Agenda item

To receive a report on the recommendations of Cabinet referred to Council in relation to the Capital Programme 2020-2025 and the Capital Strategy 2021-22

Councillor Ronnie de Burle, Portfolio Holder for Corporate Finance and Resources introduced and moved the recommendations in the report, providing a summary and advising that the forecast outturn for General Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 was expected to be £923k, against an approved budget of £1.315m, resulting in an underspend of £392k.  This was due to a reduction in demand for disability facilities grants (£342k) and deferring £50k expenditure, which was planned on service vehicles, pending more information on environmental changes.  The forecast outturn for the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) 2020/21 was expected to be £3.589m, against the latest approved budget of £5.291m, resulting in an underspend of £1,702m, largely due to Covid-19 accessibility issues.

 

Councillor de Burle highlighted that the proposed Capital Programme for 2021/22 totalled £755k, covering key areas such as ICT investment, Disabled Facilities Grants and the management of key Council assets and community investment.  A number of new key capital schemes had been proposed for approval, totalling £267k (Council Chamber audio visual equipment re-do, a replacement website system and the Melton Country Park bridgeworks).

 

Councillor de Burle confirmed that the content of the report had been consulted on with Scrutiny Committee, who drew attention to the need (as part of the Covid-19 recovery plan) for additional business support within the rural community and the Rural Business Diversification Grant scheme, valued at £100k had been incorporated.

 

Councillor de Burle advised that improving the Capital Programme would support the Council in managing its assets effectively and in ensuring that benefits of them were maximised for the Council and the community.  These capital plans would support the effective delivery of Council ambitions and would ensure appropriate levels of capital expenditure and investment were in place to meet corporate priorities and objectives, whilst ensuring that plans were affordable, prudent and sustainable.

 

Councillor Orson seconded the motion, commenting that he welcomed proposals for the Council Chamber audio visual equipment.  Officers had worked to deliver value for money and procure the equipment needed at a competitive price.  The equipment would facilitate hybrid meetings, enabling live streaming of public meetings to continue once they returned to the Council Chamber.  Councillor Orson also spoke in favour of the refurbishment to the footbridge at Melton Country Park, which Councillors Glancy, Lumley and Posnett had lobbied for and of the £100k Rural Business Diversification Grant scheme.

 

 

During debate the following points were noted:

 

·         Concern was raised over the proposed £80k expenditure to procure the Council Chamber audio visual equipment, stating that this was not feasible during the current economic climate.

·         The Council needed to act with austerity during this period of great financial hardship and uncertainty.

·         The existing Council Chamber audio system was inadequate.  It had caused interruptions and disrupted meetings in the past and had been the subject of much complaint by Members, officers and members of the public.

·         Many other councils used and enjoyed the benefits of the new equipment for public meetings and it would be an investment for the Council.

·         The new equipment would enable the Council to operate in a professional, progressive manner and maintain and improve community engagement in the Council’s decision making process, through the livestreaming of public meetings.

·         The new equipment would facilitate hybrid meetings (enabling a combination of participants based in the Council Chamber and remotely).

·         £80k was a considerable sum of money but was reasonable in relation to the equipment being provided and the corresponding benefits.

·         The pandemic had changed the way councils, other organisations and businesses worked, revealing how the telecom industry had become ever more central to modern society.  The Council needed equipment which was suitable for present and future times.

·         The new equipment represented a complete replacement rather than an upgrade of the existing system. 

·         The Council had undertaken a thorough procurement process to obtain a suitable supplier, led by the Democratic Services Manager, with support from the ICT and Property teams and the Welland Procurement Unit.

·         The Council had received 11 quotes and had rejected 5 of those, due to high costs.  The preferred supplier was identified through their ability to meet the specification within budget parameters provided.

·         The proposal to procure new equipment had been included in the Capital Programme and there had been consultation with Members through the budget setting process.

·         Originally, procurement of the new equipment had been estimated at £100k but the Council had reduced this cost to £80k by moderating its requirements.

·         Members wished to have relevant training to use the new equipment.

·         Members were pleased with the proposal for the Melton Country Park bridgeworks as these were desperately needed.

·         Members were pleased with the HRA Capital Programme.

·         The purpose of the Rural Business Diversification Grant was to help diversify the offering and boost tourism.

·         Members were pleased with proposals for funding to support businesses in the town and rural areas, helping those who were struggling.

·         Members thanked business owners and employees for their work during the pandemic and highlighted that the Council was working in support of them.

·         The Council engaged with Melton Business Improvement District (BID), the businesses which it represented and the Town Estate to understand how businesses operated and how grants would help them.  They had been fundamental in helping the Council design the additional revenue grants for businesses were a valued partner.

 

RESOLVED

 

Council:

 

1)    APPROVED the General Fund Capital Programme for 2020-25;

 

2)    APPROVED the sources of funding for the General Fund capital programme for 2021/22;

 

3)    APPROVED the HRA Capital Programme for 2020-25;

 

4)    APPROVED the sources of funding for the HRA Capital Programme;

 

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;

 

6)    APPROVED that spend on the Council Chamber Audio Visual Equipment capital scheme be incurred in 2020/21 if officers are able to commence the project earlier;

 

7)    APPROVED the Capital Strategy 2021-22.

 

The above resolution was voted for as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION (21)

Bindloss, Browne, Chandler, Child, Cumbers, de Burle, Douglas, Faulkner, Freer-Jones, Glancy, Graham, Hewson, Higgins, Holmes, Illingworth, Lumley, Orson, Posnett, Pritchett, Steadman, Wilkinson.

 

AGAINST THE MOTION (2)

Carter, Evans.

 

ABSTAINING FROM THE MOTION (0)