Agenda item

(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, 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 2020/21, and included in future Capital Programme reports.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) introduced the Capital Programme 2020/21 – 2022/23 report which 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, such as works to improve and adapt private sector homes.  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 resources from Welsh Government (WG) to support Council priorities, needs and liabilities.  However, it had the powers to fund Capital schemes by borrowing; this 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 and business continuity; and

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

The Chief Officer provided details of each of the tables within the report which were supported by explanations on each table.

In response to a question from Councillor David Healey, the Chief Officer (Education and Youth) confirmed that the works on Castell Alun High School was for a three storey extension, not two as outlined in the report.

Councillor Roberts moved the recommendations of the report, citing all of the exciting opportunities outlined in the Capital Programme.  He said it demonstrated that the Council was being ambitious and showed what the aims of the Council were.  He commented in particular on the successful Hwb Cyfle adult day centre project which had recently opened in Queensferry, the investment in Marleyfield Residential Home in Buckley and the proposals for many schools in the county.

Councillor Banks seconded the recommendations of the report which he welcomed, particularly the smaller schemes of scheduled resurfacing of the all-weather pitch at Elfed High School, and the Flintshire Food Enterprise initiative.

Councillor Peers also welcomed the report which saw schemes across the county.  He commented on the Council’s limited capital resources and felt this needed to be brought to the attention of WG.  On school building works, he asked if the £1.5M budget for the toilets in schools was part of a 15 year programme as the report stated £100K per annum.  On improvements to the Standard Yard Waste Transfer Station, he hoped some money could be saved on this scheme as it had been determined that the new road initially identified was not actually needed. 

On the joint archive facility, he asked if ownership was on a 50:50 basis with Denbighshire as the funding was not equal.  On the County Hall campus, he asked for details on what was the huge potential for the site as outlined in the report, as there were no details in the capital receipts section of the report.

The Chief Executive said the need for increased Capital was regularly discussed with WG.  On school toilets, a challenging discussion would be needed on how the schools backlog could be dealt with. On the joint archive facility – the development would be on Flintshire’s land and funding arrangements would be proportionate to the size of the Councils, their budgets and the local population.  Capital receipts would not show yet for County Hall as a longer term masterplan had not yet been agreed.

The Chief Officer explained that design work was still ongoing on the improvements to the Standard Yard Waste Transfer Station and any savings achieved would go back into the Capital Programme to be utilised for other schemes.  On toilets, some schemes would be addressed through the Councils school modernisation programme or incorporated within other refurbishment programmes. 

Councillor Richard Jones welcomed the works on Castell Alyn and Marleyfield Residential Home.  On schools, he asked if the schemes in the Strategy were part of a wider strategy to remove mobile classrooms. 

On the prudential borrowing for the Growth Deal, he asked what the cost of that borrowing would be, and felt this was something that could be brought to a future meeting of Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  The Chief Executive advised that on the Growth Deal there was unlikely to be any prudential borrowing until future years and the detail would be discussed fully at a later date.

In response to a question from Councillor Jones on the cost of prudential borrowing, the Finance Manager explained that full details were provided in the Resource Implications of the report.

Councillor Palmer welcomed the report and commented on the impact that capital schemes had on communities, such as the re-opening of Holywell high Street which had been a positive impact.

Councillor Rush thanked the Council for the investment in the Glan Aber School in Bagillt which would be of great benefit to all.

Councillor McGuill asked who was leading on the Flintshire Food Enterprise and where were the hub locations.  The Chief Officer explained that the scheme was in conjunction with Flintshire County Council, Clwyd Alyn Housing and Can Cook and the hubs were located across Flintshire, with some being in Clwyd Alyn Care Homes.  He was the Officer leading the scheme for Flintshire.

In response to a question from Councillor Carver on the energy output at the former landfill sites in Buckley, the Chief Officer (Planning, Environment and Economy) said he would provide Members with the details.

Councillor Dunbar thanked officers and the Cabinet Member for Streetscene and Transportation for the speedy remedy to the car park problem at Wepre Park.  Councillor Dunbobbin expressed his thanks for the modernisation works that had taken place at Connah’s Quay High School.

Councillor Ellis asked for clarification on the following wording in relation to Theatr Clwyd ‘there may be a need to consider low and sustainable levels of long term borrowing to ensure the scheme is delivered but options will need to be outlined for revenue when Welsh Government confirm their level of support’.  The Chief Executive explained that this was a project currently estimated at £35M; £25M had been formally requested from WG, and £5M from the Arts Council for Wales.  That left an amount remaining of approximately £5M.  There were substantial amounts of charitable donations that were available which would help to minimise the cost to the Council.

On being put to the vote the recommendations were carried.

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, 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 2020/21, and included in future Capital Programme reports.