A projected overspend at Bridgend Council has increased by £1.2million over the last financial quarter according to a report due to be discussed by the Cabinet later today (pdf).
The projected overspend rose from just over £9.7million to a little over £10.9million. As with last time, most of this is driven by increasing demand for social services, as well as a long-standing overspend on home-school transport.
Inflation has also forced the council to redirect up to £2million to deal with rising energy bills.
Of the budget cuts identified in the 2023-24 budget, the council expects to fall short by £130,000 as thing currently stand.
Maesteg Washery housing project “scrapped”; more than £15million worth of projects face delays
In a separate report (pdf), council officers expect £15.8million worth of capital projects to slip into future financial years.
These delayed projects include:
- Porthcawl Grand Pavilion refurbishment: Caused by delays in receiving UK Government “Levelling Up” funding. Work is expected to start next year – more on this shortly.
- Porthcawl Regeneration: While enabling and development work has started at Salt Lake, most projects are already delayed.
- Bridgend District Heat Scheme: The financial model for the first phase in and around Sunnyside “is no longer viable”, so work is being taken forward on a business case for a larger project.
- New Council Depot: Nothing has progressed due to the Parc Afon Ewenni residential zone being scrapped over new flood plain development assessments.
A £217,000 underspend on infrastructure relating to the 20mph restricted road speed limit will be returned to the Welsh Government.
Also, a request to the Welsh Government to covert a Llynfi Valley development programme loan into a grant was unsuccessful.
This means a project to deliver more than 60 affordable and social housing on land at the former Maesteg Washery has been removed from the capital programme. Another important bit to note is that there’s no update on remediation work to repair homes in Caerau following the Arbed scandal.
New capital projects included
Some of the new projects being taken forward in this financial year include:
- £928,000 towards Additional Learning Needs accessibility for post-16 learners.
- £784,000 towards a walking and cycling link between the Ogmore Valley community route and Ynysawdre.
- £580,000 Flying Start extension at Nantymoel Primary School.
- £200,000 to improve coal tip safety.
- £194,000 towards the new Flower Court at Coychurch Crematorium.
- £115,000 to improve local nature habitats.
- £110,000 to complete the Porthcawl Cycle Scheme.
- £100,000 to provide an extension at short stay Breakaway care provision.
