Agenda item

The Executive Board considered a report which brought together the latest proposals for the Five-Year Capital Programme (Council Fund) 2020/221 to 2024/2025, taking into account the consultation exercise undertaken and the revenue implications arising from the capital programme.

The Board noted that the capital programme proposed gross expenditure for 2020/21 of £106.393m, with projected funding of £57.563m from the County Council through the use of borrowing, capital receipts, reserves and general capital grant and the balance of £48.830m coming from external sources.

The Board was advised that the capital programme was projected to be fully funded over the five year period from 2020/21 through to 2024/2025.

The Executive Board noted that the programme included projected expenditure on the Swansea Bay City Region Deal projects against which the authority would borrow, with the funding being returned from both Welsh and UK Governments over a 15 year period (from 2018/19).

The Executive Board Member for Resources informed the Board that the proposed capital programme anticipated an estimated spend of nearly £255m over the five years and that the programme optimised the funding opportunities and maximised the funding available from external sources.

The Executive Board was advised that Welsh Government had not provided any forward indicators in respect of general capital funding beyond 2020/21 and that due to this the programme was based on future years supported borrowing and general grant being of the same levels as 2020/21.

The Executive Board Member for Resources confirmed that investment had been made in 21^st Century Schools Programme, Highways, Regeneration and Housing.  Within Community Services, the capital programme made investment in leisure and cultural services including £1.9m into Oriel Myrddin, £650k into Carmarthen Leisure Centre and the continued support for private sector housing in 2024/25 for Disabled Facilities Grants.

The Executive Board was advised that there would be continued support for highways improvements, bridge maintenance and road safety schemes into 2024/25. Funding on highway maintenance would be bolstered in 2020/21 through the Road Refurbishment Grant provided by Welsh Government.

The Executive Board Member for Resources advised that it had been possible to make additional commitments across the Council’s estates with £2.5m provision for essential work to County Hall, £500k for works at Ty Elwyn and £3.9m towards the continued maintenance across the estate in 2020/24. New monies would be provided for Zero Carbon initiatives across the estate.

Additionally, £2.7m of additional funding from Welsh Government would be utilised for the maintenance of school buildings.  £4m was included for the redevelopment of Llandeilo Market Hall and £850k for the continued investment in Glanamman Industrial Estate.  £500k had also been allocated towards the actions required following the Climate Emergency that was declared in 2019/20.

The Executive Board Member for Resources asked the Executive Board to note the comprehensive details set out in Appendix B of the report, together with the reserve list of priorities.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED TO RECOMMEND TO COUNCIL THAT