Release Date: 11/01/2008
A record £165m is being earmarked by Richmond Council for spending on its capital programme over the next five years, with sustainability at its heart.
In the next financial year alone a total of £51m of capital investment is planned.
The proposals will go before the Council’s Cabinet on Monday, January 14, prior to consideration by the full Council in March.
Cllr Stephen Knight, Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Resources, said:
“These spending plans represent the Council’s biggest-ever capital investment programme.
“A sustainable approach to building schemes is a key feature throughout.
“This Council aims to be an exemplar on sustainability. We want to lead by example in tackling climate change and we aim to achieve the highest environmental standards in all our projects, whether they are new building schemes or refurbishments.
“This capital programme is a major step forward in achieving our priorities, especially in terms of improving school buildings.”
Education comprises the biggest single slice of spending in the five year programme (£108m) of which £63m is earmarked for school modernisation projects.
In addition, a total of £29m is planned for Adult and Community Services, of which £15m is being set aside for new affordable housing.
Planned spending on environmental improvements is £7m, while spending on improvements to youth centres will total £1m.
The programme is funded from a variety of sources, including Government grant, receipts from the sale of Council assets and use of the Council’s own reserves.