Agenda item

To consider a report by the Head of Finance (copy attached) to provide Members with an updated Capital Plan including an update on major projects and the Corporate Plan.

The Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets, Julian Thompson-Hill, introduced the report (previously circulated) to provide members with an updated Capital Plan including an update on major projects and the Corporate Plan.

The full Capital Plan had been last reported to Council in February 2018.  Monthly updates had been presented to Cabinet.  The Estimated Capital Plan was now £54.27m.  The Plan had been updated since being reported to Cabinet on 22 January 2019.

Councillor Thompson-Hill guided members through the report.

Both the Lead Member and the Head of Finance responded to questions regarding various aspect of the Capital Plan.  Main areas of discussion focused on the following:

·       The maintenance issue of the Pont y Ddraig Harbour Bridge, Rhyl was raised by Councillor Mabon ap Gwynfor and he sought assurances that this would not happen in the future.  Councillor Joan Butterfield confirmed a Board had been set up to deal with all aspects of the bridge for the future. 

The Chief Executive also confirmed that the bridge had been a unique project and SLT had commissioned a “lessons learnt” report to ensure the process would be utilised for all future projects.

·       Mutual investments model – what consideration had been given looking forward to the future?  It had been considered by the council as part of Band B discussion for 21^st Century Schools.  The decision had been taken not to become involved as the scheme had been similar to PFI.

·       It was confirmed that a project management system (VERTO) was in place which ensured everything was up to date.  There were also a number of Project Managers.  Revenue implications for Cabinet schemes were regularly assessed.

Following discussions, it was:

RESOLVED that:

(i)              Members note the latest position on the 2018/19 element of the Capital Plan and the update on major projects.

(ii)             Members support the recommendation of the Strategic Investment Group as detailed in Appendix 5 and summarised in Appendix 6

(iii)            Members approve the 2019/20 Capital Plan

(iv)           Members approve the Capital Strategy Report for 2019/20 as detailed in Appendix 7