Contact: Stuart Dorward , ext 6110

1 Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the outcome of the capital programme review be noted and the current plan for developing the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07 be approved.

2 Reasons

2.1 Proposals for the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for the four years 2003/04 to 2006/07 were considered by the Policy Review Committee on 23 January and subsequently approved by the Executive Member on 29 January. At the County Council meeting on 20 February an enhanced capital programme of £1,931,000 for Recreation and Heritage for 2003/04 was approved. Consideration of the programme for the remaining three years was deferred pending a review of the County Council's capital funding position by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources early in the new financial year.

2.2 In recognition of the level of investment necessary in the Recreation and Heritage services, Cabinet agreed at its meeting on 23 June to increase the Recreation and Heritage capital allocation by a further £1.0m per year. Additionally, £0.8m was allocated in 2003/04 to the Winchester Cultural Centre project.

2.3 Work is currently underway in the context of the departmental service planning process to review existing capital schemes in Recreation and Heritage and develop a detailed programme for the four years. Proposals will be brought to the Executive Member for approval in September.

3 Other options considered and rejected - not applicable

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker, or a member or officer consulted - not applicable

5 Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - not applicable

6 Reasons for matter being dealt with, if urgent - not applicable

Approved by: (Signature) Date: (of decision)

................................. .........................

Councillor J. Waddington

Contact: Stuart Dorward, ext 6110

7 Introduction

7.1 This report is intended to update members on changes in the Recreation and Heritage capital programme following a review by Cabinet of the overall County Council programme and the allocation of a further £4.8m over four years to support the development of Discovery Centres. It summarises decisions taken so far this year on allocations to specific schemes and provides information about the programme of library refurbishments taking place alongside the Discovery Centre projects.

7.2 It is anticipated that, following a comprehensive review of capital projects in all Recreation and Heritage services, a further report will be made to the Committee and the Executive Member in September with recommendations about the allocation of resources within the full four year programme.

8 Background

8.1 Proposals for the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for the four years 2003/04 to 2006/07 were considered by the Policy Review Committee on 23 January and subsequently approved by the Executive Member on 29 January. This programme was at the Cabinet guideline allocation of £571,000 per year, but supplemented by £500,000 in each of the first two years by transfers from the revenue budget for use exclusively on improvements to library buildings. This excluded the scheme for the new Alton Library which remains within the Policy and Resources programme.

8.2 On 20 February the County Council agreed to a recommendation of Cabinet that the capital guideline for Recreation and Heritage in 2003/04 should be increased as follows:

8.3 Consideration of the capital programme for the remaining three years was deferred pending a review of the County Council's capital funding position by the Executive Member for Policy and Resources early in the new financial year.

9 Capital Programme Review

9.1 There has been considerable progress on advancing Recreation and Heritage capital schemes since February. Work started on the new library building for Alton in May and is expected to be completed by late Spring next year. Approval was given in February to the scheme to extend Romsey library and detailed plans are being prepared. Both these developments will incorporate many Discovery Centre features.

9.2 More work has been carried out on the feasibility studies for the proposed Discovery Centre schemes in Winchester, Gosport and Havant. The development of a Winchester Cultural Centre on the Carfax site adjacent to Hampshire Record Office is being planned on the basis that it can be funded largely from the proceeds of the disposal of the existing lending library in Jewry Street and the Library HQ and reference library buildings on North Walls. The current estimate of the cost of redeveloping Gosport Library as a Discovery Centre is approximately £2m. An early assessment of the feasibility of extending Havant Library as a Discovery Centre suggests that around £250,000 will be needed to undertake the necessary capital works. Detailed project appraisals on these schemes will be brought to the Committee for comment as soon as possible.

9.3 Planning is underway for other Discovery Centres in Aldershot, Andover, Basingstoke, Lyndhurst and Odiham. It can be expected that, as work progresses on these plans, further capital requirements will be identified.

9.4 In recognition of the level of investment necessary to redevelop libraries as Discovery Centres, Cabinet agreed at its meeting on 23 June to increase the Recreation and Heritage capital allocation by a further £1.0m per year, an extra £4m over the four years of the programme. Additionally, £0.8m was allocated in 2003/04 to the Winchester Cultural Centre project to supplement the expected capital receipts. These allocations were made subject to the proviso that, if the detailed appraisal of the Winchester Cultural Centre shows that additional resources are required, this should be the first call on the extra £4m.

9.5 Work is currently underway in the context of the departmental service planning process to review existing capital schemes in Recreation and Heritage and develop a detailed programme for the four years. As indicated above, the intention is to bring forward proposals in September. In the meantime, early decisions have been needed to allow certain projects to move forward without delay. These commitments will represent a first call on the capital programme. In summary the Executive Member has given approval so far to the following projects:

10 Library Refurbishment Programme

10.1 At the same time as work has been taking place on Discovery Centre projects, a programme of refurbishments in other libraries has been developed with the Property, Business and Regulatory Services Department to be funded jointly from the Recreation and Heritage capital programme and the building repair and maintenance provision in Policy and Resources. The estimated value of the first year of this two year programme is £1m. Of this, £350,000 has been earmarked to carry out improvement work on library buildings as part of their redevelopment as Discovery Centres (see paragraphs 3.2 and 3.3 above). A further £350,000 will go towards the following major schemes in other libraries:

Farnborough - complete internal refurbishment including replacement of suspended ceilings, lighting improvements, new counters, redecoration and creation of an area to house the major donation of books on aviation recently received from Qinetiq

Fleet - lighting improvements, creation of a local studies area and improvements to ventilation and heating systems

Yateley - work to make the entrance area more attractive, new counters, redecoration, new shelving and furniture, improvements to the windows to ease overheating

Petersfield - improvements to entrance areas including new doors, upgrading of lighting, redecoration and new carpets

Chandlers Ford - internal lift, lighting improvements, redecoration and new carpets.

10.2 Finally, £300,000 will be used to carry out minor improvement works at Jewry St, Bordon, Chineham, Eastleigh, Fordingbridge, Grayshott, New Milton, Portchester, South Ham, Tadley and West End.

10.3 This programme includes significant improvements to the accessibility of library buildings and the provision of additional facilities. It will also allow library premises across the county to be given a much needed facelift. Arrangements will be made to ensure continuity of service while the work takes place.

Recommendations

That the outcome of the Capital Programme review and current plan for developing the Recreation and Heritage Capital Programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07 be noted.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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