Follow on request from WBCIR:21042

1. What was the Capital spend contained in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

2. In which years was the Capital spend incurred in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

3. What was the Annual Operating expenses in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

4. What was the effective operating period (number of years) in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

5. What was the Annual finance costs in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

6. What period is the finance costs spread over in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

7. What was the planned project start date in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

8. What was the Annual income in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

9. What was the planned income start date in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

10. How much Council Officers time is factored into the business case in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025

1. What was the Capital spend contained in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The business case updates were contained in Part 2 (confidential) and presented for scrutiny only, not approval.

2. In which years was the Capital spend incurred in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
None. No capital spend profile was agreed in October 2025.

3. What was the Annual Operating expenses in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The business case updates were contained in Part 2 (confidential) and presented for scrutiny only, not approval.

4. What was the effective operating period (number of years) in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The O&S report notes that the business case had been modelled over 40 years, but O&S cannot approve a business case, and no approval was sought.

5. What was the Annual finance costs in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The business case updates were contained in Part 2 (confidential) and presented for scrutiny only, not approval.

6. What period is the finance costs spread over in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The O&S report explains that the updated business case modelling had been extended from 25 years to 40 years, reflecting industry norms and modern solar farm lifespans.

7. What was the planned project start date in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
No start date was agreed, but the November O&S update report indicated a planned start date of April 2026.

8. What was the Annual income in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
Detailed income forecasts in the updated business case are commercially sensitive and were contained in Part 2 (confidential) of the O&S reporting papers. The Part 1 O&S paper however does report that the business case model forecasts an average surplus per year after financing costs in excess of £1m over the 40 year operational life of the solar farm.

9. What was the planned income start date in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
The O&S paper noted targeted energisation in spring 2027, but this was a working assumption, not an agreed or approved date.

10. How much Council Officers time is factored into the business case in the latest version of the business case as discussed in Oct 2025
No officer time allocation was agreed in October 2025. The Overview & Scrutiny Committee considered an update report only and is not a decision making body.

The business case presented to Members at that meeting included a more comprehensive and realistic assessment of project costs than the 2021 business case - including officer time, technical advisor costs and other professional fees - but these figures sit within the Part 2 (confidential) business case. This information is exempt from disclosure under:
• Schedule 12A, Paragraph 3 of the Local Government Act 1972 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of the authority), and
• Section 43(2) of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, as disclosure would be likely to prejudice the Council’s commercial interests during ongoing procurement and grid connection negotiations.

Internal Review completed by WBC Legal Services - it was upheld the review in so far as the response was not sent within the prescribed timescale.