Agenda item

The Council considered a report presented by the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, which outlined the Capital Strategy and Capital Budget proposals for the next four years, 2019/20 to 2022/23.

The Mayor stated that despite the Government’s Revenue Budgets cuts, it was vital that the Council continued to invest in Doncaster’s future for the benefit of its residents, and to stimulate economic growth and job creation.  She was therefore pleased to introduce the Capital Budget proposals which would see an estimated £323m of investment across the Borough over the period 2019/20 to 2022/23, which would continue to stimulate growth and prosperity, with £135m spend planned for 2019/20.  The investment would further improve education, housing, infrastructure, retail, leisure and culture, as well as attracting investors and visitors to the Borough.  In particular, residents would see significant progress on a number of important projects to revitalise the Borough’s Town Centres and drive forward the Borough’s economy.

Members were informed that with regard to Highways, an estimated £4.9m of Local Transport Plan Capital funded works would be programmed for highway, bridge and street lighting maintenance schemes in 2019/20.  In addition, it was anticipated that around 15,000 square metres of permanent patching repairs would be undertaken in 2019/20, in support of pothole repairs, pothole prevention measures and routine maintenance.

In respect of the Urban Centre Masterplan, this year residents and businesses would see significant progress on a number of schemes, including:-

• An improved gateway into the Town Centre at the Railway Station, making major improvements to the area for Railway Station users, and encouraging visitors and new investment to Doncaster; and

• Construction of the new Central Library, Museum and Art Gallery would continue and works would commence on the Doncaster University Technical College, furthering the development of the Civic and Cultural Quarter with both sites expected to be open in 2020.

The Mayor reported that in terms of Major Transport and Economic Development Schemes, the Council would continue its success in using major transport and economic development schemes to deliver new jobs, economic growth and housing which included:-

• £12.7m earmarked for the DN7 Unity Hatfield Link Road which was expected to deliver over 3,000 homes, 395,000m² of commercial floor space and a local centre, with new retail and educational facilities over a 30 year timeframe; and

• The £10.3m A630 Westmoor Link would unlock housing and employment sites by introducing new infrastructure improvements, including high capacity junctions and widening a narrow railway bridge.

The Mayor added that where the private sector had been unable to deliver on its own, the Council was stepping in to help bring new economic development schemes to fruition.  At Lakeside, the Council development of Herten Triangle would deliver new leisure facilities with a number of restaurant, cafe and drive through units, and, as well as creating jobs for local people, the project was expected to generate £500,000 per year in rent, and around £300,000 per year of new business rates, helping to offset the impact of Conservative Government cuts.

In relation to Housing, the Mayor highlighted that the Capital Programme was not limited to major economic development schemes. In 2019/20, 102 new Council owned affordable units would be delivered through the Council’s Affordable Housing building programme.  Further funding totalling £20.6m had been earmarked for new build developments, estimated to deliver in the region of 180 additional units.

Existing Council Housing stock would be improved, with £12.3m allocated in 2019/20 for improving and maintaining existing Council homes.  A further £0.5m would be spent on high-rise fire safety improvements, taking the total investment up to £5.8m into fire suppressant and sprinkler installations following the Grenfell Fire tragedy.  Furthermore, £1.8m would be invested in energy efficiency works on hard to treat properties, to help reduce fuel poverty and improve the lives of Council tenants.

The Mayor reported that with regard to children and young people, overall fifteen Schools were estimated to have a range of improvements works completed in 2019/20; £1.5m would also be invested through Doncaster Children’s Services Trust for the construction and acquisition of accommodation for care leavers, to help save money and cater for care leavers within the Borough.

The Mayor concluded by stating that she was sure that colleagues would agree that this was an excellent and exciting Capital Programme, which invested in the Borough for the benefit of residents, both now and in the future. The Council strived to access as many different pots of funding as possible to deliver a range of projects for the good of Doncaster and its residents.

Members of Council were then afforded the opportunity to comment on the report.

In accordance with Council Procedure Rule 21.4, a recorded vote was taken on the recommendations contained within the report, which was declared as follows:-

For - 43

The Chair of Council, Councillor Majid Khan, the Vice-Chair of Council, Councillor Linda Curran, the Mayor of Doncaster, Ros Jones, the Deputy Mayor, Councillor Glyn Jones, and Councillors Duncan Anderson, Lani-Mae Ball, Nigel Ball, Iris Beech, Joe Blackham, Rachael Blake, Nigel Cannings, Phil Cole, John Cooke, Mick Cooper, Susan Durant, Neil Gethin, John Gilliver, Pat Haith, John Healy, Rachel Hodson, Charlie Hogarth, Mark Houlbrook, David Hughes, Eva Hughes, Ken Keegan, Jane Kidd, Tosh McDonald, Chris McGuinness, Sue McGuinness, Bill Mordue, John Mounsey, David Nevett, Jane Nightingale, Ian Pearson, Tina Reid, Andrea Robinson, Kevin Rodgers, Dave Shaw, Derek Smith, Frank Tyas, Austen White, Sue Wilkinson and Paul Wray.

Against - 7

Councillors Nick Allen, Jane Cox, Steve Cox, Martin Greenhalgh, R. Allan Jones, Cynthia Ransome and Jonathan Wood.

Abstain - 0

On being put to the meeting, the recommendations contained within the report were declared CARRIED.

RESOLVED that

(1)      the Capital Strategy, as detailed at paragraphs 37 to 72 of the report, be approved;

(2)      flexible use of Capital Receipts Strategy, as detailed at paragraphs 32 to 36 of the report, be approved;

(3)      the Capital Programme Budget for 2019/20 to 2022/23, as detailed at Paragraphs 12 to 31 of the report, be approved; and

(4)      Directors, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, take responsibility for agreeing any significant changes to the Schools Condition Programme and the Local Transport Plan funding and that they be agreed in consultation with the relevant Portfolio Holder.