Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendations.

Councillor Banks introduced the report and explained that the Council’s Capital Programme covered investment in assets for the long term to enable the delivery of high quality and value for money public services.  Assets included buildings, infrastructure and assets not owned by the Council. 

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) explained that the proposed capital investments outlined in the report were closely aligned to portfolio service business plans and the Council Plan.  The information within the report referred to the Council Fund (CF) programme only, not the housing programme which was funded from the Housing Revenue Account (HRA).

The Council’s Capital Strategy divided the Capital Programme into three parts:

1. Statutory / Regulatory section – to cover regulatory and statutory works.  Examples included providing support to improve and adapt private sector homes (Disabled Facilities Grants), adaptations to schools for children with disabilities and any works required to keep buildings open by meeting Health and Safety requirements
2. Retained Assets section – to ensure service and business continuity.  This included schemes that enhanced and improved retained assets and infrastructure to deliver services and met significant need identified by service plans or through condition surveys etc.
3. Investment section – to fund costs incurred when remodelling and investing in services.  This included new schemes arising from Portfolio business plans, the Council Plan, other relevant and emerging plans, and other strategies or emerging Council priorities approved through a selection process based on the provision of a business case.

Each of the tables in the report were explained, along with potential future schemes.

It was an ambitious programme with a lot of important projects.  He gave examples of previously approved schemes such as Castell Alun High School - Hope, and Marleyfield Residential Home - Buckley, and examples of new schemes for approval such as Theatr Clwyd redevelopment and improvements to Standard Yard Waste Transfer Station.

            Members welcomed the report which they felt was exciting and set a clear vision for the future.

            Councillor Thomas said previously Welsh Government (WG) had provided a grant for a three-year period towards highway improvements.  That grant was now coming to an end.  She had been in contact with the Leader of the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) on the need for continuing financial support from WG but no information on that was yet available.  She asked if the amount of £0.600M allocation for the Highways Asset Management Plan could be increased by £0.400M so the total budget was £1M.  The Chief Executive said possibilities could be looked at with flexibility and it could be reviewed in the New Year once the details of the Settlement were known. 

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the allocations and schemes in Table 3, be approved for the Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2021/22 – 2023/24;

(b)       That the schemes included in Table 4, be approved for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2021/22 – 2023/24;

(c)        That the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2021/22 in Table 5, at this point in the approval process allows flexibility, be noted.  Options including a combination of future capital receipts, alternative grants (if available), prudential borrowing or the re-phasing of schemes will be considered during 2021/22, and included in future Capital Programme reports; and

(d)       That the schemes included in Table 6 for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing be approved.