserve balance should be set at 4.4 million” and “8% of Revenue income or 10% of estimated total net expenditure””

Minimum General Reserve policy

Policy guidance recommends a minimum General Reserve balance; Chief Exec recommends £4.5m as minimum, maintaining district fund reserves at or above 8% of revenue income or 10% of net expenditure.

“the minimum General Reserve balance should be set at 4.5 million pounds”

Six-month financial position

Six-month management accounts show net operating expenditure and investment income, with timing-related positive variance; notes on the 2025-26 estimates workshop and future changes.

“"net operating expenditure for the period amounted to 9,730,384 out of a profile budget for that period of 20,745,399"”

Budget pressures 24/25

Inflationary and energy-cost pressures are a major driver of the budget, with utilities estimated at £2.8m for 2024-25 (a £0.8m reduction from the prior year) and central government funding remaining …

““inflationary pressures are significant” and “utility costs ... for 2425 is 2.8 million pound and that is a reduction of £800,000” and “central govern…”

Lough Macquarie housing approved

A previously deferred housing scheme in Lough Macquarie was approved after outstanding matters were resolved, including road servicing and layout details. Officers said the application was now complia…

“Speaker 1: So paper b then, application number 1LA1020210257SlashF, housing development, Lot Macquarie. Recommendation of officers then is to approve …”

Deferred Fentna housing refusal

The committee deferred a proposed 59-home housing development in Fentna after members questioned whether wider housing need, wastewater capacity, and neighbouring settlement capacity should be better …

“Speaker 1: Okay. Good afternoon, members. Just like to catch up with Lockheed and get set up here, and then we'll just commence in on the application.…”

Farm dwelling application held

An outline application for a dwelling on Donaghanai Road in Omagh was placed on hold after members identified an alternative site and wanted further discussions with officers and the applicant. Office…

“Speaker 1: Okay members. So application number 6LA1020260368. I outline application by mister Lee for proposed dwelling on Donaghanai Road in Oma. The…”

Decision to not issue direction

The committee agreed not to issue a direction restricting the works and to allow the trial pits to proceed under permitted development.

“"the recommendation is not to issue a direction and allow the works to be carried out as permitted development."”

Planning amendment cost risk

If an amendment is needed (e.g., changing a line on a drawing), the applicant would incur a full planning fee again; comment highlights the cost of resubmission (£868).

“"it's an awful travesty that to change a line on a drawing we have to resubmit and that's 868 for everybody concerned"”

Validation checklist change

NI validation checklist will become statutory from 2025-04-01. The council has its own validation checklist which has worked well; a detailed report is due to members in November.

““The validation checklist will now be put on a statutory Form but that won’t come into operation until the 1st April 2025” and “we published our own v…”