The Director of Finance introduced the report which provided the draft Capital Programme 2023-28 for consideration and referral to Council for approval. It also included information regarding the revenue implications of the Programme and an update on the latest forecast for capital receipts. The 2023-28 Capital Programme represented a combination of schemes originally approved as part of the 2022-27 Programme, updated through the Capital Monitoring reports in 2022-23 and new bids for inclusion as detailed in the report.

It was moved by Councillor Phil Gilchrist, seconded by Councillor Paul Stuart, that the officer recommendations detailed in the report be agreed, subject to the inclusion of:

“Committee also recognises that the capital programme has been put together in the light of the best available information on asset disposals, an estimate of likely capital receipts, the best use of funding allocated by the Government through the Liverpool City Region and the objective of repaying the exceptional financial support received by the agreed date.

A continuing area of concern for our communities is the state of our road and footway network.

The Director of Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the Director of Finance are therefore requested to:

• put together bids for a programme, after annual repayment of the capitalisation directive, to allocate a maximum of 5% of capital receipts and for such receipts to be earmarked for additional investment into our roads/footways, to address the deterioration of the network.
• progress to both frame the future programme and updates on the roll out of the programme, should be reported back to the parent committee.”

The Committee debated the motion within which clarification was sought from the Section 151 Officer on the repayment of the capitalisation directive. It was clarified that any capital receipts generated up to a value of £2.5m would be used to repay the capitalisation directive, and that any value exceeding £2.5m would be within the Committee’s gift to deal with. The preference of the Section 151 Officer would be to repay the capitalisation directive sooner given that it was accruing interest, but the motion on the table if agreed would direct that a maximum of 5% of that value above £2.5m be earmarked roads and footways.

Following the questioning of the Section 151 Officer, the Chair moved to the vote on the motion. The motion was put and carried (13:2). It was therefore –

Resolved (13:2) – That

(1)  Council be recommended to approve the new bids as detailed in Appendix B to this report requiring £17.69 million of funding for inclusion in the Capital Programme.

(2)  Council be recommended to approve of any new bids supported by grant funding do not commence until written confirmation has been received from the granting authority.

(3)  Council be recommended to approve of the Capital Programme 2023-28 as detailed in Appendix C to this report.

(4)  Committee also recognises that the capital programme has been put together in the light of the best available information on asset disposals, an estimate of likely capital receipts, the best use of funding allocated by the Government through the Liverpool City Region and the objective of repaying the exceptional financial support received by the agreed date.

A continuing area of concern for our communities is the state of our road and footway network.

The Director of Neighbourhoods, in consultation with the Director of Finance are therefore requested to: