Purpose

The report provides Members with an overview
of the forecast financial position of the Council for 2025-26.

Content

Resolved –
 
(1)
That the current forecast positions and the continued management of
the Council’s budgets be noted.
 
(2)
That the in year allocation of
£0.5m for the NEAT initiative, as detailed in paragraph 2.59
of Document “AC” be approved. This investment will be
further considered once the financial settlement is received
(expected late December 2025).
 
(3)
That the following new capital expenditure schemes as outlined in
section 10.6 of Document “AC” be approved:
 
Tier 3.5
Children’s Residential Home (New Build) - £1.06m: The
proposed development of a new build two-bed Tier 3.5
children’s residential home. Capital grant funding of 50%
(£0.53m) has been secured from the DFE, which will be matched
with a corresponding amount of Council funding. The Council funding
will be drawn from existing reserve scheme allocations for
Children’s Residential Care.
 
Tier 3.5
Children’s Residential Home (Purchase & Refurbishment) -
£0.932m: The proposed purchase and refurbishment of
accommodation for use as a two-bed Tier 3.5 children’s
residential home. Capital grant funding of 50% (£0.466m) has
been secured from the DFE, which will be matched with a
corresponding amount of Council funding. The Council funding will
be drawn from existing reserve scheme allocations for
Children’s Residential Care.
 
UK Shared Prosperity
Fund – £0.883m: Additional grant funding to support a
range of projects across the Council.
 
Public Health
– £0.343m: Five separate capital proposals, each funded
by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID). These
include contributions towards the refurbishment and reconfiguration
of Public Health facilities, the provision of residential
rehabilitation services, and the purchase of vehicles for use by a
drug and alcohol treatment provider.
 
Rowan House -
£0.286m: Building improvement works at Rowan House
residential children’s home. This item will be funded by
existing reserve scheme allocations for Children’s
Residential Care.
 
(4)
That the following capital proposals, which are already included
within the existing CIP, as outlined in paragraph 10.7 of Document
“AC” be approved.
 
Primary Schools SEN
– £0.930m: Works to expand Special Educational Needs
(SEN) provision at four schools: Co-Op Academy Princeville /
Delius, Lidget Green Primary,
Holybrook Primary, and Hollingwood Primary. These proposals are fully
funded by grant from the Department for Education.
 
Burley Recreation
Ground (Sports Pitches Investment Programme) - £0.799m: The
development of a new changing pavilion with access road and car
parking at Burley Recreation Ground. This item is funded entirely
by external grants and contributions and the amount of funding
available for the scheme has increased from £0.583m to
£0.799m since the previous update to Executive in July. The
additional funding will be used for supplementary works to improve
the grass pitches at the site.
 
Strong Close Former
Children’s Centre Adaptations – £0.075m
Adaptation works to the former Strong Close Children’s Centre
to accommodate SEN placements. This proposal is also fully funded
by grant from the Department for Education.
 
Nessfield
Primary School - £0.350m – High quality modular
accommodation for a hire period of 134 weeks, this is a phased
building programme to establish 32 SEND places and will enable main
building works to commence. This project will be fully funded
through the High Needs Capital grant provided by the Department for
Education (DfE).
 
(5)
That it be noted that the following capital expenditure be approved
under Section 1.7 of the Financial Regulations, as outlined in
section 10.8 of Document “AC”:
 
Waste / Fleet
Replacement Programme – £1.401m: Replacement of waste
transfer trucks and trailers that have reached or exceeded their
operational lifespan. This proposal will be funded through
borrowing, with repayments made via annual revenue contributions
from existing budgets.
 
Crossflatts
and Eldwick Primary Schools RAAC – £0.619m:
Emergency remedial works to address Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated
Concrete (RAAC) issues, funded by grant from the Department for
Education.
 
Property Programme
2025/26 - £0.5m: A proposed increase to the existing 2025/26
property programme to allow for additional urgent works to be
encompassed within the current programme (including lift re-ropes
and boiler failures).
 
Ilkley Manor House
Re-Roofing – £0.200m: Full re-roofing of this Grade I
listed building to address health and safety concerns, including
any improvements required by Building Control. This scheme will be
funded from existing contingency budgets within the CIP approved by
Full Council in March 2025.
 
Scholemoor
Cemetery Drainage – £0.232m: Remedial works to
improve land drainage and address flooding issues at the site. This
scheme will be funded from existing capital allocations for
cemeteries within the CIP approved by Full Council in March
2025.
 
Adult Social Care
& Health – Urgent Property Adaptations –
£0.050m: Contribution towards emergency capital works at a
care home to facilitate the placement of a young person in a new
care setting. This proposal will be funded through revenue
contributions from existing budgets.
 
To be actioned
by: Interim Strategic Director of Corporate Resources /
S151
 
Overview and Scrutiny Area: Corporate
 
(Rachel
Gledhill-Moseley - rachel.gledhill-moseley@bradford.gov.uk)