Agenda item

Report of the Chamberlain.

The Sub-Committee considered a report of the Chamberlain concerning capital prioritisation and the 2020/21 round of annual capital bids.

Members discussed the bid for up to £1.9m for the Wanstead Flats Artificial Grass Pitches from City’s Cash. Some Members felt that this scheme was not essential and should not be approved, whereas others felt that it was essential due to the pressure on open spaces during the pandemic and that it was an invest to save scheme.

A further discussion took place in non-public session, where a ballot took place to agree whether to defer the decisions on bids until the next meeting and until a reprioritisation assessment had been undertaken by the Chamberlain, or to agree the report and recommendations now.

RESOLVED, that:-

·         Further information be circulated electronically to all Members of the Resource Allocation Sub Committee concerning what would need to be reprioritised if the Wanstead Flats Artificial Grass Pitches were to be approved and delegated authority be granted to the Town Clerk, in consultation with the Chair and Deputy Chairman, to:-

o   To review the four schemes listed in Table 1 (detailed in paragraph 7) and, in the context of the current crisis, to confirm their continued essential priority for release of funding at this time.

o   That subject to this confirmation, to agree to the release of up to £5.057m for schemes (i) to (vi) from the reserves of the three funds as set out in Table 1, subject to the approval of the relevant gateway reports.

o   To consider the ‘in principle’ allocation of central funding for the three new schemes submitted outside of the 2020/21 annual bid process (detailed in paragraph 8):

(i) Transportation response to Covid-19 Phase 3 – up to £568.5k (City Fund)

(ii)COLPAI Temporary Accommodation additional costs £283.1k (City’s Cash)

(iii) Wanstead Flats Artificial Grass Pitches £1.9m (City’s Cash)

o   That subject to ‘in principle’ approval of bids (i) and (ii) above, to agree to the immediate release of funding of up to £568.5k from the On-Street Parking Reserve (also noting the loss of £336k in potential income) and £283.1k from the City’s Cash provision, with funding to be identified from within the approved provisions set aside for the 2020/21 capital bids.

·         It be noted that an assessment of the financial impact and practical implications of Covid-19 on the 46 approved 2020/21 annual bids is underway to identify schemes for possible deferral, with a view to identifying substitute funding for the new bids.

·         It be noted that officers are being encouraged, in the first instance, to explore the opportunities to de-scope projects to contain increased costs arising from Covid-19 within the existing funding envelope.