Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet on recommendations referred to Council in relation to the Capital Programme 2024-2029 and Capital Strategy 2025/26.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources, Councillor Cox, introduced the report and moved the recommendations. The Leader, Councillor Allnatt, seconded the motion.

No comments were raised.

RESOLVED

Council

(1)  Delegated authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access additional funding from capital receipts to fund the purchase of up to five food waste collection vehicles;

(2)  Approved the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025/26 and associated funding as set out in Appendix B;

(3)  Approved the indicative five year General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025-29 as set out in Appendix C;

(4)  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 Appendix 1 at paragraph 5.10;

(5)  Approved the Capital Strategy 2025/26 as attached at Appendix D.

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

FOR THE MOTION (15)

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

AGAINST THE MOTION (9)

I Atherton, S Atherton, Browne, Child, Chubb, Freer, J Orson, S Orson, Webster

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)

To receive the Capital Programme and Capital Strategy.

Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the capital programme forecast outturn for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A.

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council delegates authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access additional funding from capital receipts to fund the purchase of up to five food waste collection vehicles;

3)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025/26 and associated funding as set out in Appendix B;

4)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the indicative five year General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025-29 as set out in Appendix C;

5)    RECOMMENDED that Council delegates 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 Appendix 1 at paragraph 5.10;

6)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Capital Strategy 2025/26 as attached at Appendix D.

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance, Property and Resources, Councillor Cox, introduced the report and moved the recommendations. Councillor Allnatt seconded the motion.

A point was raised regarding capital spend, as opposed to revenue spend. It was recognised that not all Members and the public don’t distinguish between the two and that the Council may need to monitor capital spend better in order to promote the good work that is being carried out.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet:

1)    NOTED the capital programme forecast outturn for 2024/25 as set out in Appendix A.

2)    RECOMMENDED that Council delegates authority to the Director for Housing and Communities, in consultation with the Director for Corporate Services, to access additional funding from capital receipts to fund the purchase of up to five food waste collection vehicles;

3)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025/26 and associated funding as set out in Appendix B;

4)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the indicative five year General Expenses Capital Programme for 2025-29 as set out in Appendix C;

5)    RECOMMENDED that Council delegates 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 Appendix 1 at paragraph 5.10;

6)    RECOMMENDED that Council approves the Capital Strategy 2025/26 as attached at Appendix D.

(Non-key decision)

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 2025-29 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 are no items proposed for the Special Expenses capital programme.