Clackmannanshire Council Online

Significant Capital Investment Agreed

Over £14 million will be invested in Clackmannanshire's schools, public buildings and roads in 2014/15.

The capital expenditure, which pays for permanent improvements such as new buildings and refurbishments, was agreed at today's Special Council meeting.

The meeting heard that a Corporate Asset Management Strategy is being developed which will help the Council to take a longer term view of priorities. It is anticipated that the new strategy will be closely aligned with ambitions and priorities expressed through our business improvement programme 'Making Clackmannanshire Better'.

The new investment agreed at today's meeting includes:

• Installation of fibre optic broadband at Redwell Primary School at a cost of £140,000
• Rollout of a new £75,000 IT system across Social Services to improved integration across the shared service
• A £100,000 programme of upgrades to school IT equipment
• £300,000 to improve access to Mill Glen, Tillicoultry
• An additional £1.5million has been earmarked for road improvements. This includes £250,000 for new street lights, £50,000 for anti-skid surfacing on the A907, £79,000 to complete the B9140 bends work and three new cycle routes: Tullibody to Cambus, Tullibody to Lornshill Academy and Helensfield at a cost of £255,000.

Phase Two of the Village and Small Town Centre Initiative was agreed with a sum of £400,000 every two years up to 2019/20 set aside. This programme of activity aims to provide funding to enhance the main streets in the town and village centres across the area with further improvements to Sauchie Main Street and the next phase of activity will prioritised for Tullibody, subject to the completion of more detailed programme of works. Officers have also been asked to draw up proposals for the subsequent phases which will focus on Tillicoultry, Clackmannan and Alva.

Community Development Grants are also to be established as part of 'Making Clackmannanshire Better', with a fund of £200,000 allocated. The funding aims to incentivise communities to work with the Council to improve the physical environment and community facilities.

£238,000 has been allocated to improvements in Tullibody and £200,000 to improve the Bowmar area of Alloa, including the creation of a new skate park.

The new investment agreed equates to £6.430 million over the six financial years between 2014/15 to 2019/20.

In addition, significant recurrent investments were agreed. These include:

• School development funding maintained at £1 million each year
• 'Making Clackmannanshire Better' funding increased to £2.1 million in 2014/15 and thereafter maintained at £1.250 million per year
• Roads and paths improvements increased to an average of £2.02m over the next six years
• Parks, play areas and open spaces maintained with £50,000 each year
• Vehicle replacement programme £500,000 each year
• An average of £610,000 per year invested in street lighting
• Investment in new IT in schools of £100,000 per annum
• New IT infrastructure worth £300,000 each year

In total, these recurrent investments account for £37.45million over the five year period to March 2020.

Council Leader Gary Womersley, said: "This capital programme is targeting some important areas including our communities, roads and schools. The majority of the programme is aligned with the priorities identified as part of Making Clackmannanshire Better, as part of our ongoing commitment, despite current financial challenges, to deliver for Clackmannanshire."