Agenda item

(a)       That the Committee supports the allocations and schemes in Table 3 (paragraph 1.09) for the Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23;

(b)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 4 (paragraph 1.26) for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23;

(c)       That the Committee notes that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2020/21 and 2021/22 in Table 5 (paragraph 1.36) at this point in the approval process is flexible.  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;

(d)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 6 (paragraph 1.42) for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing;

(e)       That the Committee confirms that there are no concerns to be reported to Cabinet to consider before the Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23 report is considered by Council; and

(f)        That a workshop on capital financing be organised for the early part of 2020.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) presented a report on the proposed Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23 which set out investment in assets for the long term to enable the delivery of high quality and value for money public services split between the three sections: Statutory/Regulatory, Retained Assets and Investment.

A presentation was received covering the following:

·         Structure - Council Fund Capital Programme

·         Current Programme 2019/20 - 2021/22

·         Projected Funding 2020/21 - 2022/23

·         Statutory/Regulations - Proposed Allocations

·         Retained Assets - Proposed Allocations

·         Investment - Proposed Allocations

·         Summary Generally Funded Programme

·         Specifically Funded Schemes

·         Summary Capital Programme

·         Potential Future Schemes

·         Next Steps

At Month 6 there was an estimated funding shortfall of £1.502m for 2019/20 with an overall funding shortfall of £0.723m for the three year period.  This deficit would be reduced in the event of successful bids for grant funding on which confirmation was awaited.  The proposed allocations under the Retained Assets section included an increased amount for ‘headroom’ to allow greater flexibility to respond to unforeseen circumstances.

In thanking officers for the report, Councillor Heesom suggested a separate workshop to look at the information in more detail.  He raised concerns about the lack of information on expenditure and economic development in western areas of the County, in particular to address traffic corridor issues to Mostyn Docks.

The suggestion for a workshop was supported by Councillor Roberts who referred to ongoing work to assess the condition of school buildings and the request to Welsh Government (WG) for a capital scheme to refurbish schools outside the scope of the main improvement programmes.

On investment across Flintshire, Councillor Johnson welcomed the improvements made in the Holywell area and asked that local Members be kept updated on progress on the proposed scheme at Llys Gwenffrwd.

Following a question by Councillor Bateman, Councillor Roberts advised that the Council was awaiting the outcome of a grant bid to the National Heritage Lottery Fund to develop a new joint archive facility recently reported to Cabinet and the Education & Youth Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

Councillor Banks said that there were a number of positives within the report and he paid tribute to the work of teams responsible for submitting bids for grant funding.

The Chief Executive drew attention to reference in the report to the maintenance of facilities under Aura Leisure & Libraries where work on assessing capital investment needs was incomplete.  In response to Councillor Heesom’s suggestion, he said that a Member workshop on capital financing would be arranged in the New Year.  Councillor Heesom asked that this take note of his point on economic development.

The recommendations in the report, which were amended to reflect the debate, were moved by Councillor Cunningham and seconded by Councillor Johnson.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the Committee supports the allocations and schemes in Table 3 (paragraph 1.09) for the Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23;

(b)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 4 (paragraph 1.26) for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23;

(c)       That the Committee notes that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2020/21 and 2021/22 in Table 5 (paragraph 1.36) at this point in the approval process is flexible.  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;

(d)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 6 (paragraph 1.42) for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing;

(e)       That the Committee confirms that there are no concerns to be reported to Cabinet to consider before the Capital Programme 2020/21 - 2022/23 report is considered by Council; and

(f)        That a workshop on capital financing be organised for the early part of 2020.