Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

Decision Report

1. Executive Summary

1.1. The purpose of this paper is to provide an updated version of the County Council's Capital Strategy for 2009.

1.2. This paper seeks approval for the updated Capital Strategy set out in Appendix 1.

2. Contextual information

2.1. The County Council has prepared and published a Capital Strategy each year since the Government made it a requirement in 2001. That requirement was removed in 2004 but an up-to-date Capital Strategy remains an important part of the Council's sound asset management.

2.2. The Capital Strategy will continue to be a key consideration under the Comprehensive Area Assessment by the Audit Commission. It is also one of the key documents that underpins the Council's Medium Term Financial Strategy for 2009/10 to 2011/12. The Medium Term Financial Strategy requires that the Capital Strategy is reviewed annually.

3. Revisions since 2008

3.1. Apart from updating the statistics and examples, there are few significant changes in the attached draft Capital Strategy compared with the version approved for 2008. This is consistent with the concept of a `strategic' document that sets the scene for asset management and capital investment for at least the duration of the three-year capital programme.

3.2. The main changes in the draft Capital Strategy, compared with the approved version for 2008 cover:

· confirmation of Government funding of around £80 million for the first phase of work under the Building Schools for the Future programme, starting in Havant to rebuild, refurbish and remodel schools for secondary aged pupils (eg paragraphs 5.6 and 11.8)

· financial close of the street lighting PFI project in autumn 2009, involving capital investment in Hampshire of £114 million, with the project starting early in 2010 (paragraph 12.2)

· implementation of the phase three of the Children's Centres programme investing £9 million in new facilities (paragraph 2.7)

· complete design and implementation of a range of major capital projects in primary schools, including the Andover Primary Capital Pathfinder (paragraph 2.7)

· refurbishment and upgrade of Basingstoke Library to Discovery Centre status (paragraph 2.7)

· implementation of the first phase of the Hampshire Workstyle project, beginning in Basingstoke, which is pioneering new ways of working including more efficient and flexible use of office accommodation (paragraph 2.8)

· procurement section updated including a new Framework for Civil Engineering Professional Services will be tendered in 2009/10 (paragraph 3.7)

· a new project has been started to benchmark property asset performance through the Institute of Public Finance and the National Property Performance Management Initiative (paragraph 3.9)

· the Council's pro-active response to the impact of economic development on capital receipt levels (paragraph 4.5)

· the new three-year capital programme for 2009/10 to 2011/12.

3.3. The Strategy for the Built Estate has been agreed by the Buildings, Land and Procurement Panel and will be subject to a half year review in the Autumn. It focuses on the Council's property assets and complements the Local Transport Plan for highways and transport assets and the Education asset management plan for schools.

4. Recommendation

4.1. That the updated Capital Strategy set out in Appendix 1 be approved.

CORPORATE OR LEGAL INFORMATION:

Links to the Corporate Strategy

IMPACT ASSESSMENTS:

1. Equalities Impact Assessment:

1.1. Equality objectives are not considered to be adversely affected by the proposals within this report.

2. Impact on Crime and Disorder:

2.1. The proposals in this report are not considered to have any direct impact on the prevention of crime.

3. Climate Change:

a) How does what is being proposed impact on our carbon footprint / energy consumption?

No specific proposals

b) How does what is being proposed consider the need to adapt to climate change, and be resilient to its longer term impacts?

No specific proposals