The original recommendations were amended and then agreed.

The Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses were noted.

DECISION

1.    To approve the 3-year General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2020-23 as set out in Appendix 1a and Appendix 1f to the report.

2.    To approve the budget allocation for schemes in the programme, including the Local Infrastructure Fund Programme 2, subject to sign off through the capital governance process and agreement to proceed given by the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources and that schemes funded by future capital receipts, s106 and/or CIL will not go ahead until such funds have been securely received

3.    To approve the new additions to the Annual Rolling Programme, subject to Recommendation 2, as set out in Appendix 1c to the report.

4.    To approve the Invest to Save programme, subject to business cases being approved by the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources and Recommendation 2, as set in Appendix 1d to the report. 

5.    To approve the use of 5% of CIL or £1.500m whichever is the lower for use on feasibility studies and associated surveys for infrastructure projects as set out in paragraph 7.5.7 of the report.

6.    To approve the funding principle that Education schemes should not be funded by council borrowing or by non-Education capital receipts, unless Members have taken into consideration the impact on other priority schemes and the extent to which DfE funding will meet basic needs requirements alongside any relevant S106 or CIL receipts.

7.    To approve delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources for all activities required to deliver e.g. go out to tender, appoint consultants and contractors, acquire land interests, appropriate land from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the delivery of new council homes, subject to approved budget 

8.    To approve the following specific recommendations:

               i.         The transfer of funding for Angela Court from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account as set out in paragraph 11.3.13 of the report;

              ii.         The expansion of Beatrice Tate School to provide an additional 45 spaces for pupils with special needs; Approve the expansion of alternative provision at Harpley School to provide additional spaces for KS4 and post-16 pupils as set out in paragraphs 10.5.4 and 10.5.7 of the report respectively;

             iii.         Realign the previously approved budgets streams in relation to buyback programme, as set out in paragraph 11.3.26 of the report;

            iv.         Disposal of assets, as set out in paragraph 7.6.2 of the report;

9.    To note the consideration of the financing options and proposals for the uncommitted and new schemes, as set out in Appendix 1e to the report, will be brought forward in January 2021  

10.To note the development of the medium term and long-term Prioritisation and Financing Delivery Plan for Infrastructure (PFDP) identifying priorities beyond 2023 to 2030

11.To note Capital Governance changes contained in section 14 designed to support further improved monitoring and management of the capital programme. 

Councillor Rachel Blake, Deputy Mayor and Cabinet Member for Adults, Health and Wellbeing (with special responsibility for Capital Delivery), introduced the report. She highlighted that this was driven by the Council’s collective commitment to invest in infrastructure that had a real impact in the lives of residents such as schools, open spaces, bridges, specialist housing and more across the whole borough.

This report updated from the previous report to match up with expected funding available. Key items include the South Dock bridge, highways improvements, Thames Path, East India Dock Basin and school investments. Details of the projects were set out in the appendices. She commended this as an exciting set of projects for the borough.

Finally, she requested that recommendation number 6 be varied to clarify arrangements for education linked projects.

During discussion the Mayor noted the importance of estate regeneration to residents and the challenges in relation to uncertain funding streams. He welcomed the report and noted the Pre-Decision Scrutiny Questions and officer responses. Finally he amended and agreed the recommendations.

RESOLVED

1.    To approve the 3-year General Fund and Housing Revenue Account Capital Programme 2020-23 as set out in Appendix 1a and Appendix 1f to the report.

2.    To approve the budget allocation for schemes in the programme, including the Local Infrastructure Fund Programme 2, subject to sign off through the capital governance process and agreement to proceed given by the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources and that schemes funded by future capital receipts, s106 and/or CIL will not go ahead until such funds have been securely received

3.    To approve the new additions to the Annual Rolling Programme, subject to Recommendation 2, as set out in Appendix 1c to the report.

4.    To approve the Invest to Save programme, subject to business cases being approved by the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources and Recommendation 2, as set in Appendix 1d to the report. 

5.    To approve the use of 5% of CIL or £1.500m whichever is the lower for use on feasibility studies and associated surveys for infrastructure projects as set out in paragraph 7.5.7 of the report.

6.    To approve the funding principle that Education schemes should not be funded by council borrowing or by non-Education capital receipts, unless Members have taken into consideration the impact on other priority schemes and the extent to which DfE funding will meet basic needs requirements alongside any relevant S106 or CIL receipts.

7.    To approve delegated authority to the Corporate Director of Place and Corporate Director of Resources for all activities required to deliver e.g. go out to tender, appoint consultants and contractors, acquire land interests, appropriate land from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account (HRA) for the delivery of new council homes, subject to approved budget 

8.    To approve the following specific recommendations:

               i.         The transfer of funding for Angela Court from the General Fund to the Housing Revenue Account as set out in paragraph 11.3.13 of the report;

              ii.         The expansion of Beatrice Tate School to provide an additional 45 spaces for pupils with special needs; Approve the expansion of alternative provision at Harpley School to provide additional spaces for KS4 and post-16 pupils as set out in paragraphs 10.5.4 and 10.5.7 of the report respectively;

             iii.         Realign the previously approved budgets streams in relation to buyback programme, as set out in paragraph 11.3.26 of the report;

            iv.         Disposal of assets, as set out in paragraph 7.6.2 of the report;

9.    To note the consideration of the financing options and proposals for the uncommitted and new schemes, as set out in Appendix 1e to the report, will be brought forward in January 2021  

10.To note the development of the medium term and long-term Prioritisation and Financing Delivery Plan for Infrastructure (PFDP) identifying priorities beyond 2023 to 2030

11.To note Capital Governance changes contained in section 14 designed to support further improved monitoring and management of the capital programme.