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Matter for
Decision
The Officer’s report presented a summary of the 2014/15 outturn position
(actual income and expenditure) for services within the Communities Portfolio
(formerly Community, Arts & Recreation), compared to the current budget for
the year. The position for revenue and capital was reported and variances from
budgets highlighted, together with explanations. Requests to carry forward
funding arising from certain budget underspends into 2015/16 were identified.
Decision of
Executive Councillor for Communities
The Executive
Councillor agreed:
Revenue and Capital Outturn, Carry Forwards and Significant Variances –
Communities Portfolio (formerly Community, Arts & Recreation)
i.
The carry forward requests,
totalling £162,000 as detailed in Appendix C of the Officer’s report, be
recommended to Council for approval.
ii.
To seek approval from Council to
fund re-phased net capital spending of £3,911,000 (of which £3,539,000 relates
to Clay Farm Community Centre) in respect of capital schemes.
Buchan Street Community Centre - New Roof Replacement
iii.
To approve the refurbishment of
the tiled roof and thermal insulation replacement at Buchan Street Community
Centre, as detailed in the attached appendices, which has been properly planned
and is ready for implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital
Programme Board
iv.
To recommend that Council approve
capital funding of £60,000 for the refurbishment of the tiled roof and
replacement of thermal insulation project.
Ross Street Community Centre - New Boiler system
v.
To approve the replacement of the
boiler system at Ross Street Community Centre, as detailed in the attached
appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for
implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board.
vi.
To recommend that Council approve
capital funding of £36,000 for the replacement boiler system project.
Reason for the Decision
As set out in the Officer’s report.
Any Alternative Options Considered and Rejected
Not applicable.
Scrutiny
Considerations
The Committee received a report from the Senior Accountant. He referred
to an addendum (as per paragraph 3.7 of the Officer’s report) that incorporated
the recommendations set out on pages 52 and 60 into those on P41 of the agenda
2014/15 Outturn Report:
2. Recommendations |
|
Buchan Street Community Centre - New roof
replacement
c)
To approve the refurbishment of the tiled roof and
thermal insulation replacement at Buchan Street Community Centre, as detailed in
the attached appendices, which has been properly planned and is ready for
implementation, subject to any feedback from the Capital Programme Board
d)
To recommend that Council approve capital funding
of £60,000 for the refurbishment of the tiled roof and replacement of thermal
insulation project.
Ross Street Community Centre - New Boiler system
e)
To approve the replacement of the boiler system at
Ross Street Community Centre , as detailed in the attached appendices, which
has been properly planned and is ready for implementation, subject to any
feedback from the Capital Programme Board
f)
To recommend that Council approve capital funding
of £36,000 for the replacement boiler system project.
In response to the Officer’s report the Committee stated the launch of
Cambridge Live had gone well. This had been a difficult project to manage.
Councillor Reid asked for specific details in future Officer reports to explain non-technical reasons for budget
variances between ‘original’ and ‘final’ budget figures. She also stated that
historically, if savings arose in one part of the portfolio, Officers used to
ask the Committee’s permission to move elsewhere. Councillor Reid asked if this
practice would happen again in future.
In response to Members’ questions the Director of Customer and Community
Services said the following:
i.
She appreciated the need for budgetary
transparency.
ii.
Unusual circumstances had arisen with the budget
due to the launch of Cambridge Live and the reconfiguration of central support
costs.
iii.
The budget had not been in the position Officers
would like over the last year as there had been a lot of variances, this was
due to historic financial issues and an agreement to clearly identify and track
them as the services migrated to Cambridge Live.
In response to Members’ questions the Head of Communities, Arts and
Recreation; Senior Accountant plus Community, Sport & Recreation Manager
said the following:
i.
The Equalities budget (P44 of the Officer’s report)
had £0 funding under the budget heading as a single member of staff had been
incorporated into a team. The budget heading had not been removed for
accounting reasons. The Head of Communities, Arts and Recreation undertook to
clarify further details with Councillor O’Connell.
ii.
The Senior Accountant undertook to inform
Councillor Reid about the capital value of The Junction.
iii.
The whole Buchan Street building, except for the
new extension, would be re-roofed. This would address maintenance issues such
as leaks.
iv.
Officers from across the council had liaised to
take the opportunity to retrofit energy efficiency measures as part of Buchan
Street building repair/maintenance work. The Climate Change Officer had advised
that funding could be applied for when work required had been identified such
as insulation and boiler replacement. The viability of photovoltaic panels was
being reviewed.
v.
If a bid was made for energy efficiency measures
funding, this would cover a few thousand pounds. The remaining cost of the
£60,000 project would have to be funded by the capital budget.
vi.
The Community, Sport & Recreation Manager was
liaising with the Neighbourhood Community Development Manager and contractors
to minimise the impact of Buchan Street building work on the nursery. The
Community, Sport & Recreation Manager was developing a business case to go
to the project board to look at the impact of building work on operations and
how to mitigate this if work was deemed appropriate to go ahead.
The Committee unanimously resolved to endorse the recommendations.
The Executive Councillor approved the recommendations.
Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Executive Councillor
(and any Dispensations Granted)
No conflicts of interest
were declared by the Executive Councillor.