Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/015

Contact: Katy Jurczyszyn, Strategic Finance Manager (Finance, Strategy & Monitoring) Tel: 07584 909518

Report by Director of Finance (CA7).

The report is the first capital programme update and monitoring report for the year and focuses on the delivery of the 2019/20 capital programme based on projections at the end of May 2019 and new inclusions within the overall ten-year capital programme. 

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

(a)          approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 1c;

(b)          approve the basic need programme up to September 2020 set out in Annex 3;

(c)          approve the School Structural Maintenance Programme for 2019/20 set out in Annex 4;

(d)          approve the revised budget provision of £12.750m for the replacement and expansion of Northfield School project, an increase of £3.250m;

(e)          agree the inclusion of the Watlington Relief Road project in the Capital programme with a budget of £12.508m and release of £0.250m for project development;

(f)           approve the revised budget provision of £16.6m for the Eastern Arc, Access to Headington scheme, an increase of £1.96m; and

(g)          note the approvals made under delegated authority of the Leader of the Council for:

                                   i.    the revised budget provision of £9.015m towards the Barton Park new primary School, an increase of £1.8m,

                                  ii.    release of £1.8m budget provision towards the replacement of the Data Centre Infrastructure.

Recommendations agreed.

Cabinet had before it a report which was the first capital programme update and monitoring report for the year.  The report outlined the delivery of the 2019/20 capital programme based on projections at the end of May 2019 and new inclusions within the overall ten-year capital programme. 

Councillor Glynis Phillips, Shadow Cabinet Member for Finance, referring to the outline business case for Barton Park Primary School stated she had queried where the funding had come from and had been advised that it was from indexation on the original sum. She sought assurances that similar efforts would be made in respect of funding for the proposed crossing in her Division. Referring to additional funds agreed under emergency procedures she queried whether they could be allocated to individual Cabinet Members for their input in a structured way.

Councillor Hudspeth, Leader of the Council explained the reasons for urgency being the need to ensure the school opened in 2020 and that the matter had been dealt with under normal procedures.

Councillor Roz Smith, local councillor for DIVISION highlighted the project in her Division noting that officers had warned that there might be the need for additional costs and design changes as reported in the paper. Additional off-road parking was required at Hedley Way, but the original design included a dangerous advisory cycle lane. She was pleased to see the new design. Councillor Smith thanked officers for taking heed of comments and for the several briefings.

Councillor David Bartholomew, Cabinet Member for Finance, commented that when he had become aware of the potential overspend on the project he had spoken to officers and had been satisfied with the reasons for the additional costs. It was an example of why money was placed into contingency funds. 

Councillor Bartholomew introduced the contents of the report and moved the recommendations.

RESOLVED: to:

(a)          approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 and the associated changes to the programme in Annex 1c;

(b)          approve the basic need programme up to September 2020 set out in Annex 3;

(c)          approve the School Structural Maintenance Programme for 2019/20 set out in Annex 4;

(d)          approve the revised budget provision of £12.750m for the replacement and expansion of Northfield School project, an increase of £3.250m;

(e)          agree the inclusion of the Watlington Relief Road project in the Capital programme with a budget of £12.508m and release of £0.250m for project development;

(f)           approve the revised budget provision of £16.6m for the Eastern Arc, Access to Headington scheme, an increase of £1.96m; and

(g)          note the approvals made under delegated authority of the Leader of the Council for:

                                   i.    the revised budget provision of £9.015m towards the Barton Park new primary School, an increase of £1.8m,

                                  ii.   release of £1.8m budget provision towards the replacement of the Data Centre Infrastructure.