Social Value Ideas for Rother District Council

Draft accounts and reserves

The draft 2025-26 accounts show a surplus in the CIES but a draw from general reserves in the movement in reserves statement, leaving the general fund at about £2.7 million. Officers emphasised that r…

“The report addresses the main issues affecting the Council's draught statement of accounts for 2025 -26. The report was published on our website on 30…”

Reserve adequacy concern

Members questioned whether the remaining general reserve of £2.7 million would be sufficient, and officers said it is below what they would ideally want to hold, especially given the housing company e…

“One, is that going to be enough for the next financial year? Or will we end up with a zero balance? Obviously, we've written off nearly a million poun…”

External audit fee set

The external auditor confirmed the planned fee for the 2025-26 audit, giving the committee visibility of the cost of external assurance work. This is a defined spend linked to the council’s statutory …

“In terms of the fee for the audit that's determined by the PUSAA and the fee for the mixed -scale fee for 25 -26 has been set at 172 ,000 pounds and t…”

Budget Deficit and Reserves Pressure

Revenue forecast shows council drawing £1.18 million from reserves (vs £694k budgeted, up from £944k Q1). Key variances: estates team £617k deficit (includes £194k flexible capital receipts funding fo…

“The revenue out turns now forecast to draw 1.18 million from reserves compared to the budgeted position of 694,000”

Local Government Finance Settlement Planning

Council awaiting Local Government Finance Settlement which will be published just before Christmas 2025. This will be the first three-year settlement in a long time, providing more certainty. Council …

“the real data and detail won't be known to us until the local government finance settlement, which will be published just before Christmas. That posit…”

Severe Budget Shortfall and Reserves Depletion

The council faces a current financial year budget shortfall of £694,000. Earlier cabinet meeting identified reserves may be reduced by £2.3 million this financial year due to the challenging funding l…

“we have a budget shortfall of £694,000 so heads of service were targeted in the first instance of trying to find 10 % savings for their service area o…”

Revenue Budget Overspend Q1 2025-26

Council forecasting £250,000 revenue overspend for 2025-26, which would increase the amount needing to be funded from reserves from £694,000 to £944,000 by year end. Key pressures include £119,000 pla…

“We are currently forecasting a £250,000 overspend this year. That's a fairly modest overspend, however does add to that position that will need to be …”

Housing company delivery spend updated

The committee heard that the housing company's programme remains on track overall, but with earlier spend than previously described rather than higher contracted costs. Peak debt is forecast at £38.6 …

“Key highlights in the public report is whilst the contract programme against the defined programme in the JCT contract is out of sequence there are no…”

Affordable housing deed varied

Members approved a deed of variation removing the affordable housing obligation from the Conkers scheme because officers and an independent consultant accepted that the scheme was unviable even as 100…

“The proposed modification is to remove the requirements for affordable housing provision entirely on viability grounds. If agreed, the modification wo…”

Red KPI and sales risk

Two KPIs were reported as red: funding drawdown efficiency and units delivered against programme. The committee was told that the shortfall was marginal, but the scheme remains financially sensitive a…

“You'll have noted in the public report that there are two of the public KPIs now red rated in their RAG status the first being the funding drawdown ef…”

Establishment of Shareholder Executive Committee

Formal establishment of the Shareholder Executive Committee as a sub-committee of Cabinet to provide governance oversight of Rother District Housing Company. The committee's terms of reference (approv…

“The role has been performed at an officer level before now and I think the establishment of this committee will lead to greater transparency and will …”

Non-Contracting Authority Status Benefits - Procurement Flexibility

Rother District Housing Company's status as a private, non-contracting authority (NCA) provides significant procurement flexibility compared to local authority constraints. This status enabled: (1) ci…

“The commercial nature of our business allows us to do...circumvent the public procurement rules and some other pressures that local authorities have o…”

Sustainable procurement policy adopted

Cabinet approved and adopted sustainable procurement and social value policies so officers and suppliers have clearer expectations when tendering and managing contracts. The policy is intended to stan…

“Agenda Item 6. Sustainable procurement and social value policies. We have Cathy Nelson here this evening with Charlotte Stevens which will present the…”

Sustainable procurement policy

The committee endorsed sustainable procurement and social value policies to give officers and suppliers a clear framework for tendering and contract delivery. The policies are intended to embed commun…

“These policies have been created to give both suppliers and officers confidence in social value and sustainable procurement practises. The policies ai…”

Transparency in Procurement Activities - Improvement Recommendation

Grant Thornton has recommended the council improve transparency in its procurement activities and reporting of tender waiver activities to members. This is identified as general good practice that sho…

“improving the transparency in your procurement activities and reporting to members your tender waiver activities. And again that's generally good prac…”