Item 17 - Corporate Services Capital Budgetary Control Report to 31 August 2025 (Period 5)
West Dunbartonshire Council · 12 November 2025
Back to Corporate Services Committee — 12 November 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer – Resources Corporate Services Committee – 12 November 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Corporate Services Capital Budgetary Control Report to 31 August 2025 (Period 5) 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update on the Corporate Services capital programme to 31 August 2025. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Committee is asked to: i) Note the current position of the 2025/26 capital budget for Corporate Services ii) Note that the project life total is currently on track. iii) Note the additional capital budget of £0.027m for data strategy (Para 4.6). 3. Background 3.1 On 5 March 2025 the Council approved the updated General Services Capital Plan for 2025/2026 to 2033/34. The three years from 2025/26 to 2027/28 were approved in detail with the remaining years being indicative. The budget agreed under the auspice of Corporate Services Committee was £4.078m for 2025/26 and £29.301m for the project life budget. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Exhibit 1 sets out the revised capital budget at period 3 as reported to Corporate Services Committee on 13 August 2025. Exhibit 1: Revised Capital Budget as at 30 June 2025. 2025/26 (£m) Project Life (£m) Corporate Services Capital Budget Agreed 5 March 2025 4.078 29.301 Reprofiling reported to committee on 13 August 0.133 (0.094) Revised Capital Budget as at Period 3 4.211 29.207 4.2 Progress against the 2025/26 capital plan is detailed in: ITEM 17
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Appendix 1 – Project Life Summary by Chief Officer Appendix 2 – Projects Off Track – not required for period 5 as there are no off track projects to report. Appendix 3 – Changes to Capital Plan for Noting – not required for period 5 Appendix 4 – All Projects 4.3 The overall program summary report at Appendix 1 shows that planned expenditure against the budget is currently on track. Note Appendix 1 is constructed assuming all changes in this report are approved. 4.4 Exhibit 2 sets out the revised capital budget at period 5 assuming approval by Council on the 29th of October of the recommendation contained within this report. Exhibit 2: Revised Capital Budget 2025/26 (£m) Project Life (£m) Corporate Services Capital Budget as at 30 June 2025 4.211 29.207 Approved P&T 5 Capital Bid – Data Strategy (Para 4.6) 0.027 0.027 Proposed revised Capital Budget as at Period 5 subject to Council Approval 4.238 29.234 4.5 Appendix 4 shows all projects with approved in year and project life budgets as well as anticipated expenditure. It highlights the 2025/26 budget is £4.238m with current forecast spend of £4.238m. The spend as at period 5 is £0.364m (8.58%) of the current forecast spend of £4.238m. 4.6 Members are asked to note an additional capital budget of £0.027m to fund data strategy. This bid has been reviewed by the Strategic Asset Management Group who recommend that £0.027m is added to the Capital plan to allow the People and Technology team to provide a robust data strategy which would be the cornerstone of creating a sustainable, modern data ecosystem capable of meeting the Council’s evolving needs while improving outcomes for its residents. A data strategy provides a unified framework for aligning data governance, technology, and processes with organisational goals. This approach positions the Council to effectively transform its data into a strategic asset that can be better utilised and controlled to achieve financial efficiencies and benefits while addressing challenges and setting the foundation of a clear path for long-term data-driven success. The new data platform and modern ways of working will drive operational efficiencies and bring time-saving benefits forecast from the outset. The Council can also better understand the changing landscape of public sector demand on services and keep pace with legislative demands on statutory services, and privacy and security requirements.
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This project has been included in appendix 4 (P&T 5). 5. Option Appraisal 5.1 No option appraisal was required for this report. 6. People Implications 6.1 There are no people implications. 7. Financial and Procurement Implications 7.1 The report notes the projected in-year financial position for capital budgets. 8. Risk Analysis 8.1 The main risks are as follows: (a) The reported variances should be viewed in the knowledge that there are a number of variable factors which could arise between now and 31 March which could affect the year end results for capital budgets. (b) As a consequence of current market conditions, inflation is at an all-time high and interest rates continue to be volatile. To forecast for the full year costs budget assumptions have been required. These assumptions continue to change regularly and therefore it is likely the projected year end budgetary position will change from that reported. 9. Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) 9.1 No equalities impact assessment was required in relation to this report. 10. Environmental Sustainability 10.1 No assessment of environmental sustainability was required in relation to this report. 11. Consultation 11.1 All services involved in delivering the capital budgets have been consulted in the compilation of this report. 12. Strategic Assessment 12.1 Proper budgetary control and sound financial practice are cornerstones of good governance and support Council and officers to pursue the strategic priorities of the Council’s current Strategic Plan. This report forms part of the financial governance of the Council.
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Laurence Slavin Chief Officer – Resources Date: 01 October 2025 ________________ Person to Contact: Lynsey Dickson Council Offices, Church Street, Dumbarton E-mail: lynsey.dickson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 - Project Life Summary Appendix 2 - Off Track Projects – not required at P5 Appendix 3 - Changes to Capital Plan for Noting – not required at P5 Appendix 4 - All Approved Projects Background Papers: General Services Capital Plan Update - Council 5 March 2025 Capital Budgetary Control Report (P3) – Council 27 August 2025 Wards Affected All Wards