Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Finance

Forward Plan Ref: 2023/276

Contact: Natalie Crawford, Capital Programme Manager, natalie.crawford@oxfordshire.gov.uk

Report by the Executive Director of Resources and Section 151 Officer (CA11)

The Cabinet is RECOMMENDED to:

Capital Programme

1.               Accept the latest capital monitoring position for 2023/24 set out in Annex 1.

2.               Approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 incorporating the changes set out in this report.

Budget Changes / Budget Release

3.               approve the inclusion of a programme of work to replace prefabricated classrooms with permanent provision at North Hinksey CE Primary School into the Capital Programme, at a cost of £1.443m to be funded by s106 developer contributions, the remaining cost of the scheme will be met by the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (paragraph 49)

4.               approve the inclusion of the expansion of Mabel Prichard Special School into the capital programme with an indicative budget of £2.230m to be funded from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) High Needs capital allocation 2021/22-2023/24 (paragraph 50).

5.               approve an increase in budget of £3.6m from £6.897m to £10.497m for the Tramway Road Accessibility Improvement scheme.  The increase in budget is funded through the Housing & Growth Deal and was agreed as part of the latest Growth Deal Programme review exercise, included in the Capital Programme approved at Council on 20 February 2024 (paragraph 52).

6.               approve the inclusion of Redbridge Household & Recycling Centre (HWRC) stabilisation works into the capital programme at a cost of £1.400m to be funded by corporate resources, of which £0.7m was agreed by Cabinet on 21 February 2023 and a further £0.7m agreed on 27 February 2024 (paragraph 54).

7.               to note the release of an initial development budget of £1.813m to redevelop Speedwell House (paragraph 56).

8.               To approve the inclusion of the £3.1m Decarbonisation Grant into the capital programme and the release of a total budget provision of £8.2m to commence carbon reduction measures in the Council property portfolio to progress measures towards the 2030 Climate Action Framework (paragraph 58).

Recommendations approved.

Cabinet had before it the fourth capital programme update and monitoring report for 2023/24 which set out the monitoring position based on activity to the end of January 2024.  The report also provided an update to the Capital Programme approved by Council on 20 February 2024 taking into account additional funding and new schemes.  The updated programme also incorporated changes agreed through the Capital Programme Approval Reports to Cabinet during the year as well as new funding.

The Chair presented the report and outlined the changes and new inclusions in the Council’s Capital Programme.

During discussion members welcomed

·       The additions to the County’s education estate.

·       The extension of the number of places at Mabel Pritchard Special School

·       The grant towards decarbonisation activity which demonstrated the Council’s position at the leading edge of climate action

The Chair moved and Councillor Howson seconded the recommendations, and they were approved.

RESOLVED to:-

Capital Programme

a)    Accept the latest capital monitoring position for 2023/24 set out in Annex

b)    Approve the updated Capital Programme at Annex 2 incorporating the changes set out in this report.

Budget Changes / Budget Release

c)     approve the inclusion of a programme of work to replace prefabricated classrooms with permanent provision at North Hinksey CE Primary School into the Capital Programme, at a cost of £1.443m to be funded by s106 developer contributions, the remaining cost of the scheme will be met by the Oxford Diocesan Schools Trust (paragraph 49)

d)       approve the inclusion of the expansion of Mabel Prichard Special School into the capital programme with an indicative budget of £2.230m to be funded from the Special Educational Needs (SEN) High Needs capital allocation 2021/22-2023/24 (paragraph 50).

e)    approve an increase in budget of £3.6m from £6.897m to £10.497m for the Tramway Road Accessibility Improvement scheme.  The increase in budget is funded through the Housing & Growth Deal and was agreed as part of the latest Growth Deal Programme review exercise, included in the Capital Programme approved at Council on 20 February 2024 (paragraph 52).

f)      approve the inclusion of Redbridge Household & Recycling Centre (HWRC) stabilisation works into the capital programme at a cost of £1.400m to be funded by corporate resources, of which £0.7m was agreed by Cabinet on 21 February 2023 and a further £0.7m agreed on 27 February 2024 (paragraph 54).

g)    to note the release of an initial development budget of £1.813m to redevelop Speedwell House (paragraph 56).

h)    To approve the inclusion of the £3.1m Decarbonisation Grant into the capital programme and the release of a total budget provision of £8.2m to commence carbon reduction measures in the Council property portfolio to progress measures towards the 2030 Climate Action Framework (paragraph 58).