The Coalville Special Expenses Working Party met to review financial updates for Coalville Special Expenses for the 2025/26 and 2026/27 financial years. The meeting also included an update on the events programme for 2026/27.

Coalville Special Expenses Finance Update - 2025/26 Provisional Outturn

The report from Anna Crouch, Head of Finance and Deputy S151 Officer, detailed the provisional outturn for Coalville Special Expenses for the 2025/26 financial year. The figures indicated an overspend of £0.013m against a budgeted expenditure of £0.544m. The budgeted contribution to Special Expense reserves was £0.031m, with the outturn being £0.018m. The report recommended that the Working Party note the 2025/26 outturn figures and Coalville Special Expense balances as at 31 March 2026.

The outturn pressure was largely attributed to reduced burial income (£0.012m) and increased spending on repairs and maintenance at Coalville parks and recreation grounds (£0.020m). These increases were partially offset by savings on spending for Events – salaries and overtime (£0.007m) and reduced electricity costs (£0.006m) and insurance recharges (£0.003m) at Coalville parks and recreation grounds. The Coalville Special Expenses Reserve opened at £0.051m and increased by £0.018m, standing at £0.069m as of 31 March 2026.

Coalville Special Expenses Finance Update - 2026/27 Quarter 1

Anna Crouch also presented the first quarter financial monitoring for the 2026/27 financial year. The forecast for net revenue expenditure was £0.607m against available funding of £0.578m, projecting a deficit of £0.029m. This position included an increased contribution of £0.013m from the Coalville Special Expense Reserve. The report recommended that the Working Party note the 2026/27 Quarter 1 forecast outturn.

The primary driver for the forecast pressure was an anticipated £0.020m increase in Parks and Recreation grounds repairs and maintenance costs, partially offset by an additional burial fee of £0.007m. The Coalville Special Expenses Reserve had an opening balance of £0.069m, and the forecast deficit of £0.029m was expected to be met from reserve balances, resulting in a projected closing balance of £0.040m at the end of the financial year. This projected reserve balance would represent 8% of recurring expenditure, falling below the recommended 10% minimum level.

Events Update 2026/27

Paul Wheatley, Head of Property and Regeneration, provided an update on the 2026/27 events programme, which is supported by the Coalville Special Expenses budget. The report recommended that the Working Party note the progress update on 2026/27 events.

The 2026/27 events programme included the Music and Picnic in the Park event, which had already been delivered, and planning was underway for the Christmas in Coalville event and the associated Christmas Lights Programme. Planning for the 2027/28 events programme was also in progress.

The Music and Picnic in the Park event, held on 4 and 5 July 2026, was described as successfully delivered with high attendance. The Christmas in Coalville event was scheduled for 28 November 2026, with revised timings to encourage evening economy engagement. The Christmas Lights Programme for 2026/27 would include decorations on lamp posts, the Memorial Clock Tower, trees, and a Christmas tree in Memorial Square, with some elements funded by the Council's general fund as part of the Coalville Regeneration Framework initiatives. The contract for Christmas lighting with Field & Lawn was set to end in January 2027, with options for extension at the same fixed pricing.

The report also mentioned the upcoming Coalville 200 celebrations in 2028, marking 200 years of cultural heritage. This initiative was linked to Coalville's entry into the UK Town of Culture Competition 2028. Although not shortlisted, the Coalville Cultural Partnership would continue to plan and seek funding for the 2028 celebrations. Further event updates were scheduled to be presented at the next meeting on 6 October 2026.