Item 17 - General Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2025-26 to 31 August 2025
West Dunbartonshire Council · 29 October 2025
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by the Chief Officer – Resources Council: 29 October 2025 _________________________________________________________________ Subject: General Services Capital Budgetary Control Report 2025/26 to 31 August 2025 (Period 5) 1. Purpose 1.1 This report provides an update on the General Services capital financial performance to 31 August 2025. 2. Recommendations 2.1 Members are asked to: a) Note the current position of the 2025/26 General Services capital budget. b) Approve the revised completion dates in respect of 5 projects detailed in Appendix 2 (Para 4.4). c) Note the reprofiling of 6 projects in Appendix 3 of (£4.237m) over the project life. d) Approve £0.027m of additional capital budget for data strategy (Para 4.9) e) Approve £1.316m of additional capital budget for plant and machinery replacement strategy (Para 4.10). f) Approve £0.352m of additional capital budget for vehicle replacement strategy (Para 4.11). 3. Background 3.1 On 5 March 2025 the Council approved the updated General Services Capital Plan for 2025/2026 to 2034/35. The three years from 2025/26 to 2026/28 were approved in detail with the remaining years being indicative. The budget agreed was £73.780m for 2025/26 and £307.818m for the project life budget. 4. Main Issues 4.1 Exhibit 1 sets out the revised capital budget at period 3 as reported to Council on 27 August 2025. Exhibit 1: Revised Capital Budget as at 30 June 2025. 2025/26 (£m) Project Life (£m) Capital Budget Agreed 5 March 2025 73.780 307.818 ITEM 17
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Updates reported to Council on 27 August plus adjustments for year-end carried forward balances 5.150 5.536 Reprofiling reported to Council on 27 August (7.118) 0 Revised Capital Budget as at Period 3 71.812 313.354 4.2 Progress against the 2025/26 capital plan is detailed in: Appendix 1 – Project Life Summary by Chief Officer Appendix 2 – Off Track Projects Appendix 3 – Changes to Capital Plan for Noting Appendix 4 – All Approved Projects 4.3 The overall programme 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 Appendix 2 highlights 5 projects currently showing as off-track, all of which are due to revised completion dates. Project RR 5 (Regeneration Fund) is off track due to the Waterfront Walkway progress being dependent on external factors, with an anticipated completion date of 31 March 2029. Project RR 7 (Level Up Funding) is off track due to the project delivery taking longer than initially expected. Resulting in an updated completion date of 31 December 2027. Project RN 16 (Allotment Development) is off track due to a delay in the tender process as a result of a service restructure and allocation of new resources. The project completion date has been extended to 31 March 2027. Project RN 17 (Waste Transfer Station) has currently been paused as the construction cost is significantly higher than the available budget. In addition following the implementation of the Net Zero Cooperation Agreement the Council now has resilience and this will be monitored and reported to Council to consider whether the project is still required. The completion date for the project has therefore been extended to 31 March 2029 while this monitoring and discussions are taking place. Project RN 23 (Creation of 3 new all weather pitches at Argyll Park, Posties Park and Mountblow playing fields) is off track due to a delay in the tender process because of Council service restructure and the allocation of new resources. Posties Park (to be renamed to commemorate Lachie Stewart) is now not expected to progress as anticipated, the balance of the budget is being rephased to 2026/27 pending an appropriate site being identified. 4.5 Appendix 3 highlights 6 projects where the expenditure requires to be reprofiled but there is no need for additional budget.
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4.6 Exhibit 2 sets out the revised capital budget at period 5 assuming approval by Council of all recommendations contained within this report. Exhibit 2: Revised Capital Budget 2025/26 (£m) Project Life (£m) Capital Budget as at 30 June 2025 71.812 313.354 New Funding – RN 31 Bus Infrastructure Fund (Para 4.8) 0.050 0.050 New Funding – RN 32 People and Places – Transport Scotland (Para 4.8) 0.035 0.035 New Funding – RN 34 Nature Restoration Fund (Para 4.8) 0.185 0.185 New Funding – RN 35 Road Safety Improvement Fund (Para 4.8) 0.185 0.185 New Funding – RES 15 Design, Creation, Installation of Digital Content for Glencairn House (Para 4.8) 0.187 0.187 Additional Funding – RN 25 Active Travel (Para 4.8) 0.306 0.306 Additional Funding – RN 27 Implementation 20mph Speed Limits (Para 4.8) 0.458 0.458 Added RN 33 Shared Prosperity Funding – Open Places (Para 4.8) 0.396 0.396 Added RR 12 Hybrid Meetings Equipment (Para 4.8) 0.053 0.053 Approved P&T 5 Capital Bid – Data Strategy (Para 4.9) 0.027 0.027 Approved RN 30 Capital Bid – Plant and Machinery Replacement (Para 4.10) 0.516 1.316 Approved Capital Bid – Vehicle Replacement Strategy (Para 4.11) (added to RN 5) 0.352 0.352 Proposed revised Capital Budget as at Period 5 74.562 316.904 Reprofiling over project life (Appendix 3) (4.237) 0 Proposed revised Capital Budget as at Period 5 subject to Council Approval 70.325 316.904 4.7 Appendix 4 shows all projects with approved in year and project life budgets as well as anticipated expenditure. It highlights that the 2025/26 budget is £74.562m. Spend as at period 5 is £14.975m (21.29%) of the current forecast spend of £70.325m. 4.8 Other minor changes to the capital plan included in the summarised plan in appendix 4 are: New funding has been received from Scottish Government of £0.050m for Bus Infrastructure Fund (RN 31) to support improvements to bus infrastructure and accessibility.
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New funding has been received from Transport Scotland of £0.035m for People and Place Local Authority Direct Award (RN 32) for active and sustainable travel behaviour change programme. New funding has been received from Scottish Government of £0.185m for Nature Restoration Fund (RN 34) to support approaches to restoring biodiversity. New funding has been received from Transport Scotland of £0.185m for Road Safety Improvement Fund (RN 35). New funding from Strathleven Foundation for Inspiring Change for the Design, Creation, Installation, and ongoing Management of Digital Content for Glencairn House (RES 15) of £0.187m. Additional funding from Scottish Government for Active Travel (RN 25) of £0.306m to support and promote active travel within the authority and to improve active travel links. Additional funding from Transport Scotland for Implementation of 20mph Speed Limits (RN 27) of £0.458m. Shared Prosperity Funding (RN 33) of £0.396m for open places such as West Bridgend Community Space and Allotments. Addition of Hybrid Meetings Equipment (RR 12) approved at Council on the 27 August 2025 of £0.053m to replace conference units and microphones to allow hybrid meetings to continue with improved sound quality. 4.9 Members are asked to approve a 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 West Dunbartonshire 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). 4.10 Members are asked to approve a capital budget of £1.316m for the plant and machinery replacement program. This bid has been reviewed by the Strategic Asset Management Group who recommend that £1.316m is added to the Capital plan to allow the Roads and Neighbourhood team to replace plant and machinery which is no longer fit for purpose. This project has been included in appendix 4 (RN 30). 4.11 Members are asked to approve a capital budget of £0.352m for the vehicle replacement strategy. This bid has been reviewed by the Strategic Asset Management Group who recommend that £0.352m is added to the Capital plan to allow the Roads and Neighbourhood team to replace vehicles which are no longer fit for purpose. This project has been included in appendix 4 (included within RN 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 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)
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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: 22 September 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 by Chief Officer Appendix 2 – Off Track Projects Appendix 3 – Changes to Capital Plan for Noting Appendix 4 – All Approved Projects Background Papers: General Services Capital Plan Update - Council 6 March 2024 General Services Capital Plan Update - Council 5 March 2025 Capital Budgetary Control Report (P3) – Council 27 August 2025 Review of Hybrid Meetings of Council and Committees – Council 27 August 2025 Wards Affected All Wards