Contact: Stuart Dorward , ext 6110

1 Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

i) That the proposed Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07 be approved

ii) That emergency health and safety works at the County Council Arts Centres totalling £36,000 be added to the 2003/04 programme and that the grant in respect of the Hanger Farm Barn Arts Centre be deferred to 2004/05.

2 Reasons

2.1 Following on from the meeting of the Policy Review Committee on 10 July and the Executive Member Decision Day on 17 July, where members were given an update on Recreation and Heritage capital plans, the attached report sets out the proposed Recreation and Heritage capital programme for the four years 2003/04 to 2006/07. The report was considered and endorsed by the Recreation and Heritage Policy Review Committee at its meeting on 11 September.

2.2 Since the Policy Review Committee met, a further requirement has arisen to undertake emergency health and safety work totalling £36,000 on seating rostra at Ashcroft Arts Centre and the lighting rigs at the other County Council managed Arts Centres (details are given in a separate report elsewhere on the agenda). This work must be undertaken this year, but is not included in the capital programme proposals considered by the Policy Review Committee. It is recommended that the Arts Centres scheme is accommodated in the 2003/04 programme by deferring the £50,000 grant to Totton and Eling Town Council for the Hanger Farm Barn Arts Centre to 2004/05. The balance of £14,000 could then be added to the unallocated provision in the 2003/04 programme, increasing this to £40,000.

3 Other options considered and rejected - not applicable

4 Conflicts of interest declared by the decision maker, or a member or officer consulted - none

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 As part of the review of the County Council's capital projects and overall capital resources, Cabinet has decided to allocate a further £4.8m over the four years of the current capital programme to support the development of Discovery Centres. Following on from the meeting of the Policy Review Committee on 10 July and the Executive Member Decision Day on 17 July, where members were given an update on Recreation and Heritage capital plans, this report sets out the proposed Recreation and Heritage capital programme for the four years 2003/04 to 2006/07.

7.2 The report includes firm recommendations on the programme for 2003/04 and indicates in broad terms the make up of the programme in subsequent years. Further work is needed to establish relative priorities among the various individual schemes that have been put forward for 2004/05 onwards and how these can be accommodated within the existing capital programme limits and guidelines.

8 Programme cash limits

8.1 The reports to the July Policy Review Committee meeting and Executive Member Decision Day detailed the changes made to the Recreation and Heritage capital programme at the County Council meeting in February and at Cabinet in June. The programme limits for the four years are now as follows:

8.2 Within these limits, the following allocations are specifically ring fenced to Discovery Centre developments and library improvement schemes:

8.3 This leaves the following resources for investment in other parts of the service:

8.4 In addition a total of £565,000 has been carried forward from capital allocations in previous years where, for various reasons, schemes have not started. Details of these schemes were given in the reports on the final accounts for 2002/03 to the July Policy Review Committee meeting and Executive Member Decision Day.

9 General Considerations

9.1 In framing the proposals for the capital programme, officers have taken account of the following factors:

· the need to reserve resources allocated for Discovery Centres exclusively for that purpose

· ensuring that resources transferred from the book fund in 2003/04 and 2004/05 are used exclusively for the improvement of library buildings

· resources are allocated to meet known commitments

· an appropriate balance is kept between maintaining the condition and value of existing assets and investing in new developments

· the need to maintain some contingency to support emerging priorities and unforeseen requirements.

9.2 A significant issue affecting the Recreation and Heritage services over the next few years is the need to upgrade facilities to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act which come into effect from 1 October next year. Corporate resources have been allocated to this, but these have to be matched from within service capital programmes. Allocations have been made within the programme to support schemes at Recreation and Heritage operational sites and buildings. There is also likely to be indirect pressure on the capital programme through increased applications from community organisations to support DDA improvements in community buildings and village halls. The proposed capital programme includes an increased allocation for this area of activity.

10 2003/04 Programme

10.1 Appendix 1 details the proposed programme for 2003/04. The first group of schemes totalling £2.65m relate to Discovery Centres and improvements to library buildings. These include the specific allocations made by Cabinet for the Winchester Cultural Centre and the Romsey Library extension. An allocation of £1m has been made for the Gosport Discovery Centre. The provisional estimate for the redevelopment of Gosport Library as a Discovery Centre is £2m. The balance of the funding for the scheme will be met from the capital programme in subsequent years.

10.2 Work on the planning and implementation of the Discovery Centre programme is moving ahead very quickly. The new project management structure is in place and a business plan is being developed. There are groups working on marketing plans and looking at the staffing and financial implications of operating buildings as Discovery Centres.

10.3 Local consultation will be a key element in the development of the right mix of services for each Discovery Centre. For example, for both Gosport and Havant consultation is planned over the next few months through a combination of surveys, focus groups and public meetings. This will allow the final plans for these Centres to take fully into account the wishes of the local community and key stakeholders. Similarly, extensive consultation will be undertaken on the Winchester project when options and plans have been developed further. Some initial feasibility work is also being undertaken on other major schemes for Basingstoke and Andover to allow funding options to be explored. As well as the larger schemes already identified and funded in the capital programme, work is also continuing on smaller scale schemes at Odiham and Lyndhurst.

10.4 The individual projects making up the library improvement programme for 2003/04 were detailed in the reports to the last Committee meeting and Executive Member Decision Day. An element of the funding set aside for this programme has been allocated to undertake work that would allow existing library buildings to be remodelled as Discovery Centres. This will initially contribute towards improvements at Havant, Odiham and Lyndhurst.

10.5 The remainder of the programme is made up of specific schemes, which in many instances have already been approved by the Executive Member, and allocations to areas of activity that will support a variety of relatively small scale projects. The allocations for Community Buildings and Village Halls and for Countryside and Rights of Way Improvements reflect continuing pressure to tackle the backlog of remedial work, often to meet health and safety requirements.

10.6 An allocation has been made to allow further development of facilities at Milestones. These are an essential element of the new business plan agreed by the partner authorities. The provision for ICT development is largely intended to support upgrading of the library catalogue and issuing systems.

10.7 As indicated in paragraph 3.2 an allocation of £50,000 has been included in the programme to contribute towards work necessary at Recreation and Heritage sites and buildings to comply with the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act. The detailed work programme will be agreed with Property, Business and Regulatory Services. Where possible, this work will be coordinated with other planned maintenance and improvement schemes to ensure value for money.

11 2004/05 to 2006/07

11.1 Appendix 2 identifies the main elements of the programme for the remaining three years. Precise allocations within the programme limits for each year have yet to be worked out.

11.2 Alongside the Discovery Centre, library and other building improvement programmes and the recurring requirements to support community buildings, countryside and rights of way improvements, ICT infrastructure and product development, the priority would be to undertake a major improvement in the residential accommodation at Calshot. This scheme would be financed, in part, through increased income on an "invest to save" basis. Project planning is well advanced and the financing arrangements are being developed in consultation between the County Treasurer's Department and the Recreation and Heritage Department.

Recommendations

1 That the proposals on the Recreation and Heritage capital programme for 2003/04 to 2006/07 be supported and submitted for approval by the Executive Member.

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.

TITLE LOCATION

Appendix 1

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2006/07

Proposed Programme 2003/04

* Partnership project contributions:

John Hanson School (Test Valley Brass) £10,000

Hangar Farm, Totton £50,000

Royal Hampshire Regiment Museum £20,000

Appendix 2

Capital Programme 2003/04 to 2006/07

Proposed Programme 2004/05 to 2006/07