Issue - meetings

That:

1)        it be noted that the Council’s Capital Programme will continue to be reviewed throughout the year in the context of the impact of Covid-19 on funding sources and service requirements, and that any changes will be presented to Executive for approval;

2)        the proposed rephasing to parts of the Capital Programme following the ‘in-year’ review including the impact of Covid-19, as set out in Appendix B, be approved;

3)        £600k additional budget funded by borrowing for the Dinton Pastures Activity Centre (DAC), for changes necessitated as an outcome of public consultations and planning requirements be approved. The cost of borrowing estimated at £27k p.a.will be covered from expected additional incomes generated by the new activity centre, as set out in paragraph 6 of the Executive Summary of the report;

4)        a reduction of the Schools Devolved Formula grant budget in the capital programme to £302k, due to the Council receiving £87k less than originally budgeted, as set out in paragraph 7 of the Executive Summary, be noted;

5)        borrowing of £288k for the purchase of hessian sacks which will have the effect of increasing recycling levels and generating a beneficial financial impact far in excess of the cost of borrowing, as set out in paragraph 8 of the Executive Summary, be approved;

6)        it be noted that consultants will be engaged within existing budgets to review the noise levels and options with regards to recent major resurfacing works, as set out in paragraph 9 of the Executive Summary;

7)        the quarter one position for the capital budgets, as set out in Appendix A to the report as summarised in the Executive Summary, be noted.

The Executive considered a report setting out the progress of the Council’s Capital Programme as at 30 June 2020.

During his introduction the Executive Member for Finance and Housing advised that the “hessian” sacks, as mentioned in the Revenue Monitoring report, were being purchased via the Capital Budget. 

Due to the uncertainty going forward Councillor Kaiser highlighted the changes to a number of projects which had been re-phased, as shown in Appendix B to the report, amounting to £105m.  It was noted that these projects were not being cancelled at this stage but were basically being deferred. 

With regard to the recyclability of the “hessian” sacks Councillor Jorgensen stated that she believed that polypropylene was recyclable.  In addition Councillor Kaiser believed that the rubber weights utilised in the sacks were also 100% recyclable and that parts of the bags were actually made from material that had been previously recycled. 

Councillor Kaiser also highlighted the additional £600k funding for the development of Dinton Pastures Activity Centre.

RESOLVED that:

1)        it be noted that the Council’s Capital Programme will continue to be reviewed throughout the year in the context of the impact of Covid-19 on funding sources and service requirements, and that any changes will be presented to Executive for approval;

2)        the proposed rephasing to parts of the Capital Programme following the ‘in-year’ review including the impact of Covid-19, as set out in Appendix B, be approved;

3)        £600k additional budget funded by borrowing for the Dinton Pastures Activity Centre (DAC), for changes necessitated as an outcome of public consultations and planning requirements be approved. The cost of borrowing estimated at £27k p.a.will be covered from expected additional incomes generated by the new activity centre, as set out in paragraph 6 of the Executive Summary of the report;

4)        a reduction of the Schools Devolved Formula grant budget in the capital programme to £302k, due to the Council receiving £87k less than originally budgeted, as set out in paragraph 7 of the Executive Summary, be noted;

5)        borrowing of £288k for the purchase of hessian sacks which will have the effect of increasing recycling levels and generating a beneficial financial impact far in excess of the cost of borrowing, as set out in paragraph 8 of the Executive Summary, be approved;

6)        it be noted that consultants will be engaged within existing budgets to review the noise levels and options with regards to recent major resurfacing works, as set out in paragraph 9 of the Executive Summary;

7)        the quarter one position for the capital budgets, as set out in Appendix A to the report as summarised in the Executive Summary, be noted.