Item 16 - Educational Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2025-26 to 31 January 2026 (Period 10)
West Dunbartonshire Council · 18 March 2026
Back to Educational Services Committee — 18 March 2026 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer – Resources Educational Services Committee 18 March 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Educational Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2025/26 to 31 January 2026 (Period 10) 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update on the Educational Services capital programme to 31 January 2026 (period 10). 2. Recommendations 2.1 Committee is asked to: i) Note the current position of the 2025/26 Educational Services capital budget. ii) Note the revised completion date in respect of one project detailed in appendix 2. 3. Background 3.1 On 5 March 2025 the Council approved the updated General Services Capital Plan for 2025/26 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 for Educational Services was £11.664m for 2025/26 and £60.220m 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: Revised Capital Budget as at 31 January 2026 2025/26 (£m) Project Life (£m) Capital Budget Agreed 5 March 2025 11.664 60.220 Reprofiling Reported from 2024/25 0.679 0.679 Removal of completed project (Education 2 Digital Inclusion) (0.028) (0.356) Reprofiling Education 5 Free School Meals (1.239) Revised Approved Budget Period 10 11.076 60.543 4. Main Issues 4.1 Progress against the 2025/26 capital plan is detailed in: ITEM 16
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Appendix 1 – Project Life Summary by Chief Officer Appendix 2 – Off Track Projects Appendix 3 – Changes to Capital Plan Appendix 4 – All Approved Projects 4.2 Appendix 4 shows all projects with approval in year and project life budgets as well as anticipated expenditure. It highlights that the 2025/26 budget is £11.076m with current forecast spend of £10.332m. The spend as at period 10 is £7.653m (74%) of the current forecast spend of £10.332m. 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 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.
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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: 26 February 2026 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 Appendix 3 : Reprofiling and Acceleration of Projects Appendix 4 : Details of all Projects. Background Papers: General Services Capital Plan Update - Council 5 March 2025. Wards Affected : All Wards
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