Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 18 November 2015 and its comments will be reported.

The report of the Assistant Director Finance was submitted to update Members 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.

Members were advised that the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme was £20,477 million.  During the first six months of the year the council spent £4.683 million on the programme, which equated to 22.9% of the revised programme, compared with 16.3% which was spent in the first six months of 2014/15.

The Assistant Director Finance referred to the additions to the capital programme and that the funding for Strata would go to Council via a recommendation from the Strata Joint Executive Committee.

Members wished to place on record the recognition awarded to the Corporate Energy Manager and the team on their recent achievements in winning a public sector National sustainability award in respect of the solar panels in two of the city’s car parks.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at its meeting on 18 November 2015 and its comments were reported.

RECOMMENDED that Council notes and approves:-

(1)        the revision of the annual capital programme to reflect the reported variations set out in paragraphs 8.4 and 8.5; and

(2)        the proposed additions to the Capital Programme set out in paragraph 8.7.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.

The Assistant Director Finance presented a report which updated the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme to £20,477 million.  During the first six months of the year the council spent £4.683 million on the programme, which equated to 22.9% of the revised programme, compared with 16.3% which was spent in the first six months of 2014/15. Members were advised of the anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years, the detail of which was set out in Appendix 1, circulated with the report. The report also sought approval to amend the annual Capital Programme in order to reflect the reported variations.  The report also detailed two requests including the funding of an in-principle agreement to adopt the Idox system, and the purchase of a common solution of planning services for Strata across the three Councils, including East Devon and Teignbridge District Councils, and the continued roll out of the Econospeed Engine Management which was a device to reduce the fleet carbon footprint. The Cleansing and Fleet Manager was able to respond to a Member’s enquiry and confirm that this would extend the anticipated life of the refuse collection fleet, by potentially, up to two years.

The Assistant Director Finance responded to a Member’s enquiry and confirmed the detail of the current cash collection arrangement from the city’s car parking machines with Teignbridge District Council and that he would report back to Members after further consideration of the matter. He also responded to a Member’s comment in relation to the reported saving in the Structural Defects capital budget, and would make an enquiry to provide assurance that the budget remained sufficiently robust to address any required works.

The Chair wished to place on record, the recognition of the award made to the Corporate Energy Manager and the team on their recent achievements in winning a public sector National sustainability energy award in respect of the solar panels in two of the city’s car parks.

Scrutiny Committee - Resources noted the revision in respect of the annual Capital Programme to reflect the reported variations detailed in paragraphs 8.4 and 8.5 of the circulated report, and the additional funding requests set out in paragraph 8.7 of the report and recommended its approval by Council.