Issue - meetings

This report advises the Council of the sale of Unit 1, Cherry Trees Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. This follows inclusion of the property on a list of non-operational properties declared surplus by the Cabinet on 29 October 2024.

This report is submitted to the Council for information in line with constitutional requirements.

Background:

This report advised the Council of the sale of Unit 1, Cherry Trees Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire. This followed inclusion of the property on a list of non-operational properties declared surplus by the Cabinet on 29 October 2024.

The report had been submitted to Council for information in line with constitutional requirements.

The Portfolio Holder for Business Management, Councillor Van Dyke, supported by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

The Council noted the sale of Unit 1, Cherry Trees Court, Hemel Hempstead, Hertfordshire.

This report requests Council approval for amendments to the Capital Programme as recommended by Cabinet on 3 June 2025.

Background:

This report requested Council approval for amendments to the Capital Programme as recommended by Cabinet on 3 June 2025. These changes related to Innovation Park Medway / Pentagon Future Capital Works and the flexible use of Capital Receipts.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Maple, supported by the Portfolio Holder for Economic and Social Regeneration and Inward Investment, Councillor Mahil, proposed the recommendations set out in the report.

Decision:

a)    The Council agreed the removal of £34.170million from the Innovation Park Medway Scheme as set out in section 4.1 of the report, in line with Cabinet decision number 45/2025, dated 11 March 2025.

b)    The Council agreed that £2.400million of the underspend on the Pentagon Future Capital Works scheme be used to fund a new scheme to deliver further improvements to the Pentagon, as set out in section 4.1 of the report including:

·       Replacement of a section of roof (R14).

·       Refurbishment of 205 high street.

·       Upgrades to fire exits and windows to the bus lane.

·       Repair and resurfacing of the service road.

·       Repairs and resurfacing to the car park.

c)    The Council agreed to remove the remaining unspent balance of £431,000 from the Pentagon Future Capital Works scheme, as set out in section 4.2 of the report.

d)    The Council agreed to transfer back to General Capital Receipts the unspent balance on the amounts earmarked through the Flexible Use of Capital Receipts Strategy, as set out in Section 5 of the report:

·       £544,706 originally earmarked for Children’s Social Care improvement.

·       £148,709 originally earmarked for Adults Social Care Improvement. 

·       £165,230 originally earmarked to support the wider transformation programme.

Background:

The report provided the Cabinet with details of the final revenue and capital outturn position for the financial year ended 31 March 2025. These figures would form part of the Council’s Statement of Accounts, which would be presented to the Audit Committee following the completion of the External Audit. The report also presented a summary of debts written off during the 2024/25 financial year in line with the constitutional requirement to submit a report to Cabinet on an annual basis setting out details of all debt written off.

Reasons:

Full Council is responsible for agreeing a balanced budget in advance of each financial year. Cabinet is responsible for ensuring that income and expenditure remain within the approved budget.