Agenda item

Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2026/27

Meeting of Budget Special, Community & Resources, Monday, 31st January, 2022 10.00 am (Item 221.)

To receive the report of the Deputy S151 Officer

Decision:

Resolved that Members recommend to Full Council

a) The Capital Programme is updated for building cost inflation

b) The Vehicle Programme is updated for inflation

c) The Vehicle Programme is Balanced long term, by increasing the contributions from revenue.

d) Recommend PIDs that meet the minimum recommended project score of 65, for inclusion in the Capital Programme:

o C202 Core Server

o C201 Grounds Maintenance

o C200 Caddsdown Disabled Access Pathways

o C199 Revs & Bens Digitisation

o C204 Sandymere Road

With the PIDs that fall below this score being referred back to officers for further work/refinement, and possible future consideration.

Minutes:

The Chief Executive introduced the Senior Capital Accountant and provided some background to the PID (Project Initiation Documents) process and the scoring mechanism that is used. It was explained that the process has been updated following the recommendations of a task & finish group who reported to Internal Overview & Scrutiny Committee in September 2021 – this PID process has now been approved and used.

Members were advised that the Section 151 Officer, the Chief Executive and the Leader had all separately scored the PIDs that were submitted using the 4 Core Areas of Deliverability, Value for Money, Association or Commitment to the Strategic Plan and Funding. It was confirmed that the scores detailed in the subsequent table on page 32 of the report are the result of this scoring but were not binding.

The Senior Capital Accountant introduced the report, the purpose of which was for members to consider, formulate and recommend updates to the Capital Programme 2022/23 for Full Council. The Capital Programme includes authorised projects which require updating due to inflationary pressures, along with new PIDs (Project Initiation Documents) which require authorisation from members before inclusion.

A detailed and informative slide presentation was given by the Senior Capital Accountant highlighting the salient points in the report.

Members were asked for their questions and a discussion followed.

Councillor Hodson endorsed the recommendations on page 33 of the report, with specific mention to ‘recommendation d’. She drew attention to the potential need to review the PID process, and the considerations this should involve.

Members raised the costs of Victoria Park and whether the figure of £173k included money from the Bideford Trust and Bideford Town Council. The Senior Capital Accountant confirmed that this was included and £173k was the total cost of the project, however the financial scoring took these factors into account.

Councillor Lock endorsed Councillor Hodson’s proposal of the recommendations and queried why the Fish Dock was not listed on the scoring table. It was explained that this would be going to Full Council as a separate report and would be going through the Capital Programme for this financial year.

Members asked for more clarity regarding the contribution from Bideford Town Council and The Bridge Trust for Victoria Park Play Area. The Head of Communities and Place confirmed there is £51k available for play in Bideford, but this is not all available to Victoria Park Play Area. It was understood that the contributions to Victoria Park would be £10k from the Town Council and £10k from the Bridge Trust.

Councillor Christie clarified the funding allocation from Bideford Town Council and The Bridge Trust for members, stating the total of £51k was available to Torridge.

There followed a further discussion regarding the list of PIDs and their scoring. Members discussed possible changes and their potential impact. During these discussions members raised concern about making changes to the scoring of PIDs when an agreed process had already been followed to reach the recommendations put before members.

As part of the discussions it was proposed by Councillor Bushby, seconded by Councillor Brenton and recommended that Sandymere Road be removed from the list of projects recommended to Full Council and replaced with Torrington Pannier Market.

Councillor Hames asked to address the Committee in regard to the climate crisis. He raised his concern that the PID for electric vans was below the score required to recommend to Full Council. He asked members to reconsider Sandymere Road stating the potential impact and he asked members to consider the electric vans instead.

Following a discussion regarding Torrington Town Council taking over ownership of the Pannier Market it was confirmed that the Chief Executive and the Leader were due to meet the Town Mayor and Clerk. It was agreed that this could be explored at the meeting.

Councillor Lock reconfirmed her endorsement of the proposal from Councillor Hodson, which agreed the recommendations as they stand.

Councillor Hodson re-emphasised the clause regarding the capacity to review those PIDs that have fallen below the line. It was also requested the minutes note that reassurance was needed regarding the voluntary contributions going towards Victoria Park Play Area.

Following a further discussion regarding the proposals it was formally proposed by Councillor Christie that Sandymere Road be replaced by the request for 2 Electric Vehicles. There was no seconder and the proposal was not carried.

The Chair called for a vote on the formal recommendations under section 1.9 of the report. It was explained that if members wished to vote on the additional proposal made at the meeting they would need to vote against the formal recommendation first.

It was proposed by Councillor Hodson, seconded by Councillor Lock and

Resolved:

That members recommend to Full Council: