Issue - meetings

Report of the Director – Finance and Corporate Services

The Finance Business Partner presented the Capital and Investment Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30.

The Finance Business Partner took Members of the Group through the report and supporting information provided at Appendix A and Appendix B and highlighted some of the key information, including:

• Capital Prudential Indicators
• Minimum Revenue Provision Statement
• Treasury Management Strategy
• Commercial Investments

In conclusion, the Finance Business Partner said that the financial environment was facing uncertainty which brought risks, which were included in the Strategy, but that by setting and following prudential indicators and managing risk through setting investment limits and diversifying investments, the Council had set a robust capital investment strategy. She said that the Council’s Treasury advisors, Arling-Close, endorsed the Council’s proportionate approach to both its Treasury and commercial property investments.

Councillor Birch asked about the risk to investments and whether the Council had received any advice about the impact of geopolitical events. The Head of Finance confirmed that global events did impact on interest rates and said that Advisors looked at the wider economic environment and gave advice based on events taking place, such as advice about making investments, with constant monitoring taking place.

It was RESOLVED that the Governance Scrutiny Group scrutinised and recommended for approval by Full Council:

a)    The Capital Strategy and Capital Prudential Indicators and limits for 2025/26 to 2029/30 contained within Appendix A (paragraphs 4 to 15);

b)    The Minimum Revenue Provision (MRP) Statement contained within Appendix A (paragraphs 16 and 17) which sets out the Council’s policy on MRP;

c)    The Treasury Management Strategy 2025/26 to 2029/30 and the Treasury Indicators contained within Appendix A (paragraphs 18 to 67);

d)    The Treasury Management Policy Statement for 2025/26 (Appendix B); and

e)    The Commercial Investments Indicators and limits for 2025/26 to 2029/30 contained within Appendix A (paragraphs 68 to 81).