Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Finance, Procurement and Transformation Committee [10 September 2019] will consider an update on its Capital Investment Strategy, which will see £32.6m worth of investment into capital and infrastructure projects across the region.
The Council’s budget, agreed in February 2019, made significant investment in regional and local priorities, including;
• £961,000 spent this year for Flood Protection Schemes in Newton Stewart, Langholm and Stranraer.
• £7.15m to carry out repairs and maintenance in schools and to fund works required to increase capacity for the increase in hours of early learning and childcare.
• More than £9m to maintain roads, pavements, street lighting and invest in active travel and traffic measures.
As part of the Local Government Finance Settlement, Dumfries and Galloway Council received £1.53m to invest in Town Centres to stimulate and support economic development. Conditions were attached, which means the funding must be committed by March 2020 and projects completed by September 2020. The Council has already engaged with local groups and organisations and have plans in place to ensure all this funding is utilised to support Town Centres across the region.
Councillor Adam Wilson, Chair of the Finance, Procurement and Transformation committee, said, “This financial year our Council will spend more than £32m on capital and infrastructure projects to support local and regional priorities. Despite reducing funding from the Scottish Government, our Council continues to invest in schools, roads and other local priorities.”
Councillor Henry McClelland, Vice Chair, said: “We must focus our capital spending to ensure that we can target it effectively and maximise its impact, supporting local communities, creating and supporting employment, and building sustainable communities. We’ve been able to align regional and national priorities to capitalise on the Scottish Government Town Centre Funding, national Flood Protection Scheme support, and the capital grants from government to help roll out the 1140 hours Early Learning and Childcare programme. We’re also tapping into national capital investment for active travel schemes through Sustrans Scotland that will improve key links between our communities.”
Full report: https://dumfriesgalloway.moderngov.co.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=552&MId=4833
