Agenda item

Resolved:-

a)    That approval be given to the funding for the following changes to the capital programme:

             i)        Phase 2 Refugee Resettlement Scheme – approve a budget in 2023/24 of £3.298m for phase 2 of the Refugee Resettlement Scheme funded through £1.298m from the Local Authority Housing Grant and a virement of £2m from the Housing and Homelessness prevention capital programme to the Resettlement capital programme to meet the match funding requirement for the grant.

            ii)        Environmental Services ground maintenance equipment – approve a budget in 2023/24 of £445k for the replacement of grounds maintenance equipment funding from borrowing.

b)    Approval be given to the funding for the following changes to the revenue budget:

             i)        Education Case Management System (ECMS) – approve a revenue budget of £1.362m in 2023/24 for the procurement and one-off implementation costs of a new ECMS funded through use of the Transformation Reserve, and approve the inclusion of ongoing revenue costs of £131k in 2024/25 and £142.5k in 2025/26 into the MTFP.

Reasons for Recommendations:

These are set out in greater detail within section 5 of the report, but can be summarised as:

     i)        To support the housing provision in North Northamptonshire;

    ii)        To support the achievement of corporate plan objectives; and

   iii)        To improve service provision in relation to children, young people, parents and carers

Alternative Options Considered:

     i)        Alternative options in relation to the Phase 2 Refugee Resettlement Scheme can be summarised as follows:–

·         Do nothing – if the Council does not participate in this programme, it will not receive the funding allocation and the challenge of finding onward settled accommodation for refugees will remain;.

·         Commit to delivering a smaller number of homes – whilst this may be easier to achieve, the government grant allocation will reduce proportionately and less homes will be acquired into our temporary accommodation stock. Ultimately fewer additional homes will be available to the Council to use as affordable housing for our residents in the longer term.

    ii)        Alternative options in relation to Environmental Services Grounds Maintenance Equipment can be summarised as follows:-

·         External grants were explored but are not available for plant equipment. The option of leasing new equipment was considered, but not deemed to represent value for money and therefore borrowing is the most cost-effective funding source. The other alternative option would be to not approve this scheme. However, this would have an adverse impact on meeting service needs and the achievement of NNC’s corporate objectives.

   iii)        Alternative options considered for the ECMS can be summarised as follows:-

·         Do nothing;

·         Apply for a variation with the current supplier, subject to this option being available under the current contract and such modification satisfying the Public Contracts Regulations 2015;Reprocure the current system through a direct award; or Build a bespoke system for the Education Service. More detail in relation to alternative options considered by the Executive in respect of the three schemes are set out in the reports presented on 12th July and 17th August 2023, as referenced in Section 8 of this report.

Consideration was given to a report requesting approval for a virement of a capital scheme in excess of £0.5m, new borrowing in relation to a capital scheme, and the use of the Transformation Reserve to found one-off revenue implementation costs. A copy of the report is filed with the agenda, marked as ‘Agenda Item 12’.

During debate it was noted that the new equipment in relation grounds maintenance would be more environmentally friendly than the old equipment, with electric vehicles and equipment to be used where possible. It was also noted that the new Education Case Management System would assist parents and guardians in navigating their way through the process of seeking school places for their children.

Following conclusion of the debate, the motion was voted on, with 61 in favour, 0 against and 0 abstaining.

The motion was approved.

Resolved:-

a)    That approval be given to the funding for the following changes to the capital programme:

             i)        Phase 2 Refugee Resettlement Scheme – approve a budget in 2023/24 of £3.298m for phase 2 of the Refugee Resettlement Scheme funded through £1.298m from the Local Authority Housing Grant and a virement of £2m from the Housing and Homelessness prevention capital programme to the Resettlement capital programme to meet the match funding requirement for the grant.

            ii)        Environmental Services ground maintenance equipment – approve a budget in 2023/24 of £445k for the replacement of grounds maintenance equipment funding from borrowing.

b)    Approval be given to the funding for the following changes to the revenue budget:

             i)        Education Case Management System (ECMS) – approve a revenue budget of £1.362m in 2023/24 for the procurement and one-off implementation costs of a new ECMS funded through use of the Transformation Reserve, and approve the inclusion of ongoing revenue costs of £131k in 2024/25 and £142.5k in 2025/26 into the MTFP.

Reasons for Recommendations:

These are set out in greater detail within section 5 of the report, but can be summarised as:

     i)        To support the housing provision in North Northamptonshire;

    ii)        To support the achievement of corporate plan objectives; and

   iii)        To improve service provision in relation to children, young people, parents and carers

Alternative Options Considered:

     i)        Alternative options in relation to the Phase 2 Refugee Resettlement Scheme can be summarised as follows:–

·         Do nothing – if the Council does not participate in this programme, it will not receive the funding allocation and the challenge of finding onward settled accommodation for refugees will remain;.

·         Commit to delivering a smaller number of homes – whilst this may be easier to achieve, the government grant allocation will reduce proportionately and less homes will be acquired into our temporary accommodation stock. Ultimately fewer additional homes will be available to the Council to use as affordable housing for our residents in the longer term.

    ii)        Alternative options in relation to Environmental Services Grounds Maintenance Equipment can be summarised as follows:-

·         External grants were explored but are not available for plant equipment. The option of leasing new equipment was considered, but not deemed to represent value for money and therefore borrowing is the most cost-effective funding source. The other alternative option would be to not approve this scheme. However, this would have an adverse impact on meeting service needs and the achievement of NNC’s corporate objectives.

   iii)        Alternative options considered for the ECMS can be summarised as follows:-

·         Do nothing;

·         Apply for a variation with the current supplier, subject to this option being available under the current contract and such modification satisfying the Public Contracts Regulations 2015;Reprocure the current system through a direct award; or Build a bespoke system for the Education Service. More detail in relation to alternative options considered by the Executive in respect of the three schemes are set out in the reports presented on 12th July and 17th August 2023, as referenced in Section 8 of this report.