Hambleton District Council banks £700,000 underspend

Hambleton District Council reported an under-spend of £682,662 from its 2012/13 budget of £7,540.430 – representing 8.5 per cent of the budget.

At its cabinet meeting today (Tuesday, July 16) members agreed to move the cash into its one-off fund to be used for anything that councillors agree will benefit Hambleton.

Council leader Mark Robson said: “Since the recession out budget has been reduced by seven per cent without having to increase council tax or cut services.

“In my view this shows a good sense of financial management by members and officers at Hambleton.”

Deputy leader Peter Wilkinson said the underspend was mainly due to the breakdown of shared services with Richmondshire District Council – a scheme that was designed to save both councils money.

“This is the third year we have had an under-spend against our budget," he said. "We should now keep a close look at our budgets as if we are always having this under-spend we may need to alter it.

“We recommended moving it to the one-off fund because that gives it the greatest flexibility.”

Coun Margaret Skillbeck added: “I want to congratulate our officers because it seems they are being very thrifty.

“Hambleton residents are getting very good value for money.”

The council's budget for the third quarter of year 2012 to 2013 was £7,540,430, but its outgoings were £6,854,847.

Some of the savings have been attributed to going alone after the break-up of shared services with Richmondshire, with an £112,528 improvement to services budget identified for separation from unrequired shared services.

There was also an underspend of £94,154 following a review of computer costs after the split.

The one-off fund was created this year by merging the cyclical fund, service improvement reserves, shared services reserves and efficiency reserves.

The fund was recently used to pump £40,000 into costs for the Tour de France, which will visit the region next summer.