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 2022/23 – 2024/25 be approved;

(b)       That the schemes included in Table 4 for Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25 be approved;

(c)        That it be noted that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 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 2022/23, and included in future Capital Programme reports; and

(d)       That the schemes included in Table 6 be approved for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing.

The Corporate Finance Manager and Principal Accountant introduced the report which presented the proposed Capital Programme for the period 2022/23 – 2024/25 for approval, supported by a PowerPoint presentation.

The Council’s 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, care homes and day centres), 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 Council Fund Capital Programme was divided 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.

3.    Investment – allocations to fund works necessary to ensure service and business continuity.

Details of each of the tables within the report were provided, which were part of the presentation, and supported by explanations in the report on each table.

Information was also provided on potential future schemes, which were also detailed in the report.

The report had been submitted to Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The recommendations in the report were moved by Councillor Ian Roberts and seconded by Councillor Paul Johnson.

Councillor Roberts welcomed the report and said it was a pleasure to recommend the proposed capital programme for approval, saying it was a collective capital programme for the whole Council.  The programme was ambitious and demonstrated that as a Council, there was commitment to caring for the vulnerable.  He welcomed the schemes outlined for schools, along with the replacement of Ysgol Croes Atti which would be the first brand new Welsh Medium Primary School in Flintshire to be built as a carbon neutral structure.  He commented on the commitment to Theatr Clwyd and the new archive project, and welcomed the spend on Standard Yard Waste Transfer Station which would ensure that the Council could achieve the 70% target set by WG for recycling.  He sought support from Members across the chamber for the extensive range of commitments planned for the whole of the county.

Councillor Peers also welcomed the report which showed commitment to the whole of the county.  On school building works, he asked how the backlog of toilet upgrades was being addressed, and whether Estyn was satisfied with the position.  The Chief Executive explained that alongside the programme of toilet upgrades, modernisations were also carried out under refurbishment programmes, as well as schools contributing towards upgrades from their own budgets.  The backlog of works was often reflected as a Health and Safety issue in Estyn inspections of schools.

On the joint archive facility, Councillor Peers asked if the current archive building in Hawarden would be sold as a capital receipt.  The Chief Executive explained that a number of studies were underway to investigate if the current building could be repurposed in the future.  He added that if any buildings were sold, the capital receipt would go into the corporate pot for the wider capital programme.

Councillor Peers asked, in relation to Review of Industrial Estates, if business rates were still being paid on a building that had previously been available for lease, but had since become unfit for use.  The Chief Executive explained that, where possible, unfit buildings would be repurposed however there was a need to understand the market and then adopt the most appropriate strategy.  Where appropriate, unfit buildings would be demolished if they could not be repurposed.

Councillor Richard Jones thanked the Chief Executive and finance colleagues for the movement of £1.2m from retained assets into the statutory / regulatory section, which had been requested at Corporate Resources Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

In response to a question from Councillor Sharps on the County Hall campus in Mold, the Chief Executive explained that master planning had commenced but was not yet complete.  When that work was complete, information would be shared with all Members.

In summing up, Councillor Roberts confirmed that there would be full discussion with all Members on the County Hall campus.  He thanked WG for the amount of financial resources they had placed directly into school budgets, specifically for school improvements, for which he was grateful.  On the current archive facility in Hawarden, he explained that discussions had taken place with the local Member and plans were to redevelop and enhance the current building.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the allocations and schemes in Table 3 for the Statutory/Regulatory and Retained Assets sections of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25 be approved;

(b)       That the schemes included in Table 4 for Investment section of the Council Fund Capital Programme 2022/23 – 2024/25 be approved;

(c)        That it be noted that the shortfall in funding of schemes in 2022/23, 2023/24 and 2024/25 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 2022/23, and included in future Capital Programme reports; and

(d)       That the schemes included in Table 6 be approved for the specifically funded section of the Council Fund Capital Programme which will be funded in part through borrowing.