Decision Maker: Cabinet, Policy Review Committee

Outcome: Recommendations Approved

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: No

Date of Decision: January 14, 2026

Purpose:

Content: Decision   RESOLVED that Cabinet: 1.1) noted the revised capital programme budget for 2025/26 to 2027/28 of £27,439k as set out in Section 7 of the report. 1.2) considered the draft capital programme 2025/26 to 2028/29, amounting to £39,483k over the four year period and agreed: i) the additions to the capital programme amounting to £15,184k as set out in Sections 8-10 and detailed in Appendix C; ii) the removal of capital projects amounting to £3,140k as set out in Section 11. 27 iii) the profiled budget for 2025/26 to 2028/29 as £20,359k in 2025/26, £8,251k in 2026/27, £9,673k in 2027/28 and £1,200k in 2028/29 (Section 7, Table 3, Appendix A). 1.3) recommended the draft four-year capital programme 2025/26 to 2028/29 to the Policy Review Committee and to all Members, stakeholders and the public for consultation. 1.4) considered the Capital Strategy 2026 (paragraph 5.2 and Appendix D) which has been updated to reflect the draft capital programme and recommended this strategy for consultation.   Reasons for decision   The Council has a statutory obligation (as specified in the CIPFA Prudential Code) to make estimates of the total capital expenditure it plans to incur during the forthcoming year and the following two financial years to facilitate prudent, affordable and sustainable capital investment decisions.   The procedure agreed by full Council for setting the capital budget is that capital bids are firstly critically appraised by the Asset Management Panel in conjunction with officers prior to recommendation for inclusion in the capital programme.   The Council’s constitution also requires that the Policy Review Committee and Members of the Council be consulted on the capital budget at least four weeks prior to the Cabinet recommending that Council adopts the budget.   The capital programme is however a rolling programme and whilst the annual budget process will consider new capital bids brought forward as part of this process capital bids can be brought forward at any time with an appropriate business case and can be added to the Capital Programme subject to approval by Cabinet or Council depending on the level of spend and funding.   Alternative Options Considered   The Cabinet may have decided to recommend that full Council adopt an alternative capital budget to that presented in Appendix A. However, any alternative proposals would need to be supported by a full business case setting out how it meets with the Councils priorities. As referred to in section 3 above, new capital bids can be brought forward for approval throughout the year.