To recommend the proposed capital programme for 2016/17 – 2019/20 to Council on 18 December 2015.

The Leader, having cabinet responsibility for corporate strategy and finance, highlighted the importance of economic growth of the county.

The chairman of the general overview and scrutiny committee commented on the need to invest in schools, noting that some schools did not have the money to invest themselves and expand educational input.  He also asked what the council planned with regard to the use of photo-voltaic (PV) panels on more of the council’s buildings. 

The Leader confirmed that the council would be better informed on its financial position later in the month once more detail on the settlement had come from central government.  The director, economy, communities and corporate confirmed commitment to the spending allocation within the current programme.

Referring to schools capital, the group leader of the Liberal Democrats commented on the risk of retaining financial responsibility for schools that were not under the management of the council.

In response the cabinet member for young people and children’s wellbeing acknowledged the need to invest in schools and have a high quality environment for children to learn in, hence the strategy to look at assets. He welcomed input from scrutiny on this matter.

The group leader for the Greens commented on scrutiny input to invest to save programme, and welcomed an opportunity to have more information on this.  The leader commented on the value of monitoring progress and on this strategy as a way to resolve financial constraints.

In response to question from the group leader on further briefings for invest to save programmes, the director of resources explained that further information would be presented to cabinet and possibly thereafter to scrutiny. Responding to the chair of the general overview and scrutiny committee the cabinet member for economy and corporate services added that those capital programmes detailed as invest to save would be included in a briefing note to confirm savings would be delivered. 

The cabinet member for infrastructure commented on experience in his own ward of a school which was at 130% capacity, adding that the situation was in urgent need of addressing as there were also issues there connected with asbestos. 

Also commenting on the use of PV cells at the cattle market, he explained that the market was interested in having them installed. However it was found that fluctuations in demand for power at certain times in the market’s operations could not be supported by the cells and so the proposal was not taken forward.  He added that the complexities of the site meant that it was not suitable for income generation.

Referring to asset valuations, the group leader, It’s Our County, commented on a request that was made by external auditors Grant Thornton for assets to be revalued through the audit and governance committee and asked whether valuations would liquidate £60m in three years. He commented on the relationship between the capital programme and the medium term financial strategy and the sum of assets compared with borrowing requirements. In response the director, economy, communities and corporate confirmed that the majority of valuations held up well in the market and were meeting targets in the medium term financial strategy.  The director of resources drew attention to the difference between the market value and the asset value and that auditors would focus on asset value. Further information on formal market values could be presented at a future cabinet meeting.

RESOLVED

That the schemes detailed in Appendix 2 are recommended to Council for inclusion in the capital programme.