Agenda item

Capital Budget Proposals 2017/18 to 2020/21

Minutes:

CONTEXT:

 

The Cabinet Member for Finance presented the Capital Budget Proposals to outline the proposed capital budget for 2017/18 and the indicative capital budgets for the three years 2018/19 to 2020/21.

 

MEMBER SCRUTINY:

 

County Councillor A. Easson declared a personal, non-prejudicial interest under the Members’ Code of Conduct as a family member uses the services of Severn View Facility.

 

A Member requested an update regarding the Severn View Care Facility renewal.  The Cabinet Member advised that it was early days and the most important thing is that quality of care already received by individuals at the facility would not be compromised.

 

On the basis of the information supplied regarding capital receipts, a Member asked if Cabinet Members felt the projects could be taken forward with the small amount of money.  The Leader agreed that there would be pressures on capital and was confident in the capital programme to be realised. 

 

The Cabinet Member for Community Development referred to Highways, and generally the strategic roads were in good state and a lot of improvements had been made.  It was noted that infrastructure costs may need Welsh Government assistance.

 

 

RECOMMENDATIONS:

 

Members agreed the recommendations in the report:

 

·         That Select Committee scrutinizes the draft capital budget proposals for 2017/18 to 2020/21 released for consultation purposes as set out below and referred to in Appendix 2

·         That Select Committee notes the following recommendations approved by Cabinet:

·         That Cabinet confirms a capital strategy, which seeks to prioritise the Council’s Future Schools programme and other commitments whilst also continuing to finance a minimum core capital programme, recognizing the risks associated with this approach.

·         That Cabinet reviews the priorities in the Capital programme in the light of the issues raised in 3.7 and other demands for capital resources

·         That Cabinet reaffirms the principle that new schemes can only be added to the programme if the business case demonstrates that they are self-financing or the scheme is deemed a higher priority than current schemes in the programme and therefore displaces it.

·         That Cabinet agrees to maximize the use of capital receipts when received to fund the capital programme (therefore reducing the need to borrow) and/or set aside to repay debt as outlined in paragraph 3.10.

·         That Cabinet agrees to the sale of the assets in accordance with the Asset Management Plan and identified in the exempt background paper in order to support the capital programme, and that once agreed, no further options are considered for these assets.

 

 

 

Committee’s Conclusion:

 

Members were happy with the process in general, with thorough debate having taken place at the individual selects. Members had hoped that some of the amendments may have been made following the round of selects in order to be discussed today and there were concerns from some Members that some of the proposals lack the detail necessary for them to form a view.  However, there is acknowledgement that the meeting presented an opportunity for the proposals to be aired and scrutinised, as opposed to be agreed, which is a matter for full Council.  The meeting has presented Members with the ability to discuss and challenge priorities across the range of services and Members are therefore satisfied that they have scrutinised the budget in so far as they can at this time.  Members would encourage further reflection on this year’s process to inform that of the successor Council.

 

 

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