Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 22 November 2018 and its comments will be reported.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report to provide information on the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme and to advise Members of the anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years. The report sought Member’s approval to amend the annual capital programme in order to reflect the reported variations.

Members were advised that, during the first six months of the year, the Council had spent £4.164 million which equated to 13.09% of the revised programme this compared with £4.134 million, which equated to 17.3%, being spent in the first six months of 2017/18. Members’ attention was brought to the achievements of the refurbishment of the Cowick Barton Tennis Courts and the installation of the Guildhall Fire Alarms.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee considered the report at its meeting on 22 November 2017 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves the revision of the annual capital programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in 8.1, 8.4 and 8.5 of the circulated report.

To consider the report of the Chief Finance Officer.

The Chief Finance Officer presented the report which advised Members of the current position of the Council’s revised annual Capital Programme and the anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years. Local authorities were required to estimate the total Capital Expenditure that it planned to incur during the financial year, which was a significant source of risk and uncertainty, depending on cost variances, delays and changing specifications of large and complex capital projects. The Capital Programme was updated every three months to reflect any cost variations, slippage or acceleration of projects to manage the associated risks and Members’ approval to reflect the reported variations was required.

The revised capital programme for the current financial year was £31.803 million, and during the first six months of the year the Council spent £4.164 million of the programme, compared with £4.134 million being spent in the first six months of 2017/18.  He referred to his comment as the Section 151 Officer and reiterated the importance of Members being satisfied with the deferral of any scheme, with a reminder that they were always entitled to ask for further explanation of the individual Project Manager.  He highlighted two projects of note which included the completion of the refurbishment of Cowick Barton tennis courts and the fire alarms at the Guildhall, which were now back at full capacity.

Corporate Services Scrutiny Committee supported the report and requested Executive and Council approve the revision of the annual capital programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in paragraphs 8.1, 8.4 and 8.5 of the circulated report.