Agenda item

To receive the information, consider the risks regarding the Capital Programme, and scrutinise the decisions for the Cabinet

DECISION:

·       To accept the report and agree on the recommendations for the Cabinet to consider

Submitted - a report by the Cabinet Member for Finance outlining the capital programme (end of November 2025 position) and also approving the relevant funding sources. The Committee was asked to scrutinise the information and offer comments before submitting the report for the Cabinet's approval on 20 January 2025.

Reference was made to a Departmental breakdown of the £152 million capital programme for the 3 years 2025/26 - 2027/28 along with the sources available to fund the net increase of approximately £0.8 million since the position of the last review.

It was elaborated that,

·       There were firm plans in place to invest £93.7 million in 2025/26 on capital schemes, with £48.2 million (51%) of it funded through specific grants.

·       That an additional £6 million of proposed expenditure had been re-profiled from 2025/26 to 2026/27 and 2027/28.

·        The main schemes that had slipped since the original budget included £4.5 million for Schools Schemes (Sustainable Learning Communities and Others), £3.2 million in Levelling-up Fund Schemes, £2.8 million in Vehicle Replacement Schemes, £1.5 million from Economic Boost and Industrial Units Schemes and £1.0 million from Waste and Recycling Schemes

A list of additional grants that the Council had been able to attract since the last review was highlighted which included, £1million – a grant from the UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) towards Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) schemes for packaging; £0.6 million – Transitional Accommodation Capital Programme (TACP) Grant from the Welsh Government; £0.3 million – a grant from the Welsh Government's Brilliant Basics Fund towards the Enjoyment of Our Coast scheme and £0.3 million – a grant from the Sports Council towards synthetic pitches.

Reference was made to the information about the Council's Capital Prudential Indicators and highlighted that, in accordance with the CIPFA Prudential Code, the Council was obliged to report the information - he added that the Council had complied in full with the policy on borrowing for capital purposes.

The report was appreciated by members.

In response to a comment about relevant schemes causing major changes to funding sources, in particular 'Re-profiling the Buy to Let element of the Housing Strategy beyond this three-year Capital Programme to a period of more favourable economic circumstances (Department for Housing and Property)', and what was the context of 'more favourable economic circumstances', it was noted that increases in the cost of construction materials and interest rates meant that this particular scheme could not be funded, but that the situation could be revisited in the event of a reduction in costs and interest in the future.

In response to a comment that the 27/27 and 27/28 figures were significantly lower than the 25/26 figures, it was confirmed that this was because no new plans had come forward to date.

In response to a comment that the Football Association of Wales had invested in Football Clubs in the County (e.g., Talysarn, Porthmadog and Tywyn) and whether the money was part of a Sport Wales Grant or a separate grant, it was noted that all grants received separately were included, but if the money was a recent investment, then it would be reported / included later in the year.

RESOLVED

To accept the report and agree on the recommendations for the Cabinet to consider (20-01-26)