Decision details

The Cabinet will be presented with an update on progress in implementing the Council’s Investment and Acquisition Strategy, which is aimed supporting the regeneration of the borough and the financial sustainability of the Council, and will be asked to approve an updated Strategy to guide future investment decisions in line with statutory guidance.

The Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Note the progress being made to meet the investment and acquisition income target;

(ii)  Approve, in principle, the revised asset class of commercial lending to enable regeneration, up to an allocated value of £200 million, and the expected returns matrix contained in Appendix 1 to the report, subject to:

a)  Commercial due diligence and underwriting advice being procured as to commercial, legal, accounting, due diligence, risk management, information and state aid requirements, and appropriate protocols being put in place;

b)  Any necessary revisions to the Annual Investment Strategy in-year being approved by the Assembly as part of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement;

c)  Any commercial lending decisions until the protocols are in place pursuant to recommendation (ii)(b) above being made on a case by case analysis and due diligence;

d)  Regular review and monitoring of the asset class and Investment Strategy;

(iii)  Agree the revised Investment and Acquisition Strategy at Appendix 2 to the report, subject to final approval of the Strategy by the Assembly as part of the Treasury Management Strategy Statement;

(iv)  Approve, in principle, the policy to fund future major works on residential schemes held by Reside either from future borrowing or from future rental surpluses; and

(v)  Authorise the Chief Operating Officer, in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance (or an authorised delegate), to agree and execute all the legal agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council required to implement any aspect of the investment programme identified in the report.