Item 09 - Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy
West Dunbartonshire Council · 25 March 2026
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer - Resources Council: 25 March 2026 ___________________________________________________________________ Subject: Treasury Management Strategy and Annual Investment Strategy 1. Purpose 1.1 The purpose of this report is to seek Council approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Council is requested to: (a) Approve the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within. (b) Approve the continued use of the asset life method (using either annuity or equal instalment) for the repayment of loan fund advances with the exception of spend to save schemes where the funding/income profile method could be used. (c) Approve the ability to continue to use countries with a sovereign rating of AA- and above. (d) Note the removal of Lender Option Borrowing Option as an approved source of borrowing. (e) Note the report will be referred to Audit Committee for further scrutiny. 3. Background 3.1 The Council has adopted the Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy (CIPFA) Code of Practice on Treasury Management in Local Authorities. The Code requires an annual Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Investment Strategy to be approved by Council for the forthcoming financial year. This report seeks Member’s approval of the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy. The report also sets out the policy for the repayment of loans fund advances for 2026/27. 3.2 The Council uses MUFG Corporate Markets Treasury Limited, formerly Link Treasury Services, as its external treasury management advisors. The Council recognises there is value in employing external providers of treasury management services to acquire access to specialist skills and resources. ITEM 9
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The Council will ensure that the terms of their appointment and the methods by which their value will be assessed are properly agreed and documented, and subject to regular review. 3.3 Appendix 1 and 2 to this report outline the Council’s Capital Prudential and Treasury Indicators. Members are asked to approve these as required by the Local Government (Scotland) Act 1973 (extended via the Code on the Investments of Money by Scottish Local Authorities under section 40 of the Local Government in Scotland Act 2003. 3.4 In 2016 regulations were enacted by the Scottish Parliament, the Local Authority (Capital Finance and Accounting) (Scotland) Regulations 2016, They require the Council to set out its policy for the statutory repayment of loans fund advances prior to the start of the financial year. This is detailed in section 3 of Appendix 1 to this report. The policy on repayment of loans fund advances in respect of capital expenditure by the Council is to ensure the Council makes an annual prudent provision to pay off an element of the accumulated loans fund advances made in previous financial years. . 3.7 The CIPFA Treasury Management Code of Practice requires greater Member scrutiny of the treasury polices, increased Member training and awareness and greater frequency of information. It also required the Council to ensure effective scrutiny of its treasury management strategy and polices. Within the Council the body identified to fulfil this role is the Audit Committee. Therefore, the proposed Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy and the indicators contained within should be referred to the Audit Committee once approved by Council to ensure further scrutiny takes place. 4. Main Issues 4.1 The Local Government in Scotland Act 2003 requires Council to adopt the CIPFA Prudential Code and produce prudential indicators. Appendix 6 of this report details the Council’s expected year end indicators for 2026/27, revises the indicators for 2027/28 to 2030/31 and projects the indicators to 2035/36, with those for the period 2031/32 to 2035/36 being indicative currently. 4.2 Within this overall prudential framework there is a clear impact on the Council’s treasury management activity, either through borrowing or investment activity. Consequently, the treasury management strategy (which includes details of debt and investment) for 2026/27 to 2035/36 is included in Appendix 6 (with the period 2031/32 to 2035/36 being indicative at this time) to complement the prudential indicators relating to the treasury activity. 4.3 Other appendices to this report are Appendix 3 - Details of the risks, mitigating controls and limits associated with each of the permitted investment categories Appendix 4 - Credit rating type and definitions Appendix 5 - List of approved sovereign countries for investments
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Changes to Financial Regulations – Leasing 4.4 The Treasury Management Strategy report to Council in March 2021 reported a change to financial regulations regarding leasing. The change was postponed and was then reflected in the accounts effective 1 April 2024 (financial year 2024/25). 4.5 The change brings the assets and future liabilities for all leases onto the Council’s Balance Sheet from 1 April 2024; leased assets were brought onto the balance sheet in the 2024/25 accounts. The effect of this change increased the ‘level of debt’ identified by the Council; the Capital Financing Requirement; Operational Boundary; and Authorised Limit, by the future liability of the leased assets. Forecast and estimates of the ratio of financing costs to Net Revenue Stream may also be affected in future years. This change affects all councils, though this Council has a low number of leased assets. Capital Strategy 4.6 In December 2017, CIPFA issued a revised Prudential Code. As a result, from 2019/20, all local authorities were required to prepare a Capital Strategy report, and a revision to the Prudential Code 2021 confirmed that local authorities must produce an Annual Capital Strategy which is intended to provide: • a high-level overview of how capital expenditure, capital financing and treasury management activity contribute to the provision of services • an overview of how the associated risk is managed • the implications for future financial sustainability. 4.6.1 The aim of the Capital Strategy is to ensure all elected members understand the overall strategy, governance procedures and risk appetite entailed by the Strategy. 4.6.2 The 2026/27 Capital Strategy (approved by Council on 4th March 2026) includes detail on capital expenditure, investments and liabilities and treasury management to allow Members to understand how stewardship, value for money, prudence, sustainability and affordability will be secured. 5. Option Appraisal 5.1 No option appraisal was required for this report. 6. People Implications 6.1 There are no people implications arising from this report.
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7. Financial and Procurement Implications 7.1 The prudential indicators in Appendix 6 show the Council’s likely and indicative capital financing for the period 2026/27 to 2035/36 while the treasury management indicators in Appendix 6 show the likely borrowing requirement for the same period. 7.2 Table E in Appendix 6 indicates that in each year the gross borrowing requirement (which includes short-term borrowing for cashflow purposes) is below the capital financing requirement (CFR) and does not exceed the total of the CFR in the preceding year plus the estimates of any additional CFR for 2026/27 and following two financial years (Appendix 2 – section 2.1 and 2.2). 7.3 As a key indicator of prudence this illustrates the Council only undertakes long-term borrowing for capital purposes 7.4 There are no procurement issues arising from this report. 8. Risk Analysis 8.1 There are three main risks associated with the formulation of prudential indicators and the treasury management strategy as detailed in Appendix 1 and 2: (a) Capital receipts which affect the capital financing and borrowing requirement may not materialise and if this occurs then additional borrowing will be required in order to fund the financing requirement. (b) The risk of Counterparties default (i.e. loss of principal sum invested) must also be taken into account; however, the robust controls included within the investment strategy (Appendix 2 – section 6) will assist in mitigating this risk. (c) Capital inflation may increase capital expenditure levels, which in turn may affect the capital financing and borrowing requirement leading to an increase in borrowing, assuming no additional capital receipts are available. (d) In the last 18 months interest rates have continued to decrease, the most recent rate reduction was from 4% to 3.75% in December 2025. Rates are expected to continue to fall from June 2026 onwards, however, are subject to further uncertainty. It was highlighted to Council on the 4 March that while the plan is affordable in 2026/27 assuming a balanced revenue budget is agreed, it does create significant pressures on the revenue budget due to the cost of borrowing and since that it will have revenue implications for future years which will require to be planned for in the normal manner through long-term financial strategies and budget planning processes. This may require the capital programme to be subject to further review in future years if it is deemed to be placing an excessive pressure on the revenue budget and the sustainability of the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).
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9. Equalities Impact Assessment 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 Legal and Resources have been consulted in relation to this report and appendices. 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 5 strategic priorities of the Council’s Strategic Plan. This report forms part of the financial governance of the Council. Laurence Slavin Chief Officer - Resources Date: 29 January 2026 Person to Contact: Lynsey Dickson, Church Street, Dumbarton Email: Lynsey.Dickson@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendices: 1 Prudential Indicators 2026/27 to 2035/36 2 Treasury Management Strategy 2026/27 to 2035/36 3 West Dunbartonshire Council and Common Good Funds Permitted Investments, Associated Controls and Limits 4 Counterparty Rating Explanations 5 Approved Countries for Investment 6 Prudential and Treasury Indicators Background Papers: 2026/27 Budget Report – Council 4 March 2026 Treasury Management Strategy – Council 26 March 2025 Treasury Mid-year update – Council 17 December 2025 Wards Affected: All wards affected.
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