The report of the City Treasurer is enclosed.

A report concerning requests to increase the capital programme was submitted. We agreed to recommend four changes to the Council, and to approve a further five changes under delegated powers. Taken together these changes would increase the capital budget by £3.870m, financed from a range of sources including grants, the revenue budget, virement, external contributions and by borrowing.

Decisions

1.         To recommend that the Council approve the following changes to Manchester City Council’s capital programme:

a.         Highways – Exchange Square water feature refurbishment. A capital budget increase of £0.440m is requested, funded by borrowing.

b.         Neighbourhoods – relocation of Manchester Visitor Information Centre. A capital budget increase of £0.059m is requested, funded by borrowing.

c.         Private Sector Housing – transfer of projects from Strategic Acquisitions. A capital budget virement of £1.592m is requested.

d.         Children’s & Families / ICT – Liquid Logic/ContrOCC. A virement of £0.139m from the Early Help project, which this project supersedes, and £0.370m from the ICT Investment Plan is requested.

2.         To approve the following changes to the City Council’s capital programme:

a.         Neighbourhoods – Wythenshawe Hall insurance works. A capital budget increase of £0.759m is requested, funded from external contributions.

b.         Highways – Pothole funding. A capital budget increase of £1.902m is requested, funded from £1.686m grant from the Department of Transport and £0.216m external contribution from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority.

c.         Children’s Services – additional funding for provision or improvement of places for pupils with special educational needs. A capital budget increase of £0.580m is requested, funded from grant.

d.         ICT – Microsoft Enterprise Agreement Licensing renewal. A virement of £0.227m from the ICT Investment Plan is requested, funded by borrowing.

e.         ICT – virement from Data Centre Facility revenue project to Data Centre Network Design. A capital budget increase of £0.130m is requested, funded by borrowing, with a corresponding reduction to the revenue budget.