Agenda item

The Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Resources to submit a report determining the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme for 2020-25, providing information on the forecast outturn position for 2020-21 and providing an updated version of the Capital Strategy 2021-22.

Cabinet

1)    RECOMMENDED to Council approval of:

                     i.        The General Fund Capital Programme for 2020-25;

                    ii.        The sources of funding for the General Fund Capital Programme for 2021/22;

                   iii.        The HRA Capital Programme for 2020-25;

                   iv.        The sources of funding for the HRA Capital Programme;

                    v.        Delegated authority to the Director for Corporate Services to amend the amount in the Capital Programme for Disabled Facilities Grants once funding confirmation had been received;

                   vi.        Spend on the Council Chamber Audit Visual Equipment Capital Scheme be incurred in 2020/21, if officers are able to commence the project earlier;

                 vii.        The Capital Strategy 2021-22;

Dawn Garton, Director for Corporate Services introduced the report, the purpose of which was to determine the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Programme for 2020-25, provide information on the forecast outturn position for 2020-21 and provide an updated version of the Capital Strategy 2021-22.

Mrs. Garton advised that the Capital Strategy sets out forward capital projections over the medium term and strategic aspirations, which must be considered by the council alongside the budget and associated reports.  It linked to the Treasury Management Strategy and to the revenue budgets elsewhere on the agenda for this meeting.

Mrs. Garton highlighted that the proposed General Fund Capital Programme was modest, which was reflective of the need to update asset management plans, including stock condition surveys (key actions set out in the Strategy).  Future resources available to support further capital aspirations would be influenced by the Asset Development Programme and the availability of capital receipts in future.

Mrs. Garton highlighted that the proposed HRA Capital Programme was in line with the Interim HRA Business Plan (approved in February 2020) and linked to the Housing Improvement Plan, to ensure sufficient capital resources were available to meet the actions required.  An update on spend in the current year’s programme was also included in the report.

Councillor Joe Orson, Leader of the Council commented that whilst a modest programme for the General Fund, there was a good balance of projects (with expenditure on IT, recognising the need to keep IT infrastructure up to date). The programme included the necessary investment required to continue the benefits of remote meetings and the broadcast of these to the web, whilst enabling this to continue upon return to the Council offices and to support hybrid meetings.

Councillor Orson noted that there was provision to use some business grants funding to support diversification of businesses in rural areas and despite modest resources, the Council had funded improvements to the footbridge at the Country Park (work which Councillors and the community had supported).

Councillor Orson advised that the HRA proposals continued the good work, which had been achieved following the approval of the Housing Improvement Programme last year.

During discussion the following points were noted:

·         Members thanked the Director for Corporate Services, her team and the Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Resources for their work.

·         Inclusion of the Melton Country Park Bridgeworks project had been championed and lobbied for by Councillors Glancy, Lumley, Posnett and Wilkinson.

·         The Rural Pubs Scheme had modified (during the Covid-19 pandemic) into a wider business diversification grant (Rural Diversification Business Grants).  This helped communities and pubs in rural areas to continue and to thrive and also aimed to improve rural tourism.

·         Members welcomed the inclusion of the Conversion of Electric Storage Heaters programme, noting that this was supported and eagerly anticipated by residents.

·         The Council Chamber audio-visual equipment and replacement of the Content Management System (CMS) website programmes were welcomed by Members, who noted that these support community engagement and promote efficient communication.

DECISIONS (NON-KEY)

Cabinet RECOMMENDED to Council approval of:

                     i.        The General Fund Capital Programme for 2020-25;

                    ii.        The sources of funding for the General Fund Capital Programme for 2021/22;

                   iii.        The HRA Capital Programme for 2020-25;

                   iv.        The sources of funding for the HRA Capital Programme;

                    v.        Delegated authority to the Director for Corporate Services to amend the amount in the Capital Programme for Disabled Facilities Grants once funding confirmation had been received;

                   vi.        Spend on the Council Chamber Audit Visual Equipment Capital Scheme be incurred in 2020/21, if officers are able to commence the project earlier;

                 vii.        The Capital Strategy 2021-22;

Reason for the decision

Approving the capital programme will support the Council in delivering its commitment to manage its assets effectively and to ensure the benefits from them are maximised for the benefits of the Council and community as a whole. This 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.

The Capital Programme for 2020-25 for the General Fund is attached at Appendix A and HRA at Appendix D.  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.