Legacy capital projects at risk, warns senior North Yorkshire councillor

North Yorkshire Council's County Hall headquarters in Northallerton. Picture: LDRS.

Capital projects proposed by North Yorkshire’s former borough and district councils could be cancelled unless new funding can be found, council bosses have warned.

Senior councillors at North Yorkshire Council say funding challenges faced by the council mean the so-called legacy projects are at risk of being shelved, with the money spent on statutory services such as health, children and vulnerable adults.

Deputy leader Councillor Gareth Dadd, executive member for finance and resources, said the authority was looking at prioritising schemes which were not already underway.

He said: “Given the financial outlook, both in capital terms and revenue terms, I think it’s absolutely imperative that we have, as a new authority, a prioritisation scheme, for want of a better term.

“All those legacy projects that have been hoped for in years to come quite frankly they ain’t going to be a priority financially when competing against some of the real deep moral issues that we’re having to deal with — I’m looking at children and young people’s services, and health and adult services.

“The world has changed over the last three or four years and therefore it’s right that we take a fresh look at these.”

The council said it was not about saying ‘no’ to everything.

But he added: “It’s about a business case coming forward and then making the cut against what is vitally important to this authority, but more importantly to the residents that we’re trying to protect and serve.”

A report prepared for this week’s executive committee meeting of the council identified a project to replace Malton Livestock Market as one of the schemes under threat.

The project, which would see the mart relocated to a new site near Eden Camp, could now only progress if still considered a priority and once a business case considering all the council’s funding options has been prepared.

Improvement work to Sherburn Town Centre is also at risk after delays in progressing the scheme resulted in the loss of the shared prosperity funding needed to complete it.

Alternative funding will now be required if the project is to be finished.

A legacy scheme relating to the Wyvern Park Industrial Estate in Skipton could also be halted until a new business case and funding options are considered.

The report states that the redevelopment of the former Argos Site and Market Place Regeneration Project, in Scarborough, has already been aborted due to the “viability gap outweighing the potential benefits of delivery”.

The documented added that several capital schemes where work had already started were also at risk of overrunning or costing more than planned.

Council officers say the Catterick Garrison town centre redevelopment is progressing after “significant savings” were found which they say do not compromise on the quality or aesthetics of the project.

However, the report adds: “The scheme is currently at a delicate stage in relation to the contract and final costs which could result in a possible further delay and the consequences that brings with it in relation to the supply chain and costs.”

Funding has been secured from the Transforming Cities Programme for Station Gateway improvements in Skipton, Harrogate and Selby, however, only the Skipton project is underway.

Contracts for Harrogate and Selby are yet to be signed due to ongoing design and cost issues.

Officers noted that the Harrogate scheme was also subject to legal challenge, “with timing and cost overruns putting the scheme at greater risk”.

The local authority is forecasting an annual deficit of between £30m and £35m due to rising costs and government funding cuts.

 

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