Decision details

Discussion:

The Chief Finance Officer introduced the report summarising the current situation relating to the existing capital programme for 2010/2011, as set out in Table 1 on page 108 of the agenda. From the total capital budget of £128 million, officers expected that £90 million would be spent this financial year and £38 million in future years, on a total of 214 projects in the capital scheme.

Members asked about the budget for three Local Management Agreement properties which the Council managed on behalf of English Heritage (Rochester Castle, Upnor Castle and Temple Manor) which were 50% funded by each body, as set out on page 111 of the agenda. The committee asked whether in the current financial climate the council could afford to continue paying into this fund and officers were asked if there was an opportunity for an early exit from the contracts and what the consequences would be if this happened?

Officers responded that their concern would be that English Heritage would remove funding altogether because, as an organisation, they would probably be content for these ancient monuments to decline naturally.

Members commented on the “Twydall Accessibility Scheme” detailed in Appendix 3 on page 125 of the agenda asking officers to confirm whether this showed £30,000 of funds remaining. Officers undertook to investigate this matter and inform Members of the outcome.

Decision:

The committee:

(a)               noted the spending and funding forecasts summarised in Tables 1                and 3 of the report;

(b)                     requested that officers investigate the possibility of early exit from the contracts for maintaining the three Local Management Agreement properties and the consequences for those buildings and the council should this go ahead;

(c)               requested the Chief Finance Officer to investigate the monies shown    for the Twydall Accessibility Scheme in the current capital                programme.