MID Devon District Council will have less money left over at the end of the financial year that it previously predicted.

In November, it thought it would underspend by £398,000 in the 12 months ending shortly, following a boost in leisure centre users and extra cash from recycling.

Now that figure is expected to to be £293,000, which the council’s cabinet cheered whilst acknowledging it is less than expected.

Cllr James Buczkowski (Liberal Democrat, Cullompton St Andrews), cabinet member for finance, told the cabinet that spending less than budgeted during financially challenging times should be welcomed.

“Mid Devon remains financially robust in spite of external pressures, and we’re not just balancing the books, but building resilience for the future, meaning we will be well-placed to handle economic shocks, funding uncertainties, and the ever-changing landscape of local government finance,” he said.

“We can’t predict the future, but we can prepare for it.”

Cllr Buczkowski claimed the “stagnant housing market” had hit income from planning and building control in recent months, even though the performance in waste and leisure “where recyclate prices are high and membership numbers have grown” is positive.

Staff costs remain its “most significant” outgoing, and while budgets had been “managed prudently”, he claimed, some departments, such as financial, legal and planning enforcement departments, still rely on agency staff.

In terms of its housing-related finances, which are ring-fenced, Cllr Buczkowski acknowledged the council’s historic rent calculation error, in which thousands of social housing tenants were incorrectly charged, had knocked its numbers.

While unfilled staff vacancies in its housing department have helped save money, the higher number of void properties – which have no tenant – means the council has had to spend more on the cost of keeping properties connected to utilities.

Bradley Gerrard