New Capital Project Approval Request

Directorate:

Housing Revenue Account

Unit:

Housing Investment & Asset Management

Project Title:

Seniors Housing Improvements

Total Project Cost (All Years) £:

£250,000

Purpose, Benefits & Risks:

A dedicated budget is required to cover planned spend on external and common way repairs and decorations across the Council’s Seniors Housing stock to help reduce ongoing costs and keep stock well maintained.

Capital Expenditure Profile (£’000):

Funding Source (see guidance below)

2022/23

£000

2023/24

£000

2024/25

£000

2025/26

£000

2026/27

£000

Total All Years

£000

Direct Revenue Funding (DRF)

250

0

0

0

0

250

Total Estimated Costs & Fees

250

0

0

0

0

250

Financial Implications:

The project costs for this financial year will be met from other underspending areas across the HRA capital programme.

Future years budget allocations for the ongoing programme of improvement works will be considered as part of the HRA budget setting process for 2023/24.

New Capital Project Approval Request

Directorate:

Families, Children & Learning

Unit:

Education & Skills

Project Title:

Cardinal Newman Catholic School – 4G Pitch & Changing Rooms

Total Project Cost (All Years) £:

£1,850,000

Purpose, Benefits & Risks:

PURPOSE

➢   CNCS current sporting facilities inhibit its ability to deliver against its strategic priority of providing excellent environments to enable participation in sport for all its pupils, the opportunity to achieve sporting excellence and realise their full potential, undertake sport in a safe environment that minimises the risk of injury and to promote overall health and wellbeing for all students.

➢   CNCS current sports facilities do not fully support its commitment to sporting academies and the top-level sports being played by the school & college. The school has achieved national sporting success but is unable to host events at that level with current facilities and current facilities also place a limit on the sporting ambitions of CNCS pupils and their desire to train more and to fulfil their full potential.

➢   CNCS pupils are disadvantaged by current sports facilities when compared with other state funded local schools as well as those further afield, which can also impact on choice for local children selecting a secondary school.

➢   Significant impact on LA objectives to widen participation in sport at all levels and so improve health and wellbeing for young people & adults in the city.

OUTCOME/BENEFIT

➢   Provide students with a safe, multipurpose, all year-round venue to develop their skills and understanding in a range of physical activities

➢   Increase community involvement and links within Brighton and Hove with local sports clubs and providers

➢   Improve facilities at CNCS & Newman College in line with all the other secondary schools in Brighton & Hove.

➢   Create an annual income for the school that can be used to repay borrowing/cover additional maintenance, sinking fund & staffing costs & to help develop/improve school facilities

➢   Other options were considered (e.g. levelling the playing field for a grass pitch) however the selected option was chosen due to revenue generating opportunities, greater access (i.e. not weather affected) and adaptability for a range of sports.

RISKS

➢   Securing loan funding and accessing funds within timeline before planning permission expires. (Medium)

➢   Build risks around cost and time. (Medium)

➢   Risk of achieving revenue targets. (Low)

➢   Risks of not doing – access to sport limited, commitment to developing children’s sporting excellence and building on the strength of the academies (achieving national success) limited, risk of losing skilled & experienced PE staff & risk of lost opportunity cost (i.e. revenue).

Capital Expenditure Profile (£’000):

Funding Source (see guidance below)

2022/23

£000

2023/24

£000

2024/25

£000

2025/24

£000

2026/27

£000

Total All Years

£000

Capital Borrowing

1,850

0

0

0

0

1,850

Total Estimated Costs & Fees

1,850

0

0

0

0

1,850

Financial Implications:

It is estimated that the pitch will cost £70,000 in running costs each year including maintenance costs, sinking fund, utilities including cleaning & premises/admin staff costs. Financing cost repayments associated with the borrowing are estimated to be £95,000 per year.

There has been considerable interest in the potential pitch and it is estimated to raise annual revenue of £180,000 within a four-years period.

The current 3-year revenue budget plan includes £77,000 contingency towards the pitch during the build and set up phases with break even being achieved in Year 4 as costs are covered by income.

While the school is currently forecasting a slight deficit in the third year of the budget plan it is anticipated that the new facility will help to maintain/increase pupil numbers at the school and college and retain staff.

New Capital Project Approval Request

Directorate:

Governance, People & Resources

Division:

Customer, Modernisation & Performance Insight

Project Title:

New Member Induction and IT Equipment for Members

Total Project Cost (All Years) £:

£141,000

Purpose, Benefits & Risks:

There are a number of activities and arrangements to be put in place to induct Members following the local elections in May 2023:

§  A Marketplace event is proposed, similar to that held on 2019. The event would provide a professional and co-ordinated way of inducting new Members and undertaking key activities, such as signing documentation, taking official photographs and issuing ID cards. It would provide an opportunity for Members to meet senior managers and staff, and create a positive first impression of the council.

§  New information technology (IT) equipment is required for Members, namely laptops and mobile phones. It is proposed that devices be issued to both new and existing Members to provide a consistent and robust offering, and hopefully, reduce replacement costs.

§  A full Member induction programme will be devised, which will cover key areas of training and awareness, and an introduction to committees. An online handbook will also be produced covering key policies and information for Members.

Capital Expenditure Profile (£’000):

Funding Source (see guidance below)

2022/23

2023/24

2024/25

2025/26

2026/27

All Years

Corporate Modernisation Funding

141

0

0

0

0

141

Total Estimated Costs & Fees

141

0

0

0

0

141

Financial Implications:

The cost of the Marketplace event is £6,000 and the cost of the IT equipment is £135,000 (£141,000 in total). The direct cost of the Marketplace event is minimal; the indirect cost of staff time to organise the event is greater, however, it is felt this will be outweighed by the benefits of economies of scale, consistency of messaging and a positive/professional induction experience. The IT equipment is the greater cost but the local elections provide an opportunity to refresh devices for all Members following feedback, and to create a consistent offering that is comparable across new and existing Members. There is an urgency to order the equipment in October before a scheduled price increase. In the current market, there is uncertainty regarding the extent of the increase and length of the delivery period, hence the need to order quickly. Going forward, it is proposed to include a budget commitment of £40,000 per annum to cover IT equipment costs following each local election.