Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial and Capital Strategy.

(a)           That the capital strategy as set out in appendix 1 and the capital programme set out in Appendix 2 be agreed.

(b)           That the impact on the Medium-Term Finance Plan be noted.

Reason for the decision

The Council approved the capital strategy and a capital programme budget on 14 February 2023 and at this meeting noted that a refreshed list of capital programme would be reported to this Cabinet.

Capital expenditure has an impact on the revenue budget, and so members should be aware of the financial implications to the revenue budget when agreeing the Capital Programme.

The Portfolio Holder for Finance, Commercial & Capital Strategy set out the report on the Councils capital programme for the period 2023/24 and 2026/27 

Although the capital strategy was approved on 14 February 2023 by Full Council, there had been a review to refresh the capital programme to ensure that the finite resources available, both in terms of financial and capacity, were able to deliver the projects listed in the programme within the current economic climate.

The Corporate Director for Finance and Commercial was invited to present a more detailed PowerPoint presentation of the proposals.

In response to question regarding resources, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that the point of the exercise was to rationalise the programme to be able to ensure delivery of Dorset Council’s agreed priorities.

In response to a question around governance, the Portfolio Holder confirmed that Overview and Scrutiny Committees would continue to play their role within the decision-making process and in accordance with the member protocol, ward members should be fully informed of issues in their areas.

As part of presenting the report, Cllr G Suttle proposed the recommendations and these were unanimously supported by Cabinet.

Decision

(a)           That the capital strategy as set out in appendix 1 and the capital programme set out in Appendix 2 be agreed.

(b)           That the impact on the Medium-Term Finance Plan be noted.

Reason for the decision

The Council approved the capital strategy and a capital programme budget on 14 February 2023 and at this meeting noted that a refreshed list of capital programme would be reported to this Cabinet.

Capital expenditure has an impact on the revenue budget, and so members should be aware of the financial implications to the revenue budget when agreeing the Capital Programme.