Issue - decisions

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet:

1.1 That the Cabinet approve and recommend to Full Council that:

1.1.1 The schedule of projects, as included at Appendix 1 and 2 be approved within the 2024/25 budget, noting this commits the Council to expenditure beyond 2024/25 whereby a project commences in 2024/25 and extends into future years.

1.1.2 The Vehicle & Plant replacement programme be approved for a 2-year period, covering purchases due in 2024/25 and 2025/26.

KEY DECISION:

No

PORTFOLIO:

Corporate & Finance

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED/REJECTED:

As set out in report.

DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST:

None

DISCUSSION:

The Portfolio Holder for Finance and Corporate introduced the report for the Asset Maintenance & Replacement Programme and General Fund Capital Programme 2024/25. He explained that it was vital to ensure all capital assets are maintained and kept fit for purpose.

The Strategic Director Corporate Resources and Transformation / S151 Officer explained that the report confirmed the process to come up with the proposed list of projects for both the revenue funded planned maintenance and cyclical replacement of assets, and the proposed general fund capital programme for 2024/25 through to 2026/27.

The proposed Revenue programme aligned to the resources available and set aside a modest contingency to support any variations or additional projects that may arise throughout the year.

One item of note was the £300,000 increase to the leisure centre maintenance budget, facilitated by the additional contractual income from Freedom Leisure. This meant that the Council would be able to continue to deliver on its landlord maintenance responsibilities for the centres.

It was explained that for the capital programme, the funding was confirmed as either wholly or partly NFDC funded or delivered by the Council but wholly third party funded.

It was believed that the Council had a good mix of required projects, and an appropriate and proportionate maintenance and capital programme set out.

A non-executive member raised a question on the £1.8m funding from Government for the Waste Strategy. The Portfolio Holder explained that this funding would unlikely cover all of the required costs related to the relevant aspect of the Waste Strategy implementation.