Agenda item

To consider the updated capital programme and variations in resources since February 2022.

Councillor Boden presented the Capital Programme Update report.

Councillor Boden pointed out that the Council continues to operate in such a way so capital expenditure can be made to fund the programmes. He said there are significant inflationary pressures on the whole nation, but also with the costs of materials, labour and finished goods, all of which feed into the capital programme. Therefore, the Council needs to look carefully now and in the future at the programme to ensure that those projects currently underway continue to be monitored and controlled as tightly as possible and that there is a future capital programme which is realistic.

Councillor Boden highlighted two major issues that are on the horizon and referred to in the report:

·         the accommodation review which will involve some significant medium-term costs financed over the medium to long term given that decisions are being made on the way in which this Council operates for a further 30-40 years

·         remedial works at the Quay in Wisbech, which are going to be significant.

He feels that the Council is starting from a sound base and a far better position than many other local authorities which is due to the good stewardship from both officers and members that will enable the Council to face the challenges ahead.

Members made comments, asked questions and received responses as follows:

·         Councillor Mrs French referred to item 13, Growing Fenland Civil Parking Enforcement, which has been allocated £252,000 for 2022/23 and £100,000 for 2023/2024 and asked what has happened to some of the money as she understood the funding to be £400,000 overall? Councillor Boden responded that the figures were initially estimates and the expectation would be that if these were to be the actual figures, then the remainder would still be used for parking as required, but more likely be off-street parking that the Council has responsibility for to ensure that the rules and regulations for off-street parking are tightened up and made legal, where they are currently not legal so that the enforcement that takes place on-street is also able to be replicated off-street as there are savings to be made by joining those two things together.

·         Councillor Mrs French stated that there are problems with County Council currently, with them trying to push the project back. There is a Highway meeting at County tomorrow, it is not on the agenda, but members will be looking to have an update on parking enforcement, and she would be very disappointed if the County Council do pull out as work has been undertaken on this issue since 2019 and funding from the Combined Authority has been successfully received.

·         Councillor Hoy referred to the Wisbech Water Park, stating that she had asked for an update when it would be opening as it was originally indicated to be for the school holidays, and it would be a shame if it could not be opened for this period. She stated that there was also supposed to be some play equipment and a running pavement, but she did not see this included in the report. Phil Hughes, Acting Assistant Director, responded that the water pad is almost complete, the equipment is not being put in above ground at the moment until it is in use, the Council is undertaking some trenching, some electricity and water supply works, but it is going to be tight for the end of the summer holidays and might exceed that time because of the connection between the equipment the Council has put in and UKPN and Anglian Water.  He stated that in terms of the play area, this is going to be undertaken after works to the water pad. 

·         Councillor Boden asked if there are issues with the utilities that are causing difficulties with this project. Phil Hughes responded that the Council needs to dig the trench first so whilst that work is being undertaken, the Council is going to make sure UKPN and Anglian Water are ready to put in the connection as soon as possible.

·         Councillor Tierney stated it would be wonderful if some magic could be undertaken so that it could be working for the Rock Festival in 4 weeks’ time, he recognises that this may not be possible, and the Council is doing everything it can. Phil Hughes responded that it is unlikely.

·         Councillor Hoy stated that she had not had an answer about the running pavement. Phil Hughes responded that this has not yet been figured in the scheme, this was to be implemented using Section 106 monies but due to the slight cost overrun of the water and power connections Section 106 monies have been spent on this, but other sources of funding are being looked at. Councillor Hoy stated that it would have been useful for members to have known this before this Cabinet meeting as it sounds like now the running pavement will not be implemented until some further money is found and it is known how pushed the capital programme is, so the running club is going to be very disappointed.  She expressed the view that members keep finding out things at the last minute in meetings or there are overspends and to say the park is not going to be finished before the end of the holidays which is over 7 weeks away will see the Council ridiculed for opening a facility for children in Autumn when it is colder and not used. Winter months will be dark, and it may get vandalised so when the summer comes around again it will not be a new park anymore and she feels it is disappointing. Phil Hughes responded that officers are also disappointed, construction started in February, and they have been working since then to deliver the park for the summer holidays, but it has just not been possible.

·         Councillor Mrs French referred to Item 28, March Mooring Renewals, with a cost of £24,000 allocated and asked if a quotation has been received from Middle Level Commissioners for how much it was going to cost if they were to do the work. Phil Hughes responded that this figure will not cover the costs for the moorings, there are two aspects to the moorings, the mooring in West End Park and consideration for increasing the size of the moorings in the middle of town. Middle Level responded yesterday regarding the costs of increasing the size of the mooring in town and a couple of weeks ago in relation to West End Park moorings.  He stated that what the £24,000 will be spent on is replacing and improving the pump out facility following members’ direction and officers will have to come back to Cabinet at another time regarding improving the moorings. Councillor Mrs French stated that this is totally unacceptable, members went on a boat trip a few months ago and spent a considerable amount of time discussing the moorings, not new ones, the one that is there in a dangerous state, and she is not happy with what she has just been told. She asked what the actual price is quoted to repair the broken mooring that exists. Phil Hughes responded that Middle Level were asked to provide a price for two different designs for the mooring in West End Park, one was to replace as current which was £88,000 and the other was to provide a gabion-based mooring with a price still to be provided. He stated that they are yet to get information from Middle Level on the riverside in the centre of town, reinforcing this so a path can be put down. Councillor Mrs French made the point that it was agreed that £24,000 was to be spent on the moorings and not on the pump out station, with the money for this coming out of the High Street funding. Phil Hughes responded that originally the High Street funding was not going to repair the pump out station as it was going to be moved, so following the river trip members instructed officers to get the pump out station back in action as soon as possible and that is what is happening. Councillor Mrs French reiterated that there was a long discussion on the boat trip regarding the pump house and it was agreed by officers, not by members, that they were either going to remove it or push it up to Fox’s Boatyard. Having spoken to Fox’s they are a private business and do not have main sewers, they have to pump out themselves and it was made clear that they did not want it. Officers expected it was going to be moved further up to the Waterman’s Club, but they did not contact the Club or Middle Level so after the boat trip it was discussed that the pump house was going to be repaired and upgraded with the High Street funding so the £24,000 should not be used for this purpose and it seems nobody is listening to the conversations taking place. Councillor Boden stated that a meeting is taking place tomorrow and asked if this issue would be taken up at that meeting.

·         Councillor Mrs Laws stated that she sits on the Navigation Board of Middle Level, and she has heard various conversations, if it would help, she is happy to speak to Middle Level as these moorings have been talked about as they are unsafe and need to be used. Councillor Mrs French stated there is a meeting tomorrow afternoon and David Thomas from Middle Level should be in attendance.

·         Councillor Mrs French referred to land at the top of West End Park, which is not currently in the capital programme, with part of it already having been handed over with the other part where parking is being provided for the fisherman and this is something that was agreed in 2003 but unfortunately there have been massive problems with anti-social behaviour, with trees being destroyed, and whilst the site manager has put cameras up, the Council needs to be looking to installing CCTV in that area which will obviously have a cost. Councillor Mrs French expressed her thanks to Megaplants at Doddington who have secured two mature trees and will be providing them for free in October.

Proposed by Councillor Boden, seconded by Councillor Mrs French and AGREED that the updated capital programme as set out in Appendix A, which includes alterations to those schemes not funded from grant which consequently require additional capital expenditure not specifically budgeted for but remain within the capital overall budget, is approved.