To consider the Capital Monitoring report for 2014/15 under the Council’s budget monitoring procedures which provides high-level information on capital expenditure and income for the year (subject to Audit), compared with the latest budget position as at quarter three reported in February 2015.

Members considered the submitted report on the Capital Investment Plan and outturn position for the Council’s capital expenditure and income.  The Plan delivered investment in new and existing assets of the Council and was a key part of the delivery of the Council’s outcomes.

It was proposed by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Mills:

(i)         that the outturn position for the Council’s Capital expenditure and income for 2014/15 be noted;

(ii)        that the action taken by the Chief Finance Officer, under the Officer Scheme of Delegation, to carry forward the unspent budgets for expenditure or work in progress (together with their funding) from 2014/15 to 2015/16 be noted;

(iii)       that the funding of the capital investment plan for 2014/15 as outlined in paragraph 7.1 of the submitted report be noted;

(iv)       that the allocation of £1.020m of the 2015/16 Disabled Facilities Grant, part of the Better Care Fund, to support Disabled Facilities Grants to vulnerable adults and Council re allocates £0.4m of unspent prior years Disabled Facilities Grant to support Infrastructure works be approved. (paragraph 6.19 of the submitted report);  and

(v)        that the allocation of £0.461m of the 2015/16 Adult Social Care capital grant, part of the Better Care Fund, to support Adult Social Care expenditure be approved (para 6.25 of the submitted report).

An amendment (shown in bold text) was proposed by Councillor Darling and seconded by Councillor Carter:

(iv)       that the allocation of £1.020m of the 2015/16 Disabled Facilities Grant, part of the Better Care Fund, to support Disabled Facilities Grants to vulnerable adults be approved;  and Council defers reallocation of reallocates £0.4m of unspent prior years Disabled Facilities Grant to support Infrastructure works until a report is submitted to the Overview and Scrutiny Board, by October 2015, on the pressures facing Disabled Facilities Grants and whether this money should be held in a Disabled Facilities Grant Reserve or used to support Infrastructure works be approved. (para 6.19); and

On being put to the vote, the amendment was declared carried (unanimous). 

The substantive motion (the original motion with the amended paragraph (iv)) was then before Members for consideration.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was declared carried (unanimous).

To consider the outturn position in relation to the Council’s capital income and expenditure for 2014/2015 and to make any recommendations to the Council.

The Board considered the Capital Investment Plan Outturn for 2014/15.

The Board asked questions regarding the total cost of the beach hut replacement project and any associated overspends.  Questions were also asked about Disabled Facilities Grant and how the decision has been made to reduce the budget for these grants.

Resolved:   (i)  that the Board receive a further report on Disabled Facilities Grants specifically in relation to how the decision was made to reduce the grant and reallocate the budget, how the demand for the service has changed and whether the criteria for the grant has changed; and

(ii)        that the Mayor provides further information specifically in relation to the revised sum of money (£10,000) for affordable housing within Public Health.