Purpose

To approve the release of Capital Programme budgets for projects that have progressed through the Capital Gateway

Decision

The Leader APPROVED:

(1)     The drawdown of £155k from the East West Rail Work in Kind Reserve to fund and progress an Economic Study to support a future strategic business case for the East West Rail (EWR) Link to Aylesbury

(2)     The release of £300k from the existing Special School Places funding block to progress to design stage for an expansion at Heritage House Special School to admit an additional 30 post-16 pupils.

(3)     A variation of the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 allocation (£3,612,000 over period 2026/27 – 2029/30) to the Capital Programme.  Accepting the Local Authority Housing Fund Round 4 (LAHF R4) allocation and the inclusion and reprofiling of the grant within the capital programme in line with the Memorandum of Understanding. Allocation of £2.409m of LAHF fund to a Registered Provider through a grant agreement to support delivery of 11 accommodation units at High Wycombe. Delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Planning, Growth and Sustainability, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Housing, to enter into a grant agreement, with Registered Providers for the remaining LAHF R4 grant, to enable delivery of the Council’s commitments under the LAHF R4 Memorandum of Understanding.

(4)     The addition and release of the ringfenced s.106 schemes totalling £256,061 summarised in the Appendix 1.

(5)     The release of £2,100,000 from the Affordable Housing Capital budget to enable the provision of 50 units of additional affordable housing in Buckinghamshire.