Decision details

To consider the report of the Cabinet Member for Finance seeking approval for the General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2016/17 to 2021/22.

(i)  Note the revised General Fund Capital Programme, which totals £205.46M (as detailed in paragraph 4) and the associated use of resources.

(ii)  Notes that a net £0.08M has been added to the General Fund overall programme, with approval to spend in 2016/17, under delegated powers. These additions are detailed in paragraph 6 and Appendix 2.

(iii)  Notes the addition of a total of £54.98M to the General Fund programme and the request for approval to spend £54.98M as detailed in paragraphs 10 - 28, Appendices 1, 2 and 3. Note that the approval to spend is requested subject to any variations from the spend detailed in the report being reviewed and approved by the Council Capital Board and not exceeding the amounts identified within this programme.

(iv)  Notes that £1.34M has been removed from the overall General Fund programme, as referred to in paragraph 6 and Appendix 2.

(v)  Notes that £0.10M has been re-phased from 2017/18 to 2016/17, £0.06M within the Transport portfolio and £0.04M within the City Services portfolio, as detailed in paragraph 30 and Appendix 3.

(vi)  Notes that the revised General Fund Capital Programme is based on prudent assumptions of future Government Grants to be received.

(vii)  Notes the changes to the General Fund programme, as summarised in Appendix 2 and described in detail in Appendix 3.

(viii)  Notes the slippage and re-phasing as set out in paragraph 31 and as described in detail in Appendix 3.

(ix)  Notes that the General Fund forecast position at Quarter 3 for 2016/17 is £151.5M, resulting in a potential overspend of £2.00M, as detailed in paragraph 33, Appendix 5 and confidential Appendix 6.

(x)  Notes the position on the Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme as detailed in paragraphs 50 to 53 and in appendices 7 and 8.

(xi)  Note that a review of the Council’s capital strategy has been undertaken as detailed in Appendix 9.

(xii)  Notes that the Capital Strategy and Capital Programme update will be reported to Council on 15th February 2017 for approval.

The Capital Programme is now reviewed on a quarterly basis in accordance with the Council’s Capital Strategy. The forecast position is reported to the Council Capital Board with any required programme update reported to Cabinet and Council for approval. This is required to enable schemes in the programme to proceed and to approve additions and changes to the programme.

The update of the Capital Programme is undertaken within the resource constraints imposed on it.  No new schemes can be added unless specific additional resources are identified.  Alternative options for new capital spending are considered as part of the budget setting process in the light of the funding available and the overall financial position.