Agenda item - Capital Programme Monitor 1

This report informs the Executive Member of the likely out-turn position of the 2008/09 Capital Programme. It advises of changes to existing schemes to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital programme and to inform members of any new schemes and seek approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member be advised to:

(i) Note the updates to scheme as detailed in the report

(ii) Agree the scheme amendments and additions reported and summarised in Annex A

(iii) Approve the revised capital programme as set out in Annex A

(iv) Agree to continue to seek ways to implement a scheme to refresh the landscaping of the War Memorial Gardens in the future and in the meanwhile

(a) Transfer the £10k into the Parks S106 Development Fund for use on a suitable scheme within the Micklegate/Holgate area with a particular steer towards refurbishment of the toilet facilities in Westbank Park

(b) Seek additional funding sources for the War Memorial Gardens scheme, including through the 2009/10 CRAM process.

Decision of the Executive Member

RESOLVED: That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON: (i) To enable the effective management and monitoring of the capital programme

(ii) To allocate the £10k currently in the capital programme to the most appropriate use.

Members considered a report informing them of the likely out-turn position of the 2008-09 Capital Programme based on the spend profile and information to the end of July 2008. The report advised Members of changes to existing schemes to allow the more effective management and monitoring of the Capital Programme and informed them of any new schemes and sought approval for their addition to the Capital Programme.

Officers updated that the first monitor shows that the schemes are running as expected. Officers went on to outline 2 new projects under the remit of the museum service. There is 400k in the programme for 2008/09 and this will be used in the following ways; The first project will be at the Castle Museum where the cell area will be developed into an exhibit detailing York’s prison history. It is anticipated that this will be open by Summer 2009. The second project will be at the Yorkshire Museum and will see the museum transformed to have 3 comprehensive areas focusing on the history of York with the Roman era taking the lead. It is anticipated that this project will be ready by 2010.

Officers also reported on a scheme to develop the garden area behind the Art Gallery. Members welcomed this proposal.

Officers advised that there is funding amounting to 10k which has been included in the Capital Programme as a contribution towards the re-fencing of the War memorial Gardens on Leeman Road. It was intended that extra money would be found from external sources to help with this but this has not been found,. Consequently the scheme needs to be reconsidered. Members suggested that the gardens could be re-landscaped and opened up to discourage anti social behaviour and congregation rather then fencing them off. Some Members were keen to see the money used in other areas of the Micklegate/Holgate Ward and suggested it be used to refurbish the toilet facilities in Westbank Park. Members commented that other parks in other areas of the city are also in need of work doing to them.

Members suggested that a CRAM bid should be put in to enable all the work to be carried out. Members asked if officers could provide an estimate of how much all the work would cost.