Item 12 - HRA Capital Budgetary Control Report Period 7
West Dunbartonshire Council · 26 February 2025
Back to Housing & Communities Committee — 26 February 2025 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer – Resources Housing & Communities Committee – 26 February 2025 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Budgetary Control Report to 31 October 24 (Period 7) 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update on the HRA capital programme to 31 October 2024. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to: i) Note the current position of the 2024/2025 HRA capital budget and the HRA capital plan. ii) Note that in year financial performance is monitored against a 2024/2025 capital expenditure budget of £73.664m and a 2024/2025 capital income budget of £10.003m, a one-year borrowing requirement of £63.661m. iii) Note that project life performance is monitored against a five-year project life expenditure budget of £319.738m and a project life income budget of £54.577m, a five-year borrowing requirement of £265.161m. iv) Note that there are eighteen projects reporting off track with an anticipated over / under spend against their 2024/2025 budgets, with a forecast net underspend of £2.918m in 2024/2025. v) Note that all projects are currently on track to achieve their planned completion dates and to deliver within their respective five-year project life budgets. 3. Background 3.1 On 6 March 2024 the Council approved the updated Housing Revenue Account Capital Plan for 2024/2025 to 2028/2029. 3.2 Since then budget adjustments have taken place to bring forward in year project under/over spends during 2023/2024, to reflect up to date information on progress delivering the plan and any need for budget acceleration and budget deceleration from / to future years, and to update the expenditure and income budgets for Affordable Housing Supply projects to reflect the 2023/2024 outturn and to reflect that the most recent cost and income forecasts The budget adjustments result in revised capital budgets as set out in Exhibit 1. Item 12
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Exhibit 1: Revised HRA Capital Budget 2024/2025 – 20278/2029 2024/25 BCR07 (£m) Project Life BCR07 (£m) Project Life March 24 (£m) Other Capital Expenditure 7.165 27.129 27.180 Major Component Replacement 19.795 92.604 92.604 Void Capital 4.902 19.212 20.712 Structural & Environmental 2.767 14.175 14.175 Support Costs 2.761 14.367 14.367 Affordable Housing Supply Programme 36.274 152.251 149.053 Total Expenditure 73.664 319.738 318.091 Total Income 10.003 54.577 47.029 Prudential Borrowing 63.661 265.161 271.062 4. Main Issues 4.1 Progress against the 2024/25 capital plan is detailed in: Appendix 1 – HRA Capital Summary BCR07 Appendix 2 – HRA Capital Detail BCR07 4.2 The HRA capital summary report at Appendix 1 reports that planned expenditure and planned income are both in line with the overall project budgets. Appendix 1 reports that there are twenty-eight capital projects where expenditure / income budget is tracked over the multi-year life of the project and twenty-nine projects classified as rolling programme projects / contingency / fees, that is programmes of work where an annual budget is set each year that takes account of demand, cost, and affordability. 4.3 Appendix 2 shows all projects with approved in year and project life budgets as well as forecast expenditure / income. The appendix highlights a 2024/2025 expenditure budget of £73.664m and a forecast spend of £70.486m, an underspend of £3.178m (4.3% of the 2024/2025 budget) The 2024/2025 capital income budget is £10.003m, with a forecast income of £9.743m.
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4.4 Commentary on the 2024/2025 expenditure variances are set out in Exhibit 2 below. Exhibit 2: Project Over / Underspends 2024/2025 Project 2024/2025 BCR07 Forecast (£m) 2024/2025 BCR07 Budget (£m) 2024/2025 Variance (£m) Commentary 1 Special Need Adaptations 0.506 0.655 (0.149) • Reduced throughput of capital adaptations this year • Inhouse adaptations team is fully up to date with its order books. • Improved performance with average time of 46 days. • Underspend will be available for reprofiling in future years. 2 Capitalised Minor Works 4.116 3.000 1.116 • Transfer of Electrical Installation Condition Works `spend to minor works budget. • Overspend will be re-profiled over future years. • Officers are increasingly directing minor works requests to the relevant planned capital programme. 3 Environmental Sensors 1.620 2.000 (0.380) • Excellent progress with this programme with an anticipated 2,000 sensors due to be installed this year. • Underspend reflects the mobilization
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Project 2024/2025 BCR07 Forecast (£m) 2024/2025 BCR07 Budget (£m) 2024/2025 Variance (£m) Commentary period and challenges in getting access to properties. • Underspend will be available for reprofiling in future years. 4 Roofing Works 2.201 2.500 (0.299) • Underspend reflects the changing mix of the capital programme with an increased number of mixed tenure blocks that require owner consent before work can start. This necessary process delay project start • Underspend will be available for reprofiling in future years. 5 Void House Works 5.438 4.902 0.536 • Transfer of increased void spend to HRA capital account following a review. • Void delivery costs, including overtime on voids and contractor spend, have reduced as void number have reduced. • Overspend will be re-profiled over future years. 6 Environmental Works 0.992 1.068 (0.076) • Reduced throughput of environmental works this year because operatives have also worked across other HRA service areas.
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Project 2024/2025 BCR07 Forecast (£m) 2024/2025 BCR07 Budget (£m) 2024/2025 Variance (£m) Commentary • Underspend will be available for reprofiling in future years. 7 Contingency 0.000 0.100 (0.100) • Contingency released to offset cost pressures across the HRA capital account. 8 Clydebank East 9.896 9.700 0.196 • Good progress with development and is ahead of previous projection • 32 homes handed over to date 9 Pappert Expenditure 7.446 9.653 (2.207) • Development now on site and cash flow accurately based on agreed programme of works and this is reflected in the projection • No impact on overall project budget or timescales and development on track Pappert Income (2.803) (3.303) 0.500 • Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant funding reprofiled 10 Queen Mary Avenue 0.010 0.120 (0.110) • Affordable Housing Supply Programme grant funding reprofiled
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Project 2024/2025 BCR07 Forecast (£m) 2024/2025 BCR07 Budget (£m) 2024/2025 Variance (£m) Commentary 11 Queens Quay Site C Expenditure 0.000 1.000 (1.000) • Underspend reflects delays progressing this project within a financial viability assessment Queens Quay Site C Income 0.000 (1.000) 1.000 • The acquisition grant funding because of the project not been taken forward 12 Dennystoun Forge 0.060 0.250 -0.190 • Revised projection based on development project plan 13 Future New Build & Related Regeneration Projects / Professional Fees 0.500 1.015 -0.515 • Ongoing review of the programme allowed non committed funds to be released to offset cost pressures across the HRA capital account. Future New Build & Related Regeneration Projects Income (0.200) 0.000 (0.200) • Ongoing review of the programme allowed non committed funds to be released to offset cost pressures across the HRA capital account. 14 Buyback Grant Income (2.417) (2.858) 0.441 • Revised projection based on the distribution of Scottish Government acquisition funding 15 7 – 9 Gilmour Avenue Income (0.215) (0.195) (0.020) • Revised projection based on the application of the Strategic Local Programme
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Project 2024/2025 BCR07 Forecast (£m) 2024/2025 BCR07 Budget (£m) 2024/2025 Variance (£m) Commentary 16 Bank Street Income (0.518) 0.000 (0.518) • Revised projection based on the application of the Strategic Local Programme 17 Bonhill Gap Sites Income (0.514) 0.000 (0.514) • Revised projection based on the application of the Strategic Local Programme 18 Silverton Income (0.429) 0.000 (0.429) • Revised projection based on the application of the Strategic Local Programme (2.918) 4.5 Budget assumptions are required to forecast costs / income, especially where projects span multi-year and project finances have yet to be finalised. It is therefore likely that the projected year end budgetary position will change during the year. 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.
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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 several variable factors which could arise between now and 31 March which could affect the year end results for capital budgets. (b) Because 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 during 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: 26 February 2025 Person to Contact: Jim McCarron Business Partner, Finance 07772 322055 E-mail: james.mccarron@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: Appendix 1 - HRA Capital Summary BCR07 Appendix 2- HRA Capital Details BCR07 Background Papers: Housing Revenue Account (HRA) Capital Investment Programme, Revenue Budget, and Rent Levels for 2024/25 - Council 6 March 2024. Wards Affected All Wards