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City of York Council |
Committee Minutes |
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Meeting |
Executive |
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Date |
2 September 2025 |
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Present |
Councillors Douglas (Chair), Kilbane (Vice-Chair), Kent, Lomas, Pavlovic, Ravilious, Steels-Walshaw and Webb |
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In attendance |
Councillor Ayre (Opposition Group Leader) |
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Part B Minute – Matters referred to Full Council
135. Capital Programme - Monitor 1 2025/26
The Director of Finance submitted a report which presented the projected outturn position for 2025/26, including any under/overspends and adjustments, along with requests to re-profile budgets to/from current and future years.
The following information was appended to the report:
· Annex 1 – Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2029/30.
Debbie Mitchell, Director of Finance, presented the report.
The key areas of discussion were as follows:
· The Executive Member emphasised the importance of keeping under review the delivery of key projects. There was a need to ensure that there was capacity and resource in place to deliver these projects. Some projects were reliant on external funding arrangements. In relation to Council debt, it was noted that this related to capital borrowing and not day to day revenue spending. It was important to reassure residents that the level of council debt was lower than that of comparable local authorities. Some capital borrowing was necessary to develop infrastructure and there was a need to ensure this was carefully managed in line with statutory advice.
· Another Executive Member highlighted the benefits of key capital projects which included, the York Outer Ring Road, Haxby Station, Station Gateway and the City Centre Sustainable Travel Corridor. Reference was made to the positive impact on the local economy, a reduction in congestion and ensuring a more accessible and connected city.
Resolved (unanimously):
That Executive
i) Recommends to Full Council the adjustments resulting in a reduction in the 2025/26 budget of £412k as detailed in the report.
ii) Notes the 2025/26 revised budget of £180.331m as set out in paragraph 4 and Table 3 of the report.
iii) Notes the restated capital programme for 2025/26 – 2029/30 as set out in Annex 1 of the report.
Reason: To enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme.
iv) Delegates the approval of homes selected for sale at Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme to the Director of Finance (in consultation with the Director of Housing and Communities) where homes are valued over £500k.
Reason: To ensure the sales of such properties can be marketed promptly from plot handover.
v) Allocates £250k from capital contingency to invest in a cultural asset masterplan.
Reason: To provide a basis for attracting external investment into the council’s cultural estate.