Issue - meetings

The Executive Board considered a report which provided an initial view of the 5 year capital programme from 2019/20 to 2023/24, which would form the basis of the budget consultation process with members and other relevant parties.  It was noted that feedback from the consultation process, along with the outcome of the final settlement, would inform the final budget report which would be presented to the Council for consideration in February, 2019.

The Executive Board Member for Resources stated that the report followed the approval of the capital programme in February 2018 and the proposals contained therein had developed the programme for an additional year and proposed amendments where necessary for changes in service demands and funding.

The main areas of change were outlined within Section 5 of the report which included, continued investment in 2023/24 in the Disabled Facilities Grant, Highways and Bridge Maintenance, Road Safety, capital maintenance (buildings), transformation strategy projects and school Band B schemes. Additionally, the Highways Division had secured funding for two years, via a Road Refurbishment Grant for 2019/20 and 2020/21.

The Modernising Education Programme had also changed for years 2019/20 to 2023/24 with the re-profiling of budgets and the introduction of some new schemes including Kidwelly, Hendy, Llandeilo and both Welsh Medium and Dual Stream schools in Ammanford. That was due to the Welsh Government having recently announced their approval for the Band B programme running to 2024 with the significant change in the intervention rate from 50% to 65% for schools generally and from 50% to 75% for special schools. That had provided the authority with scope to deliver more schools within the £129.5m Band B programme of which it funded £70m,

It was noted that also included were the City Deal Schemes for the Wellness Village and Yr Egin. The Llanelli Leisure Centre and the Llanelli area review had also been identified as key components of the Wellness Village.

The Executive Board Member confirmed the programme included borrowing, both supported and unsupported, capital receipts, capital grants and capital contributions. If adopted, it proposed a fully funded spend of some £260m over the next five years, inclusive of £128 of external funding.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that the provisional capital programme be noted and endorsed for consultation purposes.