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 2021/22-2023/24;

(b)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 4 (paragraph 1.27) for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2021/22-2023/24;

(c)       That the Committee notes that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2021/22 in Table 5 (paragraph 1.36) 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 2021/22, and included in future Capital Programme reports;

(d)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 6 (paragraph 1.40) for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing; and

(e)       That the Committee had no comments for Cabinet to consider before the Capital Programme 2021/22-2023/24 report is considered by Council.

The Chief Officer (Housing and Assets) presented a report on the proposed Capital Programme 2021/22 - 2023/24 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.  As reported in the previous item, there was an estimated overall funding surplus of £0.403m, with a surplus of £0.617m for 2020/21.

A detailed presentation covered the following:

·         Structure - Council Fund Capital Programme

·         Current Programme 2020/21-2022/23

·         Projected Funding 2021/22 - 2023/24

·         Proposed Allocations - Statutory/Regulatory, Retained Assets and Investment

·         Summary generally funded Programme

·         Specially funded schemes

·         Summary Capital Programme

·         Potential future schemes

·         Next steps

In response to a question from the Chair, the Chief Officer agreed to provide separate information on the development of a solution for Hawarden cemeteries.

Councillor Dunbobbin commended the range of projects that linked with the Council’s priorities.  In response to other questions, the Chief Officer would provide a separate response on whether the adaptations to foster carers’ homes also applied to kinship carers.  On support for looked after children, he spoke about various initiatives aimed at helping to keep families together.

Councillor Peers asked whether the allocation for the Standard Yard waste transfer station took account of concerns about the local road network.  Officers explained that preliminary work was being undertaken on options to reconfigure the road network.  Information was also shared on programmes for replacement laptops and refurbishing toilets at school buildings.

Councillor Thomas provided an update on funding for the Standard Yard waste transfer station.  On the Highway Asset Management Plan, she raised concerns about the ending of the funding programme from Welsh Government (WG) and would seek an increase in next year’s budget to continue investing in the County’s road infrastructure whilst continuing to make representations to WG.  She went on to praise the approach taken by the Chief Officer and his team to maximise capital receipts and grant funding to support the Capital Programme.

In praising the report, Councillor Heesom commended the Cabinet Member and Chief Officer for their work.

Councillor Banks paid tribute to the Chief Officer and his team for their work on tackling homelessness.

The recommendations were moved and seconded by Councillors Heesom and Collett.

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 2021/22-2023/24;

(b)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 4 (paragraph 1.27) for the Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2021/22-2023/24;

(c)       That the Committee notes that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2021/22 in Table 5 (paragraph 1.36) 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 2021/22, and included in future Capital Programme reports;

(d)       That the Committee supports the schemes included in Table 6 (paragraph 1.40) for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing; and

(e)       That the Committee had no comments for Cabinet to consider before the Capital Programme 2021/22-2023/24 report is considered by Council.