Issue - meetings

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) introduced the Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2022/23 report for recommendation to Council.

            The 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, such as schools and care homes, infrastructure, such as highways, IT networks and waste transfer stations, and assets not owned by the Council.  The proposed capital investments outlined within the report were closely aligned to portfolio service business plans and the Council Plan.

            The Council had limited capital allocations from Welsh Government (WG) and other sources to support Council priorities, needs and liabilities.  However, it had the powers to fund Capital schemes by borrowing which was temporary and ultimately the cost and repayment of any borrowing was charged to the Council’s revenue budget.  Schemes funded by borrowing were carefully considered due to the long-term impacts on the Council’s revenue budget.

            The report divided the Council Fund Capital Programme into three sections:-

1.    Statutory/Regulatory – allocations to cover regulatory and statutory works;

2.    Retained Assets – allocations to fund infrastructure works necessary to ensure service delivery and business continuity; and

3.    Investment – allocations to fund works necessary to remodel services to deliver efficiencies outlined in Portfolio business plans and invest in services as outlined in the Council Plan.

The report also provided details of potential future schemes, noting that all capital schemes needed to be considered in the context of the position of the Council’s Medium Term Financial Strategy. 

Members thanked the officers involved for the work undertaken on the Capital Programme.  The aspirations and visionary schemes were welcomed despite the continuing austerity being faced by the Council.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the allocations and schemes in Table 3 for the Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2022/23 be approved;

(b)       That the schemes included in Table 4 for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2022/23 be approved;

(c)        That the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2020/21 and 2021/22 in Table 5 at this point in the approval process allows flexibility.  Options including a combination of future capital receipts, alternative grants (if available), prudential borrowing or the re-phasing of schemes will be considered during 2020/21, 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.