ITEM CC8 - ANNEX 4COUNTY COUNCIL – 20 JUNE 2006REPORT OF THE CABINETCapital Programme 2006/07 - 2010/11 Time to Change Project: The investment required to implement Phase II of the Time to Change project in Social & Community Services is £1.2m. The investment will produce revenue budget efficiency savings of £0.333m in 2007/08 rising to £0.998m in 2008/09. Maltfield House: The refurbishment of Maltfield House Children’s Home (costing £0.227m) is required to enable the transfer of children from Holme Leigh. This will facilitate the sale of Holme Leigh, the capital receipt from which is included within the current estimated funding for the approved Capital Programme. Yarnton House: The project for Yarnton House (£0.150m) currently in the programme is no longer required as the accommodation needs will be dealt with as part of the Review of Property Assets. The overall cost to the programme is therefore £0.077m. Watlington Library: The library premises, including the first floor flat, are held by the County Council under a charitable trust. The Council is required to make appropriate use of the assets of the trust and to use all of the capital receipts and income from the assets for the purpose of the trust. The first floor flat has been unoccupied for some time and does not have access other than through the library. The library does not meet current standards. A preferred developer has been selected with the intention that the premises be refurbished to provide an improved library with the costs funded from the increased value of the first floor flat. Although Watlington Library is not one of the highest priorities for improvement, if a small contribution is available in order to secure a viable scheme then it should secure good value for the Council and ensure that the terms of the charitable trust are met. Bicester Library: An opportunity has occurred in Bicester to provide a new enlarged library in a building to be provided in the town centre redevelopment which is being promoted by Cherwell District Council. This would give a new library in a good position in Bicester and allow the sale of the existing library. The proposal would also relocate office accommodation within the new development. The overall costs of building and fitting out the library element are estimated at £2.4m, offset by capital receipts from the sale of the current library and office accommodation and developer funding. The net cost is estimated at approximately £820,000. There will be increased running costs of the library which are currently being assessed. It is anticipated that increased staffing costs, if required, will be met within the existing service budget. There will be service charges on the building, plus additional utilities and rates costs which will be a budget pressure. Highways Depots: A list of proposals totalling £2.5m were considered as a strategy to deal with health and safety and environmental regulations at the Highways Depots. The three most urgent projects have been proposed for inclusion in the programme at a total cost of £0.210m. These are to relocate fuel storage at Deddington (£0.070m); to improve drainage and containment at Deddington (£0.080); and to improve drainage at Drayton (£0.060m). Contingency:
The proposals above come to a net total of £2.307m, which leaves an unallocated
balance on the programme of £1.003m. This will provide a contingency for
any future urgent projects which arise up to 2008/09.
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