To agree the property services 2021/22 estates capital works programme.  The proposed programme of works as set out in appendix A, incorporates a series of planned project works that enables the council to deliver on its obligations to maintain buildings fit for purpose utilising the agreed £1.39m capital budget which was approved at council budget meeting of 15 February 2019

That:

(a)       the 2021/22 estate capital programme as set out in appendix A be approved at a total cost of not more than £990k;

(b)       the assistant director for technical services be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the above recommendation and spend within the approved overall budget of £990k for the projects as listed in appendix A, provided that the sum of individual project expenditure do not exceed the overall budget;

(c)       the assistant director for technical services be authorised to take all operational decisions necessary to implement the expenditure of the Property Estates Enhancement Works-Emergency budget on emergency works as they arise.

1.         If there is no investment in the council’s property portfolio through expenditure on a programme of capital improvement work, property assets will both degrade and depreciate which will have a negative bearing on the condition of the estate and fail to protect the value of the council’s property assets.

2.         A lack of investment in capital work to the council’s estate assets would ultimately lead to their deterioration which will eventually make the assets no longer fit for their intended purpose. In turn this will have an impact on any services located in such properties, to the extent that they may have to be closed and service delivery would be severely impacted.

3.         Absence of capital investment through improvement works to buildings that are leased by the council would render those properties unlettable because they are either non-compliant or are not fit for occupation which will result in a subsequent loss of revenue to the council and potential breach of statutory and legal obligations.

4.         Deferring capital investment will merely lead to further deterioration of estate assets which in turn is likely to mean that investment costs will increase over time in line with inflation i.e. building and labour costs. The required improvement works have been assessed and prioritised based upon select criteria which covers health & safely, operational need/impact and lifecycle/value. Investment is therefore targeted and spent on the assets requiring work rather than other property assets that are considered less eligible.