Author and Job Role: Kelvin Menon – Chief Financial Officer
Protective Marking: OFFICIAL
Executive Summary:
Under statute all reserves are owned and under the control of the PCC. Transfers to or from reserves can only be made with the approval of the PCC by way of a formal decision. It is predicted that there will be an underspend against budget for 2022/23 and so it is requested that this be transferred to reserves to provide resources to meet future risks and fund new initiatives.
Background
2022/23 has been a particularly challenging year given increasing inflation and costs. However, this has been offset by a number of things as follows:
- A majority of new officers were recruited later in the year, thereby deferring costs, whereas in the budget it was assumed it would happen evenly across the year.
- The tight labour market has meant that the Force has had difficulty recruiting police staff at the rates of pay it can afford. This has meant that there are a large number of posts which have been funded but not filled.
- The Force had more income than was budgeted for from national events such as COP and Operation London Bridge
This has meant that at the end of the year it is predicted that there will be an underspend of at least £7.9m. Whilst this is a significant sum in fact it represents only 2.8% of the overall budget. This underspend gives the opportunity to set funds aside to address one off pressures and risks that could arise in 2023/24.
Transfer to Reserves
As a result of the overall budget being underspent PCC is asked to approve the following transfers to reserves:
| Reserve | Reason for Transfer | Amount £m |
| Cost of Change | To support the transformation program to deliver future savings and efficiencies | 2.0 |
| CC Operational | To provide resources for reopened historical investigations | 0.5 |
| OPCC Operational Reserve | To provide funds for one off OPCC commissioning initiatives which may arise in 2023/24 | 0.3 |
| Delegated budget Holder reserve | To provide funds for other potential pressures and risks such as legal fees, maintenance, pay, uplift clawback, vetting etc | 5.1 |
| Covid19 Reserve | To close reserve as risk has declined | (1.7) |
| Net zero reserve | To provide funds to support Force Commitment to achieve net zero | 1.7 |
| TOTAL | 7.9 |
Once the transfers are approved total reserves will be £29.4m (subject to audit):
| Reserves | Proposal |
| Proposal 2022/23 | |
| General | 9.3 |
| 3% NBR | |
| Earmarked Reserves | |
| OPCC Operational Reserve | 1.5 |
| PCC Estate Strategy Reserve | 2.0 |
| PCC Cost of Change Reserve | 5.2 |
| Chief Constable Operational Reserve | 1.6 |
| COVID 19 Reserve | 0.0 |
| Insurance Reserve | 1.9 |
| Police Pension Reserve | 0.7 |
| Net Zero Reserve | 1.7 |
| Delegated Budget Holder Reserve | 5.1 |
| Capital Reserve – Rev Contributions | 0.5 |
| Total Earmarked Reserves | 20.1 |
| Total Reserves | 29.4 |
Recommendation:
It is recommended that the Police and Crime Commissioner approves the transfers to reserves as set out above.
Police and Crime Commissioner Approval
I approve the recommendation(s):
Signature: Lisa Townsend, Police and Crime Commissioner for Surrey (wet signed copy held at PCC Office)
Date: 04 April 2023
All decisions must be added to the decision register.
Areas of consideration:
Consultation
There is no requirement for Consultation on this matter
Financial implications
These are as set out in the report
Legal
The PCC must approve all transfer to reserves
Risks
As a result of the External Audit the figures may change. If this is the case then the decision may have to be amended to take account of any change.
Equality and diversity
No implications from this decision
Risks to human rights
No implications from this decision