Item 16 - Educational Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2024-25 to 31 January 2025 (Period 10)
West Dunbartonshire Council · 19 March 2025
Back to Educational Services Committee — 19 March 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer – Resources Educational Services Committee 19 March 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Educational Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2024/25 to 31 January 2025 (Period 10) 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update on the Educational Services capital programme to 31 January 2025 . 2. Recommendations 2.1 Committee is asked to: i) Note the current position of the 2024/25 Educational Services capital budget. ii) Note that the project life total is currently on track. iii) Note that one project, Free School Meals has moved from Citizen, Culture and Facilities (CCF) to Educational Services 3. Background 3.1 On 6 March 2024 the Council approved the updated General Services Capital Plan for 2024/2025 to 2032/33. The three years from 2024/25 to 2026/27 were approved in detail with the remaining years being indicative. The budget agreed for Educational Services was £19.617m for 2024/25 and £59.634m for the project life budget. 3.2 Since then budget adjustments have taken place which result in a revised Education capital budget as set out in Exhibit 1. Exhibit 1 shows the revised period 5 as reported to Committee on 27 November 2024. Exhibit 1: Revised Capital Budget as at 27 November 2024 2024/25 (£m) Project Life (£m) Capital Budget Agreed 6 March 2024 19.617 59.634 Updates reported to Committee on 18 September 2024 and 27 November 2024 (0.073) 0 Reprofiling agreed at Committee on 18 September 2024 and 27 November 2024 (0.206) 0 ITEM 16
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Revised Capital Budget at Period 5 19.338 59.634 Reprofiling Reported at period 5 (0.895) New Approved Budget Period 5 18.443 59.634 4. Main Issues 4.1 Progress against the 2024/25 capital plan is detailed in: Appendix 1 – Project Life Summary by Chief Officer Appendix 2 – Off Track Projects (not applicable for this report) Appendix 3 – Changes to Capital Plan for Noting Appendix 4 – All Approved Projects 4.2 Appendix 4 shows all projects with approved in year and project life budgets as well as anticipated expenditure. It highlights that the 2024/25 budget is £19.635m with current forecast spend of £24.233m. The spend as at period 10 is £16.975m (70%) of the current forecast spend of £24.233m. 4.3 Reported expenditure to date against the School Improvement Programme appears low relative to both the annual budget and probable outturn. This is because it is anticipated that most expenditure will come in as year end recharges. 4.4 Reported expenditure to date against the Free School Meal expansion also appears low relative to the annual budget. This is because confirmation of this funding was not announced until late December 2024. Any underspend will be carried forward to 2025/26. 4.5 Exhibit 2 sets out the revised Educational Services capital budget at period 10 following approval by Council on 18 December 2024. Exhibit 2: Revised Capital Budget 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. £m £m Revised Capital Budget at 27 November 2024 18.443 59.634 Faifley Campus reprofiling 5.715 0.00 Free School Meal Expansion 0.075 1.191 Proposed Revised Capital Budget Period 10 24.233 60.825
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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 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. ________________ Laurence Slavin Chief Officer – Resources Date: 3 March 2025 Person to Contact: Joe Reilly Council Offices, Church Street, Dumbarton E-mail: joe.reilly@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 : Project Life Summary Appendix 2 : Off Track Projects (not applicable for this report)
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Appendix 3 : Reprofiling and Acceleration of Projects Appendix 4 : Details of all Projects. Background Papers: General Services Capital Plan Update - Council 6 March 2024. Wards Affected : All Wards