Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director of Projects and Development attached.

RESOLVED (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet approved the proposed list of capital projects to be delivered during the financial year 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A of the report and as identified in the approved Capital programme.

2.    Cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development in consultation with the relevant portfolio holder to spend the agreed budget on the approved Capital projects identified in this report.

The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member (Health, Wellbeing and Leisure), Councillor Mick Titherington, presented a report of the Assistant Director of Projects and Development that proposed a set of capital projects to be delivered or started during 2019/20.

The capital projects put forward related to themes and programmes identified and adopted as part of the Council’s Corporate Plan 2018/2023, notably under the umbrella of Health and Wellbeing and improving the Environment and all related to the findings and feedback gained through an extensive borough wide consultation and covered a number of areas that included:

·         Green Links Schemes

·         Environmental projects

·         Parks projects including parks buildings

·         Play Area projects

·         Leisure projects

The report set out the scope of each project, the timescale on which it would be delivered and how it would be funded. A list of all projects was appended to the report.

The Leader commented that projects had slipped in the past and asked the Interim Chief Executive to review the Council’s capacity to deliver as this was extremely important in managing expectations.

Cabinet Member (Finance, Property and Assets), Councillor Matthew Tomlinson stated that it was the Cabinet’s ambition to plant one tree for every resident in the Borough, that would result in the planting of over 110,000 trees. This was an ambitious programme and the Council would be working with the Ribble River Trust to achieve this.

In connection to this project, a concern was raised about the Tarn Wood project in Penwortham. This was an area that gets heavily flooded and trees needed to be removed as opposed to being planted. The Leader explained that additional trees would be planted in more suitable areas to offset any trees that needed removing.

It was proposed by Councillor Mick Titherington, seconded by Councillor Paul Foster, and

Decision made (Unanimously):

1.    Cabinet approved the proposed list of capital projects to be delivered during the financial year 2019/20 as set out in Appendix A of the report and as identified in the approved Capital programme.

2.    Cabinet granted delegated authority to the Director of Neighbourhoods and Development in consultation with the relevant portfolio holder to spend the agreed budget on the approved Capital projects identified in this report.

Reason(s) for decision:

Council approved the current Corporate Plan for 2018/2023 in February 2019. The Plan identifies a series of key programmes under a number of headings including Health and Wellbeing. In addition the new Cabinet are keen to take forward projects that not only promote Health and Wellbing but also improves the environment across the Borough.

The report will also requested financial delegated powers for officers in partnership with relevant portfolio holders to spend money highlighted in the Capital Programme so that an ambitious programme of projects can be delivered in line with the timetable identified.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

The report defines the priorities for spending on capital projects in 2019/20. An alternative option of do nothing could be adopted but this would go against the ambitions of the new Administration  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10