Agenda item

The Council considered a report (Agenda Item 17) concerning the five year Capital Strategy for 2014 to 2019. The report included the Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) statement and the Asset Management Plan and also set out the funding framework for the Council’s five year Capital programme for 2014/15 to 2018/19.

MOTION: Proposed by Councillor Alan Law and seconded by Councillor Gordon Lundie:

That the Council:

“approve and adopt the Capital Strategy and programme 2014/15 to 2018/19”.

Councillor Law reported that this was probably the most significant of the budget papers as it outlined where the Council would be investing money in over the next five years. Major areas for investment included technology (which would help the Council be more productive), the district’s roads, broadband and education. The latter three areas would in turn help to make the district more productive.

The Council had spend around £30m of capital in the 2013/14 financial year and around £31m of capital expenditure was planned for 2014/15.

AMENDMENT: Proposed by Councillor Jeff Brooks and seconded by Councillor Keith Woodhams:

That the Council:

“borrows a further £200,000 to invest in additional LED streetlights across the district. This will accelerate the conversion of our street lights which is already being implemented providing a cleaner and greener outcome and saving in energy costs over time.  The additional cost of borrowing will be more than met by the on-going savings in electricity costs. “

Councillor Brooks noted that this was a relatively small amendment and should be viewed as an ‘invest to save’ proposal. The Council was already undertaking a replacement scheme but this additional funding could be used to accelerate it. The funding would generate ongoing savings as a result of a reduction in electricity and replacement costs. Councillor Keith Woodhams explained that he supported the scheme on the basis that it would benefit the residents of the District.

Councillor Pamela Bale commented that additional investment in the scheme had been considered by her predecessor but it had been rejected on the basis that the Council did not have the resources to replace all the streetlights at the same time. It was preferable to spend the current £100k per annum in a structured and planned way. In concluding her response she requested that, in accordance with paragraph 4.13.12 (d) of the Constitution, the question be put in relation to the amendment. This proposal was seconded by Councillor Gordon Lundie. The Closure Motion was put to the Council and duly resolved.

Councillor Brooks concluded that it was not intended that all the streetlights be replaced at the same time but that the additional funding be used to accelerate the programme.

Prior to the vote being taken the Deputy Monitoring Officer announced that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/165) (2014 Regulations) came into came into effect on the 25 February 2014 and as a consequence the Council was required to record the names of Members voting for and against the budget proposals.

FOR the Amendment:

Councillors David Allen, Jeff Brooks, Billy Drummond, Roger Hunneman, Mollie Lock, Royce Longton, Gwen Mason, Geoff Mayes,  David Rendel, Julian Swift-Hook, Tony Vickers, Keith Woodhams (12)

AGAINST the Amendment:

None

ABSTAINED:

Councillors Peter Argyle, Howard Bairstow, Pamela Bale, Jeff Beck, Brian Bedwell, David Betts, Dominic Boeck, Paul Bryant, Virginia von Celsing, George Chandler, Keith Chopping, Hilary Cole, Roger Croft, Richard Crumly,  Sheila Ellison, Marcus Franks, Dave Goff, Paul Hewer, John Horton, Carol Jackson-Doerge, Graham Jones, Alan Law, Tony Linden, Gordon Lundie, Tim Metcalfe, Joe Mooney, Irene Neill, Graham Pask, James Podger, Andrew Rowles, Garth Simpson, Anthony Stansfeld, Quentin Webb, Emma Webster, Laszlo Zverko (35)

The Amendment was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

Discussion then returned to the substantive motion. Councillor Tony Vickers queried whether the administration would be willing to use the Council’s ability to borrow capital at favourable rates on behalf of Registered Social Landlords. This capital could then be used to increase the number of affordable homes built in the district. He requested that this suggestion be considered when the capital programme for the following year was set.

Councillor Pamela Bale welcomed the proposed expenditure on the District’s road network. Councillor Irene Neill noted that a number of projects (including the science block at The Downs School, a new building for the hearing impaired at Kennet School, Denefield School, Caste School and Brookfields) had been undertaken in 2013/14. She thanked the Education Assets Team for all the good work they had done and the staff and pupils at the schools for their forbearance with the disruption while the projects were ongoing. She also welcomed the proposals outlined in the programme for the forthcoming year.

Councillor Brooks reported that since the amendment had been included in the programme he was pleased to support the proposed Capital Strategy and Programme.

Councillor Gordon Lundie noted that £115m would be invested over the following five years. In addition some of the reserves would be spend on addressing some of the problems caused by the recent flooding. Councillor Lundie noted that following negotiations with Central Government the Council would now be putting additional investment into the superfast broadband scheme as a rate of 90% coverage could now be achieved.

Prior to the vote being taken the Monitoring Officer announced that the Local Authorities (Standing Orders) (England) (Amendment) Regulations 2014 (SI 2014/165) (2014 Regulations) came into came into effect on the 25 February 2014 and as a consequence the Council was required to record the names of Members voting for and against the budget proposals.

The substantive Motion was put to the meeting and duly RESOLVED.

FOR the Motion

Councillors Peter Argyle, Howard Bairstow, Pamela Bale, Jeff Beck, Brian Bedwell, David Betts, Dominic Boeck, Paul Bryant, Virginia von Celsing, George Chandler, Keith Chopping, Hilary Cole, Roger Croft, Richard Crumly,  Sheila Ellison, Marcus Franks, Dave Goff, Paul Hewer, John Horton, Carol Jackson-Doerge, Graham Jones, Alan Law, Tony Linden, Gordon Lundie, Tim Metcalfe, Joe Mooney, Irene Neill, Graham Pask, James Podger, Andrew Rowles, Garth Simpson, Anthony Stansfeld, Quentin Webb, Emma Webster, Laszlo David Allen, Jeff Brooks, Billy Drummond, Roger Hunneman, Mollie Lock, Royce Longton, Gwen Mason, Geoff Mayes,  David Rendel, Julian Swift-Hook, Tony Vickers, Keith Woodhams (47)