The West Suffolk Council Cabinet met to discuss a range of issues, including approving a revised plan for the Olding Road development, writing off uncollectable debts, and considering recommendations from the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee on treasury management and financial resilience. The Cabinet approved the recommendations for the Olding Road project and the write-off of outstanding debts, and moved the treasury management and financial resilience reports to the Council for approval.

Olding Road Project

The Cabinet approved recommendations for a revised approach to the Olding Road, Bury St Edmunds project, reallocating the £7 million budget. The approved recommendations were:

1. To proceed with Option 2 for the former depot and warehouse, as detailed in the revised business case.
2. To revise the £7 million project budget, allocating:
   • £6 million to deliver Option 2.
   • £0.77 million for solar installation, supplementing the net zero fund.
   • £0.23 million to return to the Investing in our Growth Agenda fund.
   • £5.77 million to be funded through prudential borrowing¹.
3. To support the Portfolio Holders for Resources and Leisure in progressing plans for repurposing the remainder of the site.
4. To approve up to £1.5 million for enabling works to mitigate further programme delays.
5. To acknowledge that officers will proceed in line with the council’s agreed Scheme of Delegation.
6. For the Council’s Section 151 Officer² to make necessary changes to the council’s prudential indicators.

The Olding Road site, formerly a council depot and NHS warehouse, is strategically located near West Suffolk House, Abbeycroft Leisure Centre, the skate park, West Suffolk College and local schools. A key driver for the project is to reduce the £300,000 annual holding cost for the site.

The approved Option 2 includes:

• Continuing the refurbishment of the depot for a trampoline park and padel courts.
• Refurbishing part of the warehouse for a leisure tenant.
• Installing a solar array on the new roof.
• Demolishing part of the warehouse for potential development of sports pitches, subject to a separate business case.

The report noted that marketing of the warehouse for alternative employment uses had been unsuccessful, and pre-application planning advice indicated that light industrial use would struggle to meet car parking and HGV turning requirements.

The revised proposal aims to create recreational and community uses, supporting the council's 'Thriving Communities' strategic objective. The site will also contribute to environmental targets through a significant solar installation.

To minimise programme delays, enabling works are proposed to commence in October 2025, including internal demolition, external demolition of part of the warehouse, and shot blasting of steelwork.

Revenues Collection Performance and Write-Offs

The Cabinet approved the write-off of outstanding debts, as detailed in the exempt appendices to the report. The write-offs include:

1. Council Tax totalling £39,073.49 (Exempt Appendix 1).
2. Business Rates totalling £64,005.92 (Exempt Appendix 2).

The revenues section collects outstanding debts in accordance with statutory guidelines and council procedures. Write-offs are proposed when all recovery procedures have been exhausted. As of 1 August 2025, the percentage of debt written off during 2025/26 for all previous years is 1.50% for Council Tax and 1.51% for Business Rates.

Annual Treasury Management and Financial Resilience Report 2024 to 2025

The Cabinet agreed to forward the Annual Treasury Management and Financial Resilience Report 2024 to 2025 to the Council for approval. The Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee had previously considered the report and made recommendations for approval. The report includes tables summarising treasury management, investments, borrowings, and capital financing.

Treasury Management Report (June 2025)

The Cabinet agreed to forward the Treasury Management Report (June 2025) to the Council for approval. The Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee had previously considered the report and made recommendations for approval. As of 30 June 2025, the council held investments of £40 million. Interest achieved in the first three months of the financial year amounted to £461,179 against a budget for the period of £270,000. External borrowing as at 30 June 2025 was £9,125,000, and internal borrowing was £50,371,053.

Report of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee: 24 July 2025

The Cabinet noted the report of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee from 24 July 2025. Councillor Peter Armitage, Chair of the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee presented the report, which included the 2025 to 2026 Performance Report Quarter One and the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Work Programme 2025/2026.

The 2025 to 2026 Performance Report Quarter One set out the first quarter performance for 2025/2026 in financial results and key performance indicators. The report included the first quarter's forecast year-end financial position for West Suffolk Council as at the end of June 2025. The Cabinet Member for Resources presented the report and highlighted particular areas of focus and examples of good practice. The good weather experienced this quarter had led to high levels of visitors to the district's heritage sites and parks, and the best performing month at Toggam Solar Farm.

During the discussion of the report, Councillor Andy Neal asked why solar panels were not installed on all council-owned properties, including business units. The Chief Operating Officer/Section 151 Officer explained that a considerable number of business units did already have solar panels on them, with the council usually scheduling installation as part of any planned refurbishment works. Solar was also included as part of other larger council projects such as the pending works at Rougham Hill and the Bury St Edmunds Leisure Centre refurbishment. The Chief Operating Officer/Section 151 Officer welcomed any member suggestions for council properties that could potentially benefit from solar panels, and also agreed to source and circulate the number of council-owned business units that already had solar panels installed, by way of a written response to the committee.

Councillors Mike Chester and Karen Richardson posed questions in respect of S106[^4]. Councillor Chester asked how the delivery of S106 monies were monitored, following agreement, and questioned whether this could potentially be captured via a new KPI. The Democratic Services Officer (Committees) highlighted that the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had received a presentation on the S106 process and had been issued with a written response which set out links to the Infrastructure Funding Statements (IFS) that were produced annually and which outlined projects funded, funds received and funds allocated for future projects. It was agreed for this information to, likewise, be circulated to the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee for information. Councillor Richardson also highlighted that a number of parish and town councils across the district had a lack of understanding on the S106 process and asked if some form of training/briefing could be offered to them. It was agreed for this request to be raised with the Head of Planning.

Councillor Joe Mason referenced the comments he made at the May meeting of the committee in respect of empty units within Haverhill, specifically the HSBC bank, and asked why it wasn't included in the capital programme appendices attached to the report. The Chief Operating Officer/Section 151 Officer explained that the item had not been included in the capital programme because no funding had been currently allocated to it, but that the Portfolio Holder for Growth was keen to understand the Haverhill Enhancement Group's thoughts.

The committee noted the 2025/2026 forecast revenue and capital positions, as detailed in the report and appendices, and did not raise any issues for Cabinet's consideration.

The committee also noted the Performance and Audit Scrutiny Committee Work Programme 2025/2026. Councillor Mason asked if a response had been issued to the query he raised under the work programme item at the May meeting of the committee, as recorded in the minutes:

Councillor Joe Mason made reference to parking data and asked if improved, 'more granular' data could be made available to Members to enable data/evidence-led decision-making on future changes to parking charges/policy. Whilst it was recognised that it was not the Committee's role to determine parking charges, it was however in their remit to ensure that performance was being monitored in the correct manner, and that Members had sufficient information to support decision-making.

The Deputy Chief Executive responded and agreed to take Councillor Mason's request forward with the Chair and the relevant service and a written response would be circulated to Members.

The Democratic Services Officer (Committees) confirmed that this had been sent to all members of the committee during June, however, she would re-send it to Councillor Mason for his reference.

Decisions Plan

The Cabinet considered the Decisions Plan for 1 September 2025 to 31 May 2026.