Agenda item

Report of the Chief Executive

Cllr Nick Botterill Cabinet Member for  Finance, Development Management and Strategic Planning presented a report which provided detail about the final year end position for the financial year 2022/23 for the capital programme.

The Cabinet noted that the report included the movements from the original budget, final scheme slippage and funding of the programme. The report also provided an update on the significant programmes that have been delivered and those that have been reprogrammed to future years. Cllr Botterill thanked the Financial Planning Task Group for their input and contributions to new approaches coming forward for future years.

Cllr Pip Ridout, Chair of the Financial Planning Task Group, confirmed that the report had been considered by the Task Group at its meeting on 7 July 2023. Cllr Ridout explained that the system to monitor the Programme had been evolving throughout the financial year and although not ideal, slippages in the Programme reduced the need for additional funding.

Cllr Graham Wright, Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Committee confirmed that the report had been considered by the Management Committee on 26 June 2023 and robust scrutiny had taken place.

In response to a question from Cllr Tony Jackson about the reprofiling of commitments for the Maltings in Salsibury towards the repair of squash courts in Warminster, Cllr Ian Blair-Pilling, Cabinet Member for Public Health, Leisure, Libraries, Facilities Management and Operational Assets agreed to discuss the matter further after the Cabinet meeting.

Resolved:

To Note:

a)    the additional capital budgets of £5.369m (£3.820m in 2022/23) that have been added to the capital programme under Chief Finance Officer delegated powers.

b)    that £5.067m budget that has been brought forward from future years to the 2022/23 programme to support the delivery of accelerated projects, or project in year overspend under Chief Finance Officer delegated powers.

c)    the removal of £8.784m budget (£4.585m in 2022/23) for Homes England Funded capital grant for the West Ashton Urban Extension project in line with grant conditions as the project is no longer proceeding.

d)    the removal of £7.584m budget from 2022/23 for Housing Infrastructure Fund for the Future Chippenham programme as a result of the mutually agreed withdrawal from the Grant Determination agreement with Homes England.

e)    the programme underspend for phase 1 and 2 and subsequent removal of £2.305m (£0.737m in 2022/23) for Wiltshire Online due to the completion of the project.

f)     the removal of £0.053m underspend on CIL Funded schemes budget, this was allocated for feasibility studies which have now all completed. This budget is funded by Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) the removal will allow CIL to be reallocated to other projects.

g)    the capital programme end of year spend position of £128.380m for financial year 2022/23.

To approve:

h)    the £39.438m of capital programme slippage to be rolled forward into future financial years.

To recommend to Full Council to approve:

i)      the allocation of £0.800m CIL funding to finance £0.400m per year for 2023/24 and 2024/25 budgets for Local Highways and Footpath Improvement Groups.

Reason for Decision:

To inform effective decision making and ensure sound financial management as part of the Councils overall control environment.

To inform Cabinet on the final year end capital outturn position for the Council for the financial year 2022/23.