Issue - meetings

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Corporate Plan and Performance (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s support of projects identified for inclusion in the 2016/17 Capital Plan.

RESOLVED that the projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for inclusion in the 2016/17 Capital Plan be supported and recommended to full Council.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report seeking Cabinet’s support of projects identified for inclusion in the 2016/17 Capital Plan as recommended by the Strategic Investment Group (SIG) and detailed in Appendix 1 to the report.

Councillor Thompson-Hill guided members through the report and elaborated upon funding available for capital investment to one-off projects and block allocations for on-going programmes of work.  Reference was made to the work of the SIG in reviewing bids for allocations and a summary of the recommendations had been provided.  Due to insufficient capital funding being available to cover all projects a number of provisional allocations had been made subject to disposal of assets.

In response to questions Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill –

·         explained the process of prudential borrowing advising that the council needed to increasingly rely on its own resources to invest due to the continuing reduction in the real value of Welsh Government capital settlements

·         confirmed that both the school and non-school capital maintenance bids included provision for essential maintenance such as asbestos removal. Councillor Eryl Williams elaborated upon the Council’s leading position in terms of accessing 21st Century Schools funding to invest in school buildings and facilities as part of the schools modernising agenda

·         bids for Highway works included improvements to roads and bridges, street lighting and road safety and allocations were prioritised on the basis of need – Councillor David Smith advised that spend on individual schemes was discussed by Member Area Groups and it was suggested that any questions/concerns in that regard be addressed at that forum or raised directly with the Highway Service.

RESOLVED that the projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for inclusion in the 2016/17 Capital Plan be supported and recommended to full Council.