Agenda item

As detailed in the recommendations.

The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) introduced the developing Capital Programme for the period 2017/18 – 2019/20.  The report built on the Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan adopted in February 2016 and information contained within the report referred to Council Fund schemes only.

            The council funded programme primarily supported infrastructure assets and buildings (e.g. highways and schools) and investment in the new or readopted service models (e.g. leisure and social care).  The proposed capital investments were aligned to the portfolio service business plans and the Improvement Plan.  The proposal allocations for 2017/18 – 2019/20 were shown at Table 2 of the report and within the table reference was made to £0.100m being allocated to introduce a programme of toilet upgrades in both primary and secondary schools and an annual allocation to fund the most urgent requirements to play areas and synthetic sports pitches.

            Table 3 contained within the report detailed proposed investment schemes for 2017/18 – 2019/20.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) provided detailed information on each of the proposed investment schemes, as outlined within the report including a summary of the generally funded capital programme and estimated available specific funding for 2017/18 – 2019/20 as shown at Table 4 and 5 within the report.

            In response to a question from Councillor Butler, the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) explained that details of many capital grants have not been released by the Welsh Government (WG).  As they become available they would be reported to Cabinet via the quarterly 2017/18 Capital Programme monitoring reports.

            Councillor Attridge welcomed the proposed investment at Glan Aber Primary School, Bagillt and Castell Alun High School as detailed within the report.  He commented on the use of capital receipts and sought assurance that schemes would only be proposed once capital receipts had been received.  The Chief Officer (Organisational Change) gave an assurance that only capital receipts that have been received to date were included in the total funding available, shown in Table 1 of the report.

            In response to a further question from Councillor Attridge around prudential borrowing, the Chief Officer (Organisational Change) explained that it was anticipated that there would be no need for prudential borrowing given the potential for significant capital receipts to be generated during the remainder of 2016/17. 

            Councillor Christine Jones welcomed the proposal to replace the learning disability day care facility at Glanrafon.

            The Chief Executive advised that the proposed Capital Programme for 2017/18 – 2019/20 saw an investment in service models to ensure sustainable services during times of financial pressures.    

            Councillor Shotton thanked officers for the report and explained that the proposed Capital Programme would be referred to the all Member Corporate Resources Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting scheduled for 20^th January, 2017 for comment prior to being discussed at Cabinet and County Council on 14^th February, 2017.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the allocations and schemes in Table 2 (paragraph 1.07) for Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2017/18 - 2019/20 be approved;

(b)       That the schemes included in Table 3 (paragraph 1.20) for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2017/18 - 2019/20 be approved;

(c)        That it be noted that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2018/19 and 2019/20 (paragraph 1.30) at this point in the approval process is flexible. Options including a combination of future capital receipts, alternative grants, prudential borrowing or phasing schemes over several years will be considered during 2017/18, and included in future capital programme reports; and

(d)       That the development of a more longer term Capital Strategy and Asset Management Plan be noted.