Decision details

RESOLVED

KEY DECISION

That the Executive:

i)             Approved the following changes to the capital programme:

a.            Garden Communities (sustainable urban extensions) - increase of £1.428m to the capital programme for 2022/23, which is to be funded from the Homes England Garden Communities Grant. 

b.            Changing Places, increase of £0.497m to the capital programme; £0.186m in 2022/23 and £0.311m in 2023/24, which £0.330m is to be funded from Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and £0.167m from capital receipts.

c.            Discover North Northamptonshire Tourism Hub – increase of £0.245m to the capital programme, which is to be funded from UK Shared Prosperity Fund.

d.            Street lighting LED upgrade project, increase of £6.170m to the capital programme; £3.033m in 2022/23, £2.157m in 2023/24 and £0.980m in 2024/25, to be funded from borrowing.

e.            Children’s Residential Home provision – increase of £0.762m to the capital programme to be funded from borrowing.

ii)            Recommended to Council to approve the following borrowing proposals for:

a.            the Street lighting LED Upgrade Project - £6.170m.

b.            Children’s Residential Homes provision - £0.762m

Reasons for Recommendations: These are set out in greater detail within section 5 of the report, but can be summarised as:

·         To support the delivery of sustainable urban extensions of 25,000 homes within North Northamptonshire. 

·         To improve changing facilities within North Northamptonshire.

·         To promote tourism hubs in targeted area within Rushden Lakes.

·         To support the delivery of energy efficient street lighting and reduce carbon emissions.

·         To support the delivery of children's residential places within Northamptonshire.

Alternative Options Considered:

·         Where grant funded, the use of the funding is in line with the agreement, and there is no alternative option proposed.

·         Where the schemes are not funded through a specific grant, then the alternative option at this stage would be to not approve them.  However, this would have an adverse impact on meeting service needs, reducing carbon and the completion of other improvements across North Northamptonshire.