Cabinet will soon consider the Council’s proposed capital programme for the next three years. As part of this, a targeted investment of £16 million is proposed for 2025/26 – for priorities like highways, structures, parks, Multi Use Games Areas, green spaces, leisure centres and flood alleviation. This is over and above the normal capital programme, representing a one-off investment across key services.
The proposed funding would include a specific allocation of £1.5 million for an important maintenance programme to be delivered at the Park and Dare Theatre, Treorchy, to future-proof the much-valued venue for the community.
On Wednesday, February 19, Cabinet will consider a report that details a proposed three-year capital programme, representing a £225 million investment across Council services between 2025/26 and 2027/28. Members could recommend that Full Council agrees the programme on March 5.
It includes a fully-funded core capital programme of £46.7 million over the next three years, alongside external grant funding and the use of specific Council reserves that have already been allocated. Further detail about how service areas will be supported is included in Wednesday’s Cabinet report.
The report also notes a further one-off investment opportunity for 2025/26, totalling £16.05 million, which could be invested in the following priority areas:
- Highways Maintenance – £6.57m.
- Unadopted Roads – £200,000.
- Highways Structures – £3.5m.
- Flood Alleviation – £500,000.
- Parks Structures Improvements – £250,000.
- Parks and Green Spaces – £1.5m.
- Skate Parks – £350,000.
- Play Areas – £400,000.
- Multi Use Games Areas – £230,000.
- Park and Dare Theatre – £1.5m.
- Leisure Centres – £500,000.
- War Memorials – £50,000.
- Capital Programme Pipeline Development – £500,000.
If agreed, a large element of this investment would use the Highways Management Local Government Borrowing Initiative from Welsh Government, which is supporting Local Authorities to finance infrastructure projects. The remaining investment would use Council funding set aside for Investment and Infrastructure – while retaining £7.1 million in reserve for future priorities.
Councillor Andrew Morgan OBE, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council and Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Investment, said: “Our rolling three-year Capital Programme continues to plan our investment across key Council services for the period ahead, and Cabinet will shortly consider the latest programme that will run up to 2027/28. The proposed £225 million programme includes our core budget, plus specific grants in support of it – representing major investment, particularly in comparison with other councils.
“Once again, we’ve been able to bring forward extra investment over and above our rolling capital programme – proposing to fund £16 million for priority areas in 2025/26. This time last year we agreed a similar investment of £19 million, and that was followed by an extra £6.9 million of funding for our priorities in September 2024. If agreed, the newly-proposed funding would bring our total investment of this kind to around £204 million since 2015.
“These extra resources would allocate more than £10 million across Highways maintenance, structures, and unadopted roads next year, taking advantage of Welsh Government funding that is available. Our capital programme for roads continues to support an accelerated funding approach, which has consistently reduced the percentage of locations in need of repair. It also helps us improve and adopt private roads that have not been acceptably maintained, and allows the future-proofing of around 1,500 structures like walls, bridges and culverts.
“Important £1.5 million funding is also included for the Park and Dare Theatre in Treorchy – to support a major maintenance programme that is needed for the historic building. This will ensure that the much-loved venue will be fit for the future, and available for the enjoyment of residents for years to come.
“The proposed funding also includes half-a-million pounds to further our investment in targeted flood alleviation schemes, as we proactively respond to the threat of climate change. This Council funding will be vital to help lever in millions of pounds in Welsh Government investment for flood alleviation, as we bid for funding across several established programmes that continue to help protect our communities.
“In addition, £1.5 million could be allocated for parks and green spaces, along with an investment in outdoor play and leisure facilities such as skate parks, play areas, and Multi Use Games Areas. Our leisure centres would also receive half-a-million pounds in capital funding.
“Despite continued financial challenges reflected across Local Government, I’m pleased the Council has once again identified a one-off capital investment for extra resources across our priority areas. If approved, this would make a real difference to our delivery of the services that residents really care about.”
Posted on 14/02/2025