The Council’s capital programme for 2007/08 includes new primary and secondary school improvements, continued investments in services for older people, road building and other transport and environmental improvements, enhancements to libraries and work to provide a new County Record Office facility.
Deputy Leader Tony Reid said “This programme will help local communities across the County. Some projects will take a number of years but when completed this programme will benefit all residents as well as some key groups such as older people”.
“Every scheme in our capital programme is heavily scrutinised. It must meet our priorities and provide value for money” said Councillor Reid. “Local people have made it clear that they want quality services but do not want a big increase in council tax. This programme, as well as all our other budget plans, will be met from within the council tax rise of 4.3% for next year assisted by our success in maximising grants and funding from external sources”.
Notes to editors
Schemes making up the £77m programme in 2007/08 include:
Children’s Services:
- An additional £800,000 for the redevelopment of Newhaven Tideway School.
- Funding to start the £35m Bexhill High School re-build under the Building Schools for the Future programme.
- Work on the new £3.7m sixth form at Ringmer Community College.
- £200,000 for a new design technology room at Uplands Community College, Wadhurst.
- £6.4m for new children’s centres
- Over £3m for Rye area primary schools
Adult Social Care:
- £6.5m for the start of the Age Well project – this £39m PFI scheme will improve care for older people at centres in Hastings, Uckfield and Ringmer plus a new centre in Rother.
- Over £1m to upgrade centre’s for adults with learning difficulties at Beeching Park in Bexhill and the Conquest Centre in Hastings.
- More than £900,000 for work to improve learning disability services at Firstfields in Hailsham and Linden Court in Eastbourne.
- Over £400,000 on the continuing programme of house adaptations for people with disabilities.
Transport & Environment:
- Continuing work on the early stages of the Hastings to Bexhill Link Road
- Over £10m on local transport schemes such as the Hastings – Kings Road Corridor – Regeneration in partnership with Hastings BC, the introduction of Real Time Bus Information and Management System at Eastbourne and the £1m A259 scheme to introduce bus lanes and related measures on the South Coast Road, Peacehaven.
- £400,000 for street lighting and rights of way repair work
Community Services:
- £870,000 for new library provision
Other:
- £2.6m on building maintenance
Reference:
1377
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