Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 2 July 2014 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Finance was submitted, reporting on the current position of the overall financial performance of the Council for the 2013/14 financial year, in respect of the annual capital programme and to seek approval of the 2014/15 revised capital programme, including commitments carried forward from 2013/14.

Members were advised that Capital expenditure in the year amounted to £11,829,575, a reduction of £2,998,845 on the planned figure of £14,828,420.  The actual expenditure during 2013/14 represented 79.8% of the total approved for the revised Capital Programme, which meant £2.5 million would be carried forward to be spent in future years.

Members were advised of the expenditure with regards to the replacement of the Fire Walls which was required to ensure data security.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 2 July 2014 and the comments of the Members were noted.

RECOMMENDED that the Council notes and approves the:-

(1)          overall position in respect of the 2013/14 annual capital programme; and

(2)          amendments and further funding request to the Council’s annual capital programme for 2014/15.

To consider the report for the Assistant Director Finance.  

The Assistant Director Finance presented the report updating Members of the overall financial performance of the Council’s capital programme for the 2013/14 financial year. The capital expenditure in the year amounted to £11,829,575, a reduction of £2,988,845 on the planned figure of £14,828,420.  The actual expenditure represented 79.8% of the total approved for the revised capital programme, which meant that £2.5 million would need to be carried forward to be spent in future years. The report sought approval of the 2014/15 revised capital programme, including the commitments carried forward from 2013/14.

The following responses were given to Members’ queries:-

·         the wildlife haven swift tower on Paris Street roundabout had been funded entirely from Section 106 monies including the Jury Inn's development.

·         the J Based legacy system was based on the previous green screen computer system and had been replaced with a more modern IT platform, but access to archive data was still required.

·         a written response on Beacon Avenue (Chaucer Grove) play area would be obtained from the Play Area Officer.

·         the replacement of the Car Park Pay & Display machines had now been completed.  Any increased trend of car park users using the pay by card facility would be reported to the Strategic Management Team. This detail would also be included in future budget monitoring reports presented at this Committee.

·         the Principal Project Manager also provided an update on the use of Section 106 monies as part of the Heavitree improvement scheme, where, to date, it had not been possible to agree a tree planting scheme.  It was desirable to use this money and one option may be to use the funding to create some added value to a Devon County Council project which was currently out to consultation, with a report due in August.

Scrutiny Committee  - Resources noted the report and recommended Executive and Council approve the following:-

(1)       overall financial position for the 2013/14 annual capital programme, and

(2)       amendments and further funding request to the Council’s annual capital programme for 2014/15.