Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Cabinet Member for Resources and Finance.

(a)       That the new structured approval framework for capital projects, as outlined in Appendix A of the report to Cabinet of 23 June 2026, be approved.

(b)       That a fundamental reset of the capital programme, including removal of legacy, stalled, and inactive schemes, be endorsed.

(c)       That the “Standing items” to be included in the capital programme, as shown in Appendix B of the report, be approved.

(d)       That the revised “Approved capital schemes” to be included in the capital programme, as shown in Appendix of the report, be approved.

(e)       That the increase to the Capital Contingency budget from £2m to £10m, funded from the removal of stalled, low-value and legacy schemes with no recent activity, be approved.

Reason for the decision

The decision aimed to ensure the Capital Programme remains deliverable, affordable, and aligned with the Council’s priorities. Over time, the programme has grown in scale and complexity, making it more challenging to manage and increasing pressure on financial planning, borrowing, and governance arrangements.

The proposed reset introduced a more structured approach by removing inactive schemes, clarifying programme categories, and strengthening oversight and approvals. Alongside an increased Capital Contingency and revised approval framework to support more efficient delivery of smaller schemes, this would enable a more sustainable and well-managed programme that reflects organisational capacity and met audit and Member expectations.

The Leader of the Council presented a report on a review of the Capital Programme, which had been undertaken at the request of the Cabinet Member of Finance and Resources. He explained that the purpose of the review was to move away from an extensive list of aspirations and instead reshape the programme to focus on what the Council could realistically deliver within the year. That involved right sizing the programme to reflect organisational capacity and ensure that all capital investment proposals were supported by robust business cases. The report set out in detail how this approach would be implemented. 

It was proposed by Cllr N Ireland and seconded by Cllr S Robinson

Recommendation to Full Council

(a)       That the new structured approval framework for capital projects, as outlined in Appendix A of the report to Cabinet of 23 June 2026, be approved.

(b)       That a fundamental reset of the capital programme, including removal of legacy, stalled, and inactive schemes, be endorsed.

(c)       That the “Standing items” to be included in the capital programme, as shown in Appendix B of the report, be approved.

(d)       That the revised “Approved capital schemes” to be included in the capital programme, as shown in Appendix of the report, be approved.

(e)       That the increase to the Capital Contingency budget from £2m to £10m, funded from the removal of stalled, low-value and legacy schemes with no recent activity, be approved.

Reason for the decision

The decision aimed to ensure the Capital Programme remains deliverable, affordable, and aligned with the Council’s priorities. Over time, the programme has grown in scale and complexity, making it more challenging to manage and increasing pressure on financial planning, borrowing, and governance arrangements.

The proposed reset introduced a more structured approach by removing inactive schemes, clarifying programme categories, and strengthening oversight and approvals. Alongside an increased Capital Contingency and revised approval framework to support more efficient delivery of smaller schemes, this would enable a more sustainable and well-managed programme that reflects organisational capacity and met audit and Member expectations.