Decision details

Draft Investment Programme 2019-20 to 2023-24 EXE19-025

Decision Maker: Executive

Decision status: Recommendations Approved

Is Key decision?: Yes

Is subject to call in?: Yes

Purpose:

To receive the draft Investment Programme.

Decisions:

The Executive received a report which set out the draft Investment Programme 2019-20 to 2023-24.  Members discussed Sheerwater Regeneration and the Leader of the Council advised that an additional Member briefing on Sheerwater would be required in order to discuss funding for the next stages of the project.  It was noted that the Council had previously approved, in April 2018, a loan facility for the leisure and recreational facilities at the Bishop David Brown School, and had approved, in April 2019, a loan facility to enable the first residential phase (Purple).  The Leader commented that Officers would look to speed up the process of project delivery in order to reduce interest costs.  The Leader stated that the Sheerwater project was not delayed and was running to its timetable, having started a year later than had been intended.

It was reported that information was still awaited from Homes England regarding the Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF).

Following a question regarding the increase in the cost to carry out the improvements to the changing rooms at the Pool in the Park, it was confirmed that the loan to Freedom Leisure remained at £705k and that the additional £220k to complete the upgrade would be funded through the Council’s Asset Management Plan budget.

Regarding the Local Development Framework (LDF) project, the Deputy Chief Executive confirmed that the General Election would not have an effect on the Examination of the Site Allocations DPD.  Following a question, the Deputy Chief Executive gave a brief summary of how the Examination in Public had been advertised and undertook to circulate information to Members on the extensive work undertaken by the Planning Policy Team to engage with the public.

RESOLVEd

That  (i)    the draft Investment Programme for 2019/20 to 2023/24 be received;

          (ii)   Managers, Corporate Management Group and Portfolio Holders be asked to review the Programme for cost improvements including reviewing the projects, their costs and timing to achieve savings with the minimum impact on citizen outcomes;

          (iii)  £1.5m of the 2020/21 opportunity purchases budget be brought forward into 2019/20; and

          (iv)  an Investment Programme budget of £100,000 be approved for 2020/21 to allow the continuation of the agreement for Sheerwater Football Club to ground share with Woking Football Club.

Reason:   To agree the draft Investment Programme for consultation before submission for final approval to the Council in February 2020.

Reason Key: It is likely to result in the Council incurring significant expenditure or savings.;

Wards Affected: (All Wards);

Recommend to Council?: No;

Consultees

Cllr Azad, Portfolio Holder, and Business Managers.

Contact: Neil Haskell, Business Support Manager Email: neil.haskell@woking.gov.uk, Julie Rowling, Business Support Manager Email: julie.rowling@woking.gov.uk.

Report author: Neil Haskell

Publication date: 10/12/2019

Date of decision: 21/11/2019

Decided at meeting: 21/11/2019 - Executive

Effective from: 30/11/2019

Accompanying Documents: