To consider the first Capital Plan monitoring report for 2016/17 under the Authority’s agreed budget monitoring procedures which provides high-level information on capital expenditure and funding for the year compared with the latest budget position as reported to Council in February 2016.

(Note:  This item was deferred from the last Council meeting on 22 September 2016.)

The Council considered the submitted report setting out an overview of the Council’s approved Capital Investment Plan for quarter one. The report provided details of capital expenditure and funding for the year compared with the latest budget position reported to the Council in February 2016.   It was noted the Capital Plan budget totalled £81.7 million for the 4 year programme, with £33.3 million scheduled to be spent in 2016/17, including £4.6m on the South Devon Highway and £4.6m on Claylands Regeneration, with £1.6 million required from capital receipts and capital contributions over the life of the Capital Plan.

Mayor Oliver proposed and Councillor Manning seconded a motion as set out below:

(i)           that the latest position for the Council’s Capital expenditure and funding for 2016/17 be noted;

(ii)          that it be noted that the following grants are funded through grant applications and, whilst not legally ring fenced, the grants must be used for the purposes for which they were granted in order not to jeopardise future government grants;

(iii)         that the allocation of the following grants to services be approved:

(a)     Department for Education: 2016/17 Condition Funding £0.448m to Children’s Services;

(b)     Department for Transport: 2016/17 Highways Maintenance Incentive Fund £0.082m to Highways Services; and

(c)     Department for Transport 2016/17 Pothole Action Fund £0.071m to Highways Services; and

(iv)         that the draft Capital Plan Prioritisation Matrix includes reference to:

(a)     where capital grants in the future are linked to specific outcomes, such expenditure will not be required to be prioritised through the Matrix; and

(b)     the Matrix being applied prior to all grant applications if match funding from the Council’s Capital Plan is required.

During the debate Councillor Darling (S) proposed and Councillor Carter seconded an amendment to the motion was set out below:

(v)        that the £1.9 uncommitted affordable housing budget be ring fenced for affordable housing.

The amendment was put to the vote and declared carried.

The amended (substantive) motion was then considered by members, which was agreed by the Council as follows:

(i)           that the latest position for the Council’s Capital expenditure and funding for 2016/17 be noted;

(ii)          that it be noted that the following grants are funded through grant applications and, whilst not legally ring fenced, the grants must be use for the purposes for which they were granted in order not to jeopardise future government grants;

(iii)         that the allocation of the following grants to services be approved:

(a)     Department for Education: 2016/17 Condition Funding £0.448m to Children’s Services;

(b)     Department for Transport: 2016/17 Highways Maintenance Incentive Fund £0.082m to Highways Services; and

(c)     Department for Transport 2016/17 Pothole Action Fund £0.071m to Highways Services;

(iv)         that the draft Capital Plan Prioritisation Matrix includes reference to:

(a)     where capital grants in the future are linked to specific outcomes, such expenditure will not be required to be prioritised through the Matrix; and

(b)     the Matrix being applied prior to all grant applications if match funding from the Council’s Capital Plan is required;  and

(v)       that the £1.9 uncommitted affordable housing budget be ring fenced for affordable housing.