Agenda item

To consider a report by Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill, Lead Member for Finance, Performance and Strategic Assets (copy enclosed) seeking Cabinet’s support of projects identified for inclusion in the 2020/21 Capital Plan.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for inclusion in the 2020/21 Capital Plan be supported and recommended to full Council, and

(b)       Cabinet requests that officers in the Highways Service carry out an assessment of damage caused to the network by the recent storms in order that the extent of further funding can be identified.

Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill presented the report seeking Cabinet’s support of projects identified for inclusion in the 2020/21 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 explained the funding available for block allocations for on-going programmes of work.  Reference was made to the work of the SIG in reviewing the bids for allocations and a summary of their recommendations had been provided and elaborated upon further at the meeting which included the recommended funding source for each project together with the reasoning for supporting those specific projects and allocations.

Cabinet considered the recommendations detailed within the report.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts referred to the recent adverse weather conditions and thanked staff for their hard work in that regard.  Given the storm damage to the highway infrastructure he queried whether there was a need to revisit the investment in that area to take account of remedial work required and ensure highway works were financed appropriately and due diligence observed.  The Leader advised that the First Minister had called an emergency flood summit with local authorities (to be attended by Lead Member Councillor Brian Jones) and other agencies and it was expected that funding would be forthcoming to help deal with the aftermath.  Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill also provided assurances that emergency remedial works would be funded as appropriate and explained the funding streams available, including the severe weather reserve, but confirmed there was likely to be a national grant scheme which could be accessed if a particular threshold was met.  With regard to SIG’s recommended allocation for highways, £1.750m had been allocated for capital expenditure to be prioritised as appropriate by the Highways Service and there may also be further opportunities to submit bids for remedial works pending the allocation of additional funding in year.  Officers added that following the clean-up operations an assessment of the damage would be carried out – whilst it was recognised that damage would have been caused to the highway infrastructure it was too early to confirm the extent of the damage and adjust the capital allocations in that regard.  Councillor Brian Jones advised that an assessment of the damage would be undertaken as soon as possible and work was ongoing in terms of planning and focusing resources.  In light of the recent storm damage to the highway infrastructure and subsequent funding pressures to be met it was agreed to include in the resolution reference to the assessment of damage and identification of savings required.

Councillor Bobby Feeley referred to the Queens Market Development and queried the confirmation of external funding.  It was explained that the buildings had been purchased with the assistance of Welsh Government (£2.5m) and European (£2.5m) funding.  Whilst the Welsh Government funding had been received, the European funding had been confirmed subject to the Council achieving key stages of development and timescales had been set for that purpose.  A detailed report on the development would be submitted to a future Cabinet meeting.

Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts welcomed the additional funding recommended for school capital maintenance which was an increase on the previous year.

Lead Members responded to issues raised by non-Cabinet members as follows –

·         Councillor Martyn Holland was pleased to note the funding allocated for bridge repairs given their importance, particularly for rural communities, and asked that the issue be raised in the forthcoming meeting with Welsh Government.  In response to his concerns regarding potholes, Councillor Brian Jones advised that work was ongoing to find a more permanent solution and in addition to the forthcoming annual visits to Member Area Groups to discuss road maintenance, a members’ workshop was also being arranged on highway matters

·         Councillor Huw Hilditch-Roberts advised Ysgol Llanfair DC (new school) would open shortly and would be able to accept more pupils – it was not full to capacity

·         Councillor Julian Thompson-Hill explained the terms of prudential borrowing referred to in the report advising that £100k for highways had been set aside as part of the 2020/21 Corporate Plan allocation which would allow £1.750m of capital expenditure, and the programme of replacement of LED lanterns would involve taking out a Salix loan for up to £200k over six years which would be self-funding with savings from the energy costs accrued over the term.

RESOLVED that –

(a)       the projects detailed in Appendix 1 to the report for inclusion in the 2020/21 Capital Plan be supported and recommended to full Council, and

(b)       Cabinet requests that officers in the Highways Service carry out an assessment of damage caused to the network by the recent storms in order that the extent of further funding can be identified.