Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Head of Treasury Services.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting on 17 September 2008 and their comments will be reported.

(Report circulated)

The report of the Head of Treasury Services was submitted, reporting the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme and advising Members of the anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years.

Scrutiny Committee – Resources considered the report at their meeting on 17 September 2008 and the support and comments of Members were noted.

The Head of Treasury Services reported that during the first three months of the current financial year the Council spent £2,046,164 which equated to 6.9% of the 2008/09 revised Capital Programme. Whilst only just over £121,000 of the RAMM re-development budget had been spent during that period, he reported that there would be significant expenditure over the next few months.

A member expressed concern regarding this Council’s possible liability for Devon County Council projects such as the renewal of the Haven Banks Outdoor Education Centre funded by the proceeds of the sale of Exeter Airport, in the event of local government re-organisation in Devon.  Officers advised that the Council would be responsible for contractual liabilities on any transfer but there would also be an equivalent transfer of assets.  It was agreed that clarification should be sought as to when the County Council proposed undertaking the works.

Members also queried delays in the provision of play facilities provided through Section 106 funding, such as that at Polsloe Priory. Councillor Mitchell declared a personal interest in this item as he lived adjacent to this site. The Director Economy and Development reported that considerable effort was being made to ensure that developers delivered the required facilities on time and to the right standard and regular progress reports were made to Planning Committee.

RESOLVED that the current position in respect of the annual capital programme be noted.

(Report circulated)

To consider the report of the Head of Treasury Services - report circulated

The Head of Treasury Services presented a report on the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme and advised Members of the anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years.

He advised that during the first three months of the current financial year the Council spent £2,046,164 of the 2008/09 Capital Programme which equated to 6.9% of the revised Capital Programme. This compared to £2.5 million being spent in the first three months of 2007/08. The forecast spend to carry forward to 2009/10 was £997,935.

A Member queried issues surrounding the reliability and effectiveness of the wood pellet boiler at Belle Isle Nursery and whether it was likely that the installation of the wood pellet boiler at the Civic Centre would exceed the budget as was the case with the boiler at the Corn Exchange.

The Director Corporate Services confirmed that the wood pellet boilers at the Corn Exchange and Civic Centre would be dual fuel use but, until the issues with the boiler at Belle Isle Nursery had been fully assessed, their installation would be deferred. Members would be circulated with an update on the issues with the wood pellet boiler, what was being done to resolve them and the budget position with regards to the installation of the boiler at the Civic Centre in light of the increase in budget provision for the boiler at the Corn Exchange.

The Chair asked that the Committee be informed why £15,720 from the HRA Capital budget had been spent on Communal TV aerials and if this was due to the switch over to digital TV.

A Member raised a question with regards to £40,000 that had been spend on King William Street Car Park changing facilities and if this expense had been incurred because of the introduction of Civil Parking Enforcement Officers and the need to provide accommodation for them. If that was the case then he requested that officers investigate if these monies were recoverable from Devon County Council.

Scrutiny Committee - Resources supported the report and recommended approval by Executive of the current position in respect of the Council’s revised annual capital programme and anticipated level of deferred expenditure into future years.

(Report circulated)