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Meeting: |
Executive |
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Meeting date: |
02/09/2025 |
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Report of: |
Director of Finance – Debbie Mitchell |
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Portfolio of: |
Cllr Katie Lomas– Executive Member for Finance, Performance, Major Projects, Human Rights, Equalities and Inclusion |
Decision Report:
Capital Programme – Monitor 1
2025/26
Subject of Report
1. The purpose of this report is to set out the projected outturn position for 2025/26 including any under/overspends and adjustments, along with requests to re-profile budgets to/from current and future years.
2. The Capital Monitor report is one of a number of reports taken to Executive on a regular basis to provide details of expenditure and how that impacts the financial standing of the council.
Benefits and Challenges
3. The capital programme is key in delivering the Council Plan. Members are able to prioritise capital expenditure to deliver improvements across all service areas notably Schools, Housing, Transport and Regeneration as well as supporting Climate Change ambitions.
4. The programme does involve significant levels of council borrowing which impacts the level of revenue expenditure. The cost of delivering the capital programme is therefore dependent on levels of external funding, inflation levels and interests rates.
Policy Basis for Decision
5. The Capital Budget is set as part of the Council’s budget setting in February 2025. The capital programme is set alongside decisions to deliver a balanced revenue position.
Financial Strategy Implications
6. The Finance and Performance Monitor 1 report elsewhere on this agenda again outlines the council’s financial position. The identification of slippage particularly in relation to Council funding will reduce council borrowing costs and support the annual revenue expenditure.
Recommendation and Reasons
7. Executive is asked to:
· Recommend to Full Council the adjustments resulting in a reduction in the 2025/26 budget of £412k as detailed in the report.
· Note the 2025/26 revised budget of £180.331m as set out in paragraph 4 and Table 3
· Note the restated capital programme for 2025/26 – 2029/30 as set out in Annex 1.
Reason: to enable the effective management and monitoring of the Council’s capital programme
· Delegate the approval of homes selected for sale at Duncombe Barracks and Burnholme to the Director of Finance (in consultation with the Director of Housing and Communities) where homes are valued over £500k.
Reason: to ensure the sales of such properties can be marketed promptly from plot handover.
· Allocate £250k from capital contingency to invest in a cultural asset masterplan
Reason: to provide a basis for attracting external investment into the council’s cultural estate
Background
8. The 2025/26 capital programme was approved by Council on 27 February 2025 and updated for amendments reported to Executive in the 2024/25 outturn report, which resulted in an approved capital budget for 2025/26 of £180.743m.
9. A decrease of £412k is detailed in this monitor resulting in a revised capital programme for 2025/26 of £180.331m. There is an increase of £5.411m due to additional funding being awarded / approved and a re-profiling of budgets to future years totalling £5.823m.
10. Table 1 outlines the variances reported against each Directorate area and a summary of the key exceptions and implications on the capital programme are highlighted in the paragraphs that follow.
|
Department |
Current Approved Budget £m |
Projected Outturn £m |
Adjustment £m |
Reprofile £m |
Total Variance £m |
Paragraph Ref |
|
Children’s services |
18.854 |
15.849 |
0.195 |
(3.200) |
(3.005) |
16 - 23 |
|
Adult Social Care |
1.039 |
1.197 |
0.158 |
- |
0.158 |
- |
|
Housing Services |
49.270 |
48.682 |
(0.296) |
(0.292) |
(0.588) |
24 – 41 |
|
Communities |
5.805 |
5.831 |
0.026 |
- |
0.026 |
42 – 46 |
|
Transport, Highways & Environment |
70.129 |
73.652 |
5.373 |
(1.850) |
3.523 |
47 – 95 |
|
City Development |
27.594 |
27.594 |
- |
- |
- |
96 – 110 |
|
Property Services |
2.197 |
1.671 |
(0.045) |
(0.481) |
(0.526) |
111 – 114 |
|
ICT |
4.109 |
4.109 |
- |
- |
- |
116 - 118 |
|
Corporate Services |
1.746 |
1.746 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
Total |
180.743 |
180.331 |
5.411 |
(5.823) |
(0.412) |
|
Table 1 Capital Programme Monitor 1 2025/26
11. As a result of the changes highlighted above the revised 5 year capital programme is summarised in Table 2.
|
Gross Capital Programme |
2025/26 £m |
2026/27 £m |
2027/28 £m |
2028/29 £m |
2029/30 £m |
Total £m |
|
Children’s services |
15.849 |
8.312 |
0.187 |
- |
- |
24.348 |
|
Adult Social Care |
1.197 |
0.728 |
0.752 |
0.776 |
0.800 |
4.253 |
|
Housing Services |
48.682 |
19.268 |
19.781 |
15.150 |
15.050 |
117.931 |
|
Communities |
5.831 |
- |
- |
- |
- |
5.831 |
|
Transport, Highways & Environment |
73.652 |
50.649 |
41.516 |
27.708 |
21.927 |
215.452 |
|
City Development |
27.594 |
10.582 |
2.800 |
1.920 |
- |
42.896 |
|
Property Services |
1.671 |
1.156 |
0.275 |
0.275 |
0.275 |
3.652 |
|
ICT |
4.109 |
2.820 |
2.820 |
2.820 |
2.820 |
15.389 |
|
Corporate Services |
1.746 |
0.369 |
0.394 |
0.200 |
0.200 |
2.909 |
|
Revised Programme |
180.331 |
93.884 |
68.525 |
48.849 |
41.072 |
432.661 |
Table 2 – Revised 5 year programme
Funding the 2025/26 – 2029/30 Capital Programme
12. The revised 2025/26 to 2029/30 capital programme of £432.661m is funded from £164.475m of external funding and £268.186m of internal funding. Table 3 shows the projected call on resources going forward.
|
|
2025/26 £m |
2026/27 £m |
2027/28 £m |
2028/29 £m |
2029/30 £m |
Total £m |
|
Gross Capital Programme |
180.331 |
93.884 |
68.525 |
48.849 |
41.072 |
432.661 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
External Funding |
72.249 |
46.292 |
28.753 |
9.986 |
7.195 |
164.475 |
|
Council Controlled Resources |
108.082 |
47.592 |
39.772 |
38.863 |
33.877 |
268.186 |
|
Total Funding |
180.331 |
93.884 |
68.525 |
48.849 |
41.072 |
432.661 |
Table 3 – 2025/26 to 2029/30 Capital Programme Financing
13. The Council controlled figure is comprised of a number of resources that the Council has ultimate control over. These include Right to Buy receipts, revenue contributions, supported (government awarded) borrowing, prudential (Council funded) borrowing, reserves (including Venture Fund) and capital receipts.
14. In financing the overall capital programme, the Director of Finance will use the optimum mix of funding sources available to achieve the best financial position for the Council. Therefore, an option for any new capital receipts would be to use these to replace assumed borrowing, thereby reducing the Councils’ borrowing levels and associated revenue costs.
Consultation Analysis
15. The capital programme was developed under the capital budget process and agreed by Council on 27 February 2025. Whilst the capital programme as a whole is not consulted on, the individual scheme proposals and associated capital receipt sales do follow a consultation process with local Councillors and residents in the locality of the individual schemes.
Options Analysis and
Evidential Basis
Children and Education Services
16. The total approved budget within the Children’s Services and Education Capital Programme for 2024/25 is £18.854m. At this point in the financial year there are only a small number of adjustments to report.
17. Planning for the use of the remaining unallocated Basic Need budget of £4,364k is currently underway. It is likely that this budget will be required to help fund additional capital expenditure to contribute to creating additional SEND provision and to support inclusive mainstream provision, as detailed below. It is unlikely that there will be significant expenditure that will require a contribution from the £2,364k in this budget in 2025/26. It is proposed to reprofile £2,000k of this into 2026/27 to support future planning.
18. As reported above, plans are currently in development for the use of the SEND capital budget of £2,055k, which is mainly funded by the new SEND funding made available by the DfE for 2025/26. The available scheme budget in 2025/26 is £2,055k, however due to the detailed planning required to plan and prioritise the most effective use of this budget it is unlikely that this will all be required in 2025/26. It is proposed to reprofile £1,000k of this scheme into 2026/27 at this monitor.
19. There are two schemes in the programme that relate to the Danesgate facility, both of which remain from underspends from previous schemes, and the replacement of the Walled Garden project with some roof replacement works. It is proposed to combine these two budgets into one scheme. A project to create two studio classrooms will be carried out in 2025/26.
20. The projects within the maintenance programmes for local authority maintained schools are mainly scheduled to be carried out over the summer holiday period and a fuller progress report will be available at Monitor 2. At this stage the only proposed amendment to this part of the programme is to transfer the Healthy Child scheme budget and grant funding of £93k into the overall maintenance programme to support some of the kitchen projects being carried out which contribute to the original aims of this funding.
21. A minor increase of £1k to the Devolved Formula Capital scheme is required to reflect the actual grant receipt for 2025/26. The scheme value represents the amount paid to the LA on behalf of maintained schools to be included in their delegated budgets. A reduction is expected for future years due to two academy conversions scheduled to take place during 2025/26 and this reduction has been adjusted for in the 2026/27 programme and incorporated into a 2027/28 estimate to be added into the programme.
22. The Early Years expansion scheme can be increased by £194k to reflect an amount of Section 106 for the Terrys Chocolate works site which is earmarked for Early Years provision.
23. The School maintenance programme for 2026/27 is currently being planned. At this stage the Directorate is working within an overall funding amount of approximately £3m, based on an assumption of the 2026/27 Condition and Maintenance allocation from the DfE as well as use of relevant section 106 receipts. The budget for 2026/27 reflects the best estimate of the amount of DfE funding which will be made available following the expected reduction due to the two academy conversions. Officers will prepare the detailed programme for the maintenance programme and report back the schemes to be delivered as part of these regular quarterly monitoring reports. Any scheme valued at over £500k will need Executive approval.
Housing Services
Disabled Facilities (£2,521k)
24. This budget is used to undertake adaptations to privately owned properties in order to help owner occupiers and tenants living in the properties to be able to live independently within the property in the future. The budget has been amended to reflect the level of government funding and is expected to be fully spent across the year
CYC Adaptations Budget (£1,241k)
25. This budget is used to undertake adaptations to Council properties in order to help council tenants living in the properties to live independently within the property in the future. The budget is financed through monies allocated from the HRA budget. A range of adaptations are undertaken, ranging from minor adaptations such as the installation of hand rails, steps and other equipment, to more major adaptations such as stairlifts, through floor lifts, level access showers (wet rooms) etc. The budget underspend from 2024/25 is included in 2025/26 and is currently dealing with backlog of cases on waiting list. It is anticipated to be able to do this and also meet demand in year
Home Upgrade Grant (HUG) (£1,354k)
26. HUG 2 is funding for Eligible Measures (energy efficiency and low carbon heating) to be installed to improve the energy performance off gas grid homes in England. This scheme is due to finish June/July 2025 with a final cost of £860k
27. The new scheme – Warm Homes Local Grant gives funding for local authorities to deliver energy performance and low carbon heating upgrades to low-income homes in England. This is a 3 year scheme and the award for 2025/26 is £300k. Once a new project manager has been recruited and delivery partner procured then it is anticipated that the full amount will be spent in year 1
Major Repairs (£11,774k)
28. Progress has been made in some areas of the programme but delays in procuring some services restricted progress in others. There are concerns about the quality of work by contractors and customer complaints have been relatively high on modernisation work. We are working with the contractors to ensure that performance is improved.
29. The expectation at this point in the year is to spend in full in all areas of the capital investment programme. Any underspend/overspend risk to individual budget lines will be realised by the end of Q2
Energy Efficiency Retrofit
30. Wave 2 of the SHDF scheme will complete this year. This has provided £2.1m of works to improve energy efficiency providing external insulation in ginnels and funding to the improvement works at Bell Farm.
31. A new scheme (wave 3) is for 3 years has yet to be signed but will provide £1.4m of grant funding over 3 years to continue to improve the energy efficiency across the CYC social housing stock.
Housing Delivery
32. Work has progressed well at the start of 2025-26 with good progress on all capital projects within the Housing Delivery Programme.
33. Detailed engagement and design work has continued on Willow House with RIBA 2 designs completed. Work is ongoing to submit the planning application in late Summer 2025 and there is a detailed programme of engagement planned throughout July. Concurrently work is ongoing to finalise a procurement strategy for a main contractor in early 2026.
34. Following a number of successful engagement events, both with local residents and individuals with lived experience of Learning Disabilities and / or Autism, RIBA 1 design work for Lowfield Plot A has now been concluded. This work is undergoing costing prior to further design work commencing to ensure it remains within budget prior to starting the next stage of design work. The project is still on programme to submit a planning application within the financial year.
35. There has been significant progress in completing the roads and drainage work across the wider Lowfield Green site after significant delays over the past 12 months. Wates Construction, the original contractor for the site have led these remediation works and are due to apply final road surfaces in early July. A full project closedown report will be submitted once the final homes are sold. To date there is 1 remaining property to be sold which is expected to complete over Summer 2025.
36. All 34 new homes at Duncombe Barracks are expected to complete throughout Summer 2025. 60% of these homes will be delivered as affordable housing and all homes are delivered to net-zero carbon, Passivhaus certified standards. The site is now making good progress and whilst minor delay has been encountered this year, the site is still on programme to deliver all homes within Q2.
37. Burnholme, the second Passivhaus certified development, will complete slightly later in the year with handovers across autumn and winter 2025-26. This is a larger site comprising of 78 homes, 60% of which will be affordable. As with Duncombe, the contractor has experienced some delay in the period which has resulted in an underspend in the period however, labour levels are high on site and we expect significant progress in coming months.
38. The Council have started to take handovers of the first Passivhaus, Net-Zero Carbon homes at Duncombe Barracks in late July with all homes due to complete by August. Burnholme is anticipated to handover later in 2025. The developments are delivered as 60% affordable housing with a mix of social rent homes for those in the greatest housing need and shared ownership which allows access to home ownership for those unable to access housing on the open market. The homes are pioneering, developed to a world leading Passivhaus standard. The homes are incredibly well insulated meaning they lose very little heat and their design incorporates renewable energy through the use of Air Source Heat Pumps (ASHP) and Photovoltaic Panels (PV) meaning the produce more new energy than they use across the year. The energy bills of the new homes are predicted to be 83% lower than those of a standard new build home built to Building Regulation standards. This will effectively eliminate fuel poverty for future residents. Bell Farm refurbishment and retrofit project commenced onsite in autumn 2024 and is now progressing well, the site has overcome a lot of the early issues uncovered on site and a new programme has been issued showing completion in early 2026. There is an ongoing funding risk as all Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF) needs to be spent by Jan 2026 so work is ongoing to analyse the programme and ensure all retrofit works can be achieved by this date.
39. 40% of the homes on the site will be sold on as market sale homes as set out in the business case approved in March 2022. The profit generated by these homes is used to cross subsidise the high levels of affordable housing delivered as part of the Housing Delivery Programme. The values of these homes are set in consultation with estate agents and independent valuers. Where homes are valued at over £500k the Executive are asked to delegate authority to the Director of Finance in consultation with the Director for Housing and Communities for disposal.
40. Glen Lodge is progressing well and expected to complete in July 2025. Work is continuing across Housing, Communications and Adult Social Care to reoccupy the building. There is ongoing work to promote these high-quality apartments and enact a prevention strategy to ensure residents move at the right time for them to continue to live independently and avoid residential care wherever possible.
41. The redesigned 100% affordable Ordnance Lane scheme has been tendered for a Principal Contractor and submissions were received in late June 2025. Work is ongoing to evaluation these submissions and it is hoped a full Business Case seeking a construction budget will be presented to the Executive in Autumn 2025.
Communities
Future Libraries Investment Programme
42. The three library projects have been combined and are reported within a single FLIP (Future Libraries Investment Programme). The capital budget this year is £798k including a Libraries Improvement Fund grant of £250k from Arts Council England. The total budget for the FLIP overall is £8,228k.
43. As Haxby & Wigginton Library and Clifton Library Projects have been delivered, the Acomb library project is now able to progress. A detailed report to the Council’s Executive meeting on 15 July 2025, will set out the scope based on the available budget. The Library Improvement Fund grant of £250k from Arts Council England will support the overall project budget. In addition, the project has been successful in securing £40k from the Mayoral Renewables Fund (£26k) and the Council’s Climate budget (£14k) towards the design and installation of Solar PV.
Energise Roof Works
44. Greenwich Leisure Limited have commissioned a further roof inspection and report, which the Council are waiting to understand the finding and to agree a next phase of works within the budget remaining. These works have been complex to identify the exact root cause of the roof leaks and time is being taken to ensure any future repair is essential
Mansion House Repairs
45. Work at the Mansion House has progressed well and the contractor William Birch is on target to complete work within the agreed timetable and budget. Inevitable issues with scaffolding licences with the Mansion House neighbours have been resolved. The House is scheduled to re-open in August with all work completed by November
Crematorium Waiting Room
Transport, Highways & Environment
Major Projects
47. Following a meeting of City of York’s planning committee on Tuesday 19 March 2024, and referral to the Secretary of State, the York Outer Ring Road planning application was approved on the 12th April 2024. Since then a milestone review has been undertaken, with other work such as land purchase negotiations, cost reviews and the business case also being progressed. Members agreed at Meeting on 15th July that the scheme be delivered in four phases, prioritising available funding to the local plan infrastructure requirements, unlocking key development sites and providing much needed new homes
48. The York Station Gateway scheme continues to progress, with Package 1 (Utility Diversionary Works) completed in September 2023, and Package 2 (Highways Works) is about 70% through construction with a completion date forecast for November 2025. This completion is delayed from spring 2025. The construction contract for the Package 3 (Station Works) is currently under review following an unsuccessful procurement exercise and an updated delivery and procurement strategy is being agreed by partners. A further highways Package 4 (Loop Road Works) is expected to commence once Package 3 is completed. Meanwhile, a new multi-storey car park that is funded and delivered by Network Rail began on site in March 2025, following the closure of the station long stay car park.
49. A detailed update was provided to Executive on 15th July 2025 and additional funding was agreed in order to complete the scheme.
Haxby Station
50. Progress had (until very recently) tapered off due to substantial funding uncertainty as a result of last year’s cancellation of the DfT’s Restoring Your Railways programme by the UK Government; which this scheme had been part of. However, a Government announcement on 8 July 2025 confirmed that this project was to be funded to delivery, so the council and partners are now working to understand the details following this announcement and how this may now affect delivery timescales. The programme for delivery has undoubtedly been prolonged but we continue to have a target of end of 2027 / early 2028 (contingent on a number of factors). The Council is the freehold owner of the proposed site of the new station and still has a commitment of approximately £4million match-funding for the scheme. In terms of the planning application (still pending), determination has been delayed until late 2025, due to statutory requirements to undertake further ecological surveys and investigations for protected species on-site, which have now recently concluded.
Transport
51. The York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority has approved additional capital funding: £3.5 million from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and £2.1 million from the Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). These funds have been incorporated into the City of York Council’s (CYC) Transport Capital Programme. An evaluation is currently underway to determine the resources required to deliver these programmes and the timescales for their implementation
Bus Service Improvement Plan
City Centre Sustainable Corridor – Bus Priority
52. BSIP funding was secured to improve bus journey times and improve reliability if services in the city centre. Feasibility and initial designs were progressed during 24/25. Revised drawings were provided to incorporate a flood defence barrier on Tower Street.
53. Project approved by the executive member to proceed to public consultation in June 2025 with current milestone planning towards a spring 2026 delivery
BSIP Bus Stop Upgrades
54. 14 kerb improvements completed so far this year with another 15 planned. 5 new shelters installed with another 5 planned.
BSIP Real-Time Screens
55. Second tranche of 50 additional battery screens ready for installation, scheduled to take place throughout June. Replacement screens for station frontage scheme ready for installation. First four will be installed in new shelters opposite the station as soon as NPG have provided a power connection. Latest date for this is end of June. Six new displays installed in new shelters in York Central.
56. It is the intention to order new displays for all the P&R sites plus a few new mains displays to go in some of the new Clear Channel shelters.
Small Scale Bus Priority - Strensall Bus Terminus Improvements
57. Contractors began work on schedule on 16th June and the works have been completed.
P & R Interchange Upgrades
58. BSIP 1 funding was secured to provide a new ticket office and public waiting area/ amenities of Grimston Bar P & R and various additional improvements and refurbishments of Askham Bar, Rawcliffe Bar, Poppleton Bar and Monks Cross. Overnight parking areas are proposed to be created at Askham Bar and Rawcliffe Bar and there will be improvements to site security and Park and Cycle facilities across the five sites. Designer Outlet Park and Ride is not within scope of these works as it is under a shorter term lease agreement.
59. Public consultation on the proposals has concluded; the results of which and a request for funding approval will go to Executive in September. Implementation is intended to be phased from September 2025 through to Spring 2026.
Access Barrier
60. The Council has agreed to participate in a research project being undertaken by academics from the University of Westminster to monitor the impact on path users and nearby residents of removal or redesign of barriers to make them compliant with guidance. This is likely to be a 5year funded scheme addressing c800 sites across the city.
61. The first tranche has been assessed and actioned, including a variety of barrier types enabling options and resolutions to be explored and an agreed approach moving forward. The opportunity to ensure that the correct tactile paving and signage is installed at locations has been taken. The second Tranche is being drawn up and with the benefit of the lessons learned, it is felt that this project will now gather some momentum. Positive feedback has been received already and it is expected to receive further positive feedback once some of the other regularly requested locations are dealt with.
Traffic Signal Asset Renewal Programme
62. Copmanthorpe Link Road approved for delivery and scheduled for construction during October 2025. Estimated cost £250k to be incurred in 2025/26
63. Huntington Road/Hayleys Terrace. Decision on approval to proceed to delivery due 1st July. Construction preliminary scheduled for early 2026. Estimated cost £250k to be incurred in 2025/26.
64. Foss Bank. Decision on approval to proceed to delivery due 1st July. Construction preliminary scheduled for early 2026. Estimated cost £165k to be incurred in 2025/26
65. Holgate Road Wilton/Rise, Clifton Moorgate, Heworth Green/Dodsworth Avenue. Design works estimated to be completed in 2025/26 however construction will not occur until 2026/27.
66. Green Light Funding (GLF) to cover 2 Traffic Signal controller upgrades and 3 site conversions from 3G to 4G communications due for completion before August 2025. Estimated cost of £45k to be incurred in 2025/26.
Active Travel Programme
67. The York and North Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (YNYMCA) agreed funding for active travel projects in York on 6th June 2025. The approved project list includes improvements to the Clifton Backies route, school streets projects, increased pedestrian crossing programme funding and a public right of way improvement programme. Current projects relating to Active Travel England are being reprofiled and a staffing plan developed. This will result in a clear active travel programme for York which will be presented in the capital programme monitor 2 report.
Solar System Cycle Route
68. Solar System Cycle Route Phase 2: Comprises widening of the route between London Bridge and the beginning of the Solar System route. Project manager to be appointed to progress this work. Staffing will be considered across all active travel projects.
National Cycle Network Route 65
69. There are several locations requiring improvement on National Cycle Network Route 65. Projects are being identified from a long list of potential options to fit the carryover funding from 2024/25 and the process to recruit a project manager is being commenced.
Riverside Path Improvements
70. Traffic Regulation Order public advertisement has been completed which has received multiple objections generating the need for a further Executive Member Decision Session to be scheduled. The procurement process for the establishment of a Principal Designer for both detailed design and construction ongoing. The estimated cost for delivery of the brief is currently £165k but tender submission process has not yet commenced. The majority of this cost is expected to be utilised in 2025/26 however eventual construction of the scheme will potentially commence in Q4 of 2025/26 and may extend into 2026/27.
Electric Vehicle (RV) schemes
71. All EV projects are now fully funded following a successful bid to the YNYMCA. All required decisions are in place to progress the Union Terrace HyperHub. A design and build contract award is being prepared with a view to start construction later this year.
72. Legal negotiations are ongoing to resolve land ownership issues at Askham Bar P&R. Design contract is being drafted and detailed design work will be progressed in parallel to the legal issues. A further Executive decision, to proceed with construction, will be required once this feasibility work has been completed.
73. Low Emission Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) on-street plans are being developed in conjunction with the Housing team. Preparation for procurement is also ongoing. Our consultants, Accessible, will be reviewing all scheme designs to improve PAS1899 compliance which are the standards for such equipment.
Public Rights of Way
74. Funding has been made available for repairs to the sections of the PROW network currently affected by river bank slippage, and a programme of work is currently being assessed and prioritised as part of the 2025/26 Capital Programme.
75. Replacement of the footbridge on the Rufforth-Knapton Public Right of Way (following installation of a temporary bridge earlier this year) was delayed in 24/25 due to ongoing challenges with procurement of an interested contractor. A procurement route has now been identified with implementation of a permanent bridge expected in this financial year.
Signing & Lining Speed Limit Amendments
76. Delivered to date in 2025/26 funded from the Capital Programme LTP funds, are the following locations:,
a) North Lane Huntington – installed in May 2025
b) Wheldrake Lane Elvington (30 mph limit extension) – installed in May 2025
c) A59 Poppleton (40 mph limit extension) – at delivery stage now (installation ongoing).
Safety Schemes
77. Since April we have completed the following works or are on site:
a) Heworth green / Eboracum Way – installation of an interim scheme to provide cycle lanes through the junction to improve road safety.
b) Heworth Green / Stockton Lane / Malton Road – introduction of an interim scheme, in conjunction with a resurfacing maintenance scheme (due on site from 7th July), which will provide road safety and cycle infrastructure benefits ahead of a more substantial future scheme at the junction.
c) Black Dike Lane DR scheme – minor improvements to manage vehicle speeds and access on village country lane.
d) A59 40mph speed limit extension – extension of 40mph speed limit at Poppleton
e) Aldwark dropped crossings – 3No pairs of dropped crossings
f) North Lane, Huntington speed limit amendment
g) Wheldrake Lane, Elvington speed limit amendment
ANPR Bus Lane Enforcement
78. The programme of works to replace Automatic Number Plate Recognition cameras which were outdated and approaching end of life at Coppergate and Low Poppleton Lane were due to go live on 1st July.
P&D machines Parking
79. We are working with a supplier to replace all parking meters in car parks across the city to move to a ticketless and cashless service. Currently undergoing procurement with the aim of going out to tender in the near future. The intention is to deliver this scheme by the end of Spring 2026
Hostile Vehicle Measures
80. Completion of the final HVM installation was achieved at the Parliament Street location in November 2024. All core infrastructure is now installed and operational and not expected to attract any further significant Capital expense.
81. The scheme is likely to attract some additional minor subsidiary Capital costs in 2025/26 with regards to proposals to make some amendments to signage; loading restrictions; and changes to one-way arrangements at Blake Street, with the aim of discouraging vehicles entering the street and/or facilitate safer exits from the area.
Highways
Resurfaced Roads
82. The carriageway repair scheme at Riverside Crescent has been delivered successfully by our Term Service Contractor, followed by a large patching scheme on Malton Road. The entire surface dressing programme is now complete, with over 70,500m2 of roads dressed across nine separate locations.
Footpaths
83. The footway renewal scheme on the city centre location at Lendal is now complete, which has involved the replacement of over 300m2 of existing paving, kerb replacements and the installation of three tactile crossings to facilitate pedestrian access. Works to carry out a repair the existing footpath at Shirley Avenue are now underway.
Highway Structures Maintenance
84. General Inspections of nearly fifty existing highway structures are due to commence at the end of June, which will provide reports noting any defects and the proposed remedial works to these structures. All information will be updated on the asset management system (AMX) by the end of August.
85. The bridge strengthening scheme at Bishopthorpe Bridge, which has involved the design, fabrication and installation of a new corrugated steel structure, below the existing bridge deck, has been successfully delivered in full.
86. The tender documents are currently being prepared for painting, repairs, waterproofing and resurfacing works, as part of a high-profile maintenance scheme at Lendal Bridge. The de-risking surveys are now complete, including the topographical, ecology, asbestos and paint surveys, which will support the design information and cost estimates, for the construction phase, which is programmed to commence in April next year.
Street lighting columns
87. The team are progressing with the street lighting renewal programme, within Maintenance Area 4 Strensall / Skelton Towthorpe and Maintenance Area 8 Acomb / Woodthorpe. This involves the replacement of the existing concrete street lighting columns, with new steel thermoplastic coated column assets, including new LED energy saving lights. This will result in significant energy and carbon reduction savings.
City Walls Maintenance
88. Investigation and maintenance work across the City Walls are ongoing. From 26th June the teams’ efforts will be predominantly focused on the conservation scheme at Bootham Bar, which will involve significant repairs to the existing roof structure and covering.
Drainage
Pre-Carriageway Drainage Schemes
89. The team have tackled a longstanding drainage issue on the outboard lane at Heworth Green, which has previously caused extensive flooding, which has involved the installation of a new piped road crossing and connection into the existing sewer system.
90. Eight non-running drainage gullies have been replaced on Maple Avenue followed by the repair of the existing gully connections on Riverside Crescent. Extensive remedial works to the existing gullies have been carried out on Hull Road, which will significantly improve the drainage of surface water away the road.
Proactive Drainage Investigation / Repair Programme
91. The team have fully cleared the existing blocked sewer system from Wheldrake Village towards Crockey Hill which was causing back-up into the village.
Sink Holes
92. A 5ft deep and 5ft wide void was identified in the inbound traffic lane outside York Theatre Royal on St Leonards Place, which represented an immediate risk to road users and the public. The drainage team acted quickly in appointing a specialist contractor, with the capability of operating at 5m excavation depths, to investigate the issue, assess the competency of the existing sub ground, then reinstate the void with foam concrete, before reinstating the road construction in full.
Castle Mills Lock
93. An essential scheme to replace the existing timber lock gates at Castle Mills, has commenced, and the off-site manufacture of the gate components is now complete. The installation works were programmed to commence in July 2025 with the deployment of a NATO bridge, to carry the materials and installation equipment to the point of works on site. This will be followed by the removal of the existing gates and equipment, the installation of the new downstream gates, and finally the installation of the new upstream gates, plus the commissioning of all new gates, equipment and sluices.
Flooding Schemes
94. Germany Beck – The Germany Beck project is currently costed at £4.6million. The funds allocated from CYC will ensure that this project progresses. An additional application of funding for the shortfall that currently exists is to be sought in the coming months through the Regional Flood and Coastal Committee. The government allocation of £1,270 has been reduced to £937k. This allocation is to be spent by April 2026.
95. Innovation Resilience Fund (Ousewem): The costs as detailed are based on the current budgeted spend for 2025/26 and 2026/27. The revised costs in 2026/27 were as a result of a reduction (£837k) in spend in light of more accurate information relating to the schemes being delivered as part of the fund
City Development
96. Castle Gateway – In November 2023 Executive agreed the way forward to deliver some of the masterplan proposals, and work has now commenced to revise designs for the Castle / Eye of York and assess the potential for the delivery of Affordable Housing at Castle Mills. The strategic importance of St George’s Field as a parking location was acknowledged and proposals for improving parking provision there, with coach drop off facilities, are being progressed. The proposals will be included in the business case, which will be reported to the Executive for approval in November 2025. The planning application will be submitted in early July 2025.
97. The phasing spend for Castle Gateway Infrastructure (Castle Mills Bridge and cycle route) has been pushed back a year to 2026/27. This is linked to the wider review of WYCA spend on capital projects.
98. This project will be considered by the Executive on 4th November 2025 where each aspect of the scheme will be reviewed in detail and will provide recommendations on each aspect of the scheme.
York Central
99. The project funding position for York Central was reprofiled in 2024/25 to reflect an updated funding agreement with project partners. The key change was that the £35m CYC contribution towards IP2 site infrastructure work moved to 2025/26 onwards.
100. General progress on the project remains positive. The planning application for the Government Property Agency building was approved by Planning Committee in July 2024. Officers are reviewing the next steps for the scheme.
101. The delivery of the main York Central highway infrastructure by Homes England is progressing with the Phase 1 delivering the alternative route around the National Railway Museum due to open to traffic in July 2025, allowing the stopping up of Leeman Rd to progress and the NRM’s extension to enter its construction phase.
102. Road construction was completed in July 2025 to enable Leeman Road to be stopped up includes construction of the new spine road as well as the main cycle/pedestrian route and improvements to Station Rise.
103. Phase 2 of the scheme to connect the new spine road through to Water End is expected to be complete in 2027. Ground improvement works and foundations have progressed for the embankments and bridges
Carbon Reduction Schemes
104. Potential land purchase for additional car parking at the York Community Woodland may be required – engagement and surveys are underway over summer with an assessment to be made following the conclusion of this work.
105. The budget has supported £95k towards LED improvements at West Offices and Hazel Court which were completed in March 2025.
106. £96k has been committed to provide match funding against the Mayoral Renewable Fund, which will support the installation of solar panels at Yearsley swimming pool and Acomb Library.
107. Following the announcement by Government that the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme will not be continued, officers are undertaking an assessment of the capital cost requirements to decarbonise our estate.
108. Other potential match funding requirements may be required to deliver project applications to the Combined Authority’s Carbon Negative Challenge Fund.
109. There are also potential commitments for tree provision as part of the York Outer Ring Road Scheme.
110. Key achievements include:
· Completion of Net Zero Fund projects, including:
o Installation of LED improvements at Hazel court and West Offices, saving an estimated 37t of Carbon dioxide per year.
o Installation of LED replacement of 985 streetlights completed, with additional funding allocated to replace an extra 400 lights by end of June 2025.
o Commencement of works for replacement heating system at Honeysuckle House and Alex Lyon House.
· Award of £216k of grant funding from the Mayoral Renewable Fund to install solar panels at Yearsley swimming pool, Acomb Explore and Joseph Rowntree School.
Property Services
111. There is capital budget of £2,323k for 2025/26 for Property Services including £644k slippage from 2024/25.
112. Roofing works are nearing completion at Shambles. Structural repairs are due to commence shortly on a CYC commercial property at Castlegate and the West Offices required data cooler equipment is out to tender.
113. Refresher surveys are underway to update CYC’s asbestos records. No areas of concern have yet been flagged and whilst the surveys are not yet complete across the portfolio, we have reduced call on this budget requesting £100k slippage to 26/27. After the surveys are complete a further £100k could possibly be cut from the capital budget this year.
114. Specification of works has been drawn up for works to salt barn and Hazel Court roof with tender exercises to follow. Due to need to utilise the salt barn in Winter, works are likely to start Spring next year. Hazel Court roof works are also likely to take place in the spring, it’s therefore requested that £300k for these are slipped to 26/27
Corporate Services - IT
115. The ICT capital programme has a budget of £4,109k for 2025/26 which includes £939k slippage from last year.
116. Key achievements to date include:
· The procurement of our Barracuda and Trend renewals has commenced, both are essential elements of the ICT Security Technology Stack.
· The EDRMS (Documentum) contract has been extended for 12 months to facilitate the initial timeline for the work to explore the document retention requirements across the authority.
· The new/replacement MFD/print estate contract procurement is progressing positively.
· Implementation of a standard ICT kit offer to all hybrid workers and funded within the Capital budget. A successful trial of an appropriate tablet device has also been completed and requests for these is expected to increase as the benefits to users are realised.
117. The majority of the phased Always On Virtual Private Network project has been successfully implemented across our complex and diverse customer base
York’s Heritage Estate
118. York’s heritage is highly valued and economically important with a GVA of £2.1bn providing employment opportunities for residents as well as providing cultural destinations and opportunities for learning ang growth, for residents and visitors alike. The estate is globally renowned with the largest number of heritage assets per square mile in England outside of London.
119. The council has over 100 grade 1, 2, and 2* heritage buildings, with no current strategy to enhance or conserve, and with key tenants identifying unfunded maintenance liabilities. CYC will need to identify external public funding partners to fully protect this nationally significant asset. As part of the programme, identifying opportunities for space for economic growth and supporting skills development across this often underused built resource will also help provide a financially viable estate and support delivery of core council services to residents. All of this requires a very different approach to ensure the city’s globally renown heritage is future fit for the decades ahead.
120. Funding is potentially available from national funding bodies however there is a need to develop strong business cases and a coherent masterplan as to where to best house the collections and whether buildings need investment in their current location or whether there are better alternatives for new buildings, consolidation or new purpose built locations.
121. It is proposed that council invests in a programme to review and co-design a 10year heritage asset strategic delivery plan which will aim to attract investment into York in order to retain and enhance the magnificent heritage advantage that the city is able to offer.
122. It is recommended to allocate £250k from the capital contingency to support this work stream which if successful will deliver external investment into the city’s heritage assets, drive economic and employment benefits and prevent the ability to provide other core council functions from being eroded. This will provide a programme manager, alongside technical consultancy and business case support alongside wider engagement across the city.
123. The capital contingency totals £1,376k. If this recommendation was to be approved it will reduce to £1,126k. This will be reflected in the Monitor 2 report.
Organisational
Impact and Implications
124. The report has the following implications:
· Financial - are contained throughout the main body of the report. Given the forecast financial position of the Council and the need to reduce expenditure, there will be a review of the capital programme. This review will need to identify ways in which capital expenditure can also be reduced.
· Human Resources (HR) - There are no direct HR implications as a result of this report. Any variations to the capital programme that have staffing implications will follow appropriate consultation and HR policies and procedures.
Legal- Whilst this report itself does not have any further legal implications, the schemes within the capital programme themselves will be in receipt of legal advice where necessary
· Procurement – Whilst there are no direct procurement implications relating to the report itself, procurement will be a main tool used to deliver schemes in the capital programme. Any services of works required, will be procured in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023 and the Council’s Contract Procedure Rules. Further advice regarding the procurement process and development of procurement strategies must be sought from the Commercial Procurement team.
· Health and Wellbeing, reductions in spend in some areas could impact on the health and wellbeing of both our staff and residents. The impact of any reductions in the capital programme will be carefully monitored so that implications can be considered and mitigated where possible.
· Environment and Climate action, as this report is mainly for information to update on the progress of delivery of schemes within the programme, there are no direct environment and climate action implications as a result of this report.
· Affordability, as this report is mainly for information to update on the progress of delivery of schemes within the programme, there are no direct affordability implications as a result of this report.
· Equalities and Human Rights -– as this report is mainly for information to update on the progress of delivery of schemes within the programme, there are no direct equalities and human rights implications as a result of this report. All individual schemes will be subject to Impact Assessments in the usual way.
· Data Protection and Privacy, As there is no personal data, special categories of personal data or criminal offence data being processed, there is no requirement to complete a data protection impact assessment (DPIA).
· Communications, the information set out in this report does not have any specific communications implications.
· Economy, there are no direct implications related to the recommendations.
Risks and Mitigations
125. There are a number of risks inherent in the delivery of a large scale capital programme. To mitigate against these risks the capital programme is regularly monitored as part of the corporate monitoring process, and the project management framework. This is supplemented by internal and external audit reviews of major projects.
Wards Impacted
126. All wards are impacted by the issues detailed in the report.
Contact details
For further information please contact the authors of this Decision Report.
Author
|
Name: |
Emma Audrain |
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Job Title: |
Technical Accountant |
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Service Area: |
Financial Services |
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Telephone: |
01904 551170 |
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Report approved: |
Yes |
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Date: |
19/08/2025 |
Background papers
· Capital Budget 2025/26 to 2029/30 - Executive 21 January 2025
· Capital Programme Outturn 2024-25 - Executive 15 July 2025
Annexes
· Annex 1 – Capital Programme 2025/26 to 2029/30