To consider the first Capital Monitoring report for 2014/15 under the Authority’s agreed budget monitoring procedures which provides high-level information on capital expenditure and funding for the year compared with the latest budget position as reported to Council in February 2014.

The Council considered the submitted report setting out an overview of the Council’s approved Capital Investment Plan for quarter one. The report provided details of capital expenditure and funding for the year compared with the latest budget position reported to the Council in February 2014.  A revised Officer recommendation was circulated.

It was proposed by the Mayor and seconded by Councillor Mills:

(i)         Council note the latest position for the Council’s Capital expenditure and funding for 2014/15;

(ii)        Council approve that £6.1 million of capital resources to be allocated to schools for basic need (pupil places) for the period up to 2017/18, subject to each individual scheme being approved by the Operational Director in consultation with the Mayor;

(iii)       Council approve £0.630 million of capital resources to be allocated to schools for repair and maintenance in 2014/15;

(iv)       Council approve £0.1 million of capital resources to be allocated to schools for the free school meals initiative;

(v)        Council approve £0.350 million of capital resources, previously allocated to the empty homes scheme to be reallocated to improvement works at Torquay Harbour side.  The Council will continue to work to explore bringing back empty homes in accordance with the Council’s empty homes policy and the Director of Place be requested to prepare a report outlining how this will be achieved, including setting out how the Council will work with the private sector in this regard;

(vi)       Council approve £0.1 million capital grant to support Torbay Coast & Countryside Trust’s Green Heart Project to be funded from capital receipts;

(vii)      Council approve £0.150 million of capital resources to fund improvements works at the Old Toll House in Torquay to be funded from capital receipts;

(viii)     Council approve £0.237 million of capital resources to fund additional beach huts at Broadsands. This is to be initially funded from prudential borrowing which will be repaid from future beach hut income;  and

(ix)       Council approve the allocation of £0.660 million from the SDLR reserve to support the Council’s contribution to support the Torquay Gateway transport scheme (£0.385m) and Torquay Centre Access transport scheme (£0.275m).  The reserve to be repaid, as resources permit, from future year transport capital resources.

An amendment was proposed by Councillor Cowell and seconded by Councillor Morey:

(v)        Council approve £0.350 million of capital resources be allocated to a revised and simplified empty home schemes and/or made available for affordable homes schemes.

In accordance with Standing Order A19.4, a recorded vote was taken on the amendment.  The voting was taken by roll call as follows:  For:  Councillors Baldrey, Cowell, Davies, Doggett, Ellery, Faulkner (A), Faulkner (J), Morey, Parrott, Pentney, Pountney, Stocks, Stockman and Thomas (J) (14);  Against:  The Mayor, Councillors Addis, Amil, Barnby, Excell, Hill, Hytche, Lewis, Mills and Pritchard (10);  Abstain:  Councillors Bent, Brooksbank and Tyerman (3);  Absent:  Councillors Butt, Darling, Hernandez, James, Kingscote, McPhail, Richards, Scouler, Stringer and Thomas (D) (10).  Therefore, the amendment was declared carried.

The substantive motion (the original motion with amended (v)) was then before Members for consideration.

On being put to the vote, the substantive motion was declared carried.