Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to Council in relation to the Capital Programme 2023-2028, General Fund and Capital Strategy 2024/25.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources introduced the report and moved the recommendation. The Leader seconded the motion.

During the debate the following points were raised:

• In regard to the IT update, a query was raised on how the cost would be shared amongst the partners and how it was derived. Also, the risk if one or more partners withdraws was raised, however the Portfolio Holder stated that provision has been made for the scenario.
• Also relating to the IT update, the comment was made that there doesn’t appear to be money set aside for maintenance costs. Although it was noted that there is an efficiency plan which will deliver the ongoing maintenance.

RESOLVED

Council

(1)  Approved the removal of the MMDR contribution, condition survey asset works and ICT programme item from the 2023/24 capital programme as referred to in para 5.2;

(2)  Approved the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2024-28 as attached at Appendix B;

(3)  Approved the sources of funding for the General Expenses capital programme for 2024/28 as set out in Appendix C;

(4)  Approved the Special Expenses Melton Mowbray Capital Programme for 2024-25 and associated sources of funding as set out in Appendix D;

(5)  Delegated authority to the Director for Corporate Services to amend the amount in the capital programme for Disabled Facilities Grants once funding confirmation has been received as referred to in para 5.6;

(6)  Approved the Capital Strategy 2024-25 as attached at Appendix E.

The above resolution was considered through a recorded vote as follows:

FOR THE MOTION (16)

Adcock, Allnatt, Brown, Butcher, Carter, Clay, Cliff, Cox, Cumbers, Glancy, Gordon, Hewson, Higgins, Lumley, Sharp, Thwaites

AGAINST THE MOTION (0)

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (11)

I Atherton, S Atherton, Browne, Child, Evans, Freer, Graham, J Orson, S Orson, Pritchett, Webster

A report providing information on the forecast outturn position for 2023/24 for General Fund Capital schemes for both General and Special Expenses and also setting out the proposed General Fund Capital Programme for 2023-28, based on a review of spending in the current year's programme and new and existing schemes included in the programme for later years.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the capital programme forecast outturn for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix A.

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council:

2.1  Approves the removal of the MMDR contribution, condition survey asset works and ICT programme item from the 2023/24 capital programme as referred to in para 5.2.

2.2  Approves the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2024-28 as attached at Appendix B.

2.3  Approves the sources of funding for the General Expenses capital programme for 2024/28 as set out in Appendix C.

2.4  Approves the Special Expenses Melton Mowbray Capital Programme for 2024-25 and associated sources of funding as set out in Appendix D.

2.5  Delegates authority to the Director for Corporate Services to amend the amount in the Capital Programme for Disabled Facilities Grant once funding confirmation had been received as referred to in para 5.6.

2.6  Approves the Capital Strategy 2024-25 as attached to Appendix E.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources introduced the report, the purpose of which provided information on the forecast outturn position for 2023/24 for General Fund Capital schemes for both General and Special Expenses and the updated version of the Capital Strategy for all Council funds for 2024-25.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources advised the development of the Plan had been a series of risk based choices identified by a cross party panel and would limit the number of opportunities of investment within the budget.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources thanked officers for obtaining external grants to fund the projects that are proposed within the strategy.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the capital programme forecast outturn for 2023/24 as set out in Appendix A.

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council:

2.1  Approves the removal of the MMDR contribution, condition survey asset works and ICT programme item from the 2023/24 capital programme as referred to in para 5.2.

2.2  Approves the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2024-28 as attached at Appendix B.

2.3  Approves the sources of funding for the General Expenses capital programme for 2024/28 as set out in Appendix C.

2.4  Approves the Special Expenses Melton Mowbray Capital Programme for 2024-25 and associated sources of funding as set out in Appendix D.

2.5  Delegates authority to the Director for Corporate Services to amend the amount in the Capital Programme for Disabled Facilities Grant once funding confirmation had been received as referred to in para 5.6.

2.6  Approves the Capital Strategy 2024-25 as attached to Appendix E.

Reasons for Recommendations:

Approving the capital programme and capital strategy will support the Council in delivering its commitment to manage its assets effectively and to ensure the benefits from them are maximised for the benefit of the Council and community as a whole. These Capital plans will support the effective delivery of these ambitions and will ensure appropriate levels of capital expenditure and investment are in place to meet Corporate priorities and objectives, whilst ensuring that plans are affordable, prudent, and sustainable. It is a requirement of the CIPFA Prudential Code for Capital Finance in Local Authorities to produce a capital strategy, and for the Chief Finance Officer to report explicitly on the affordability and risk associated with it.

The Capital Programme for 2024-28 for General Expenses is attached at Appendix B. The Programme gives the total cost of each scheme, the spending profile, the amounts authorised to be spent, and the stage each scheme has reached within the Capital Programme.

There is one item proposed for the Special Expenses capital programme which is summarised in Appendix C.

The Capital Programme 2023-2028 – General Fund and Capital Strategy 2024/25 is to be presented to the Committee, prior to final consideration by Cabinet and Council in February 2024.

The Director for Corporate Services (Section 151 Officer), Dawn Garton introduced the report with a presentation.

Concern was raised that the underspend was misleading and could it be phased across the different years instead. In response, it was explained that the underspend relates to the Levelling Up Fund monies and at the point the budget was set last year it wasn’t possible to meaningfully profile. As the plans develop this will become easier and can be looked at when the budget is carried forward.

RESOLVED

That Members’ comments are presented to Cabinet at the next Cabinet meeting.