Despite the challenging economic climate, Aberdeenshire Council will consider plans for a £391million building programme at a special meeting of the council’s Policy and Resources Committee this week.

The meeting follows a detailed review of the authority’s Corporate Asset Management Plan and Capital Plan 2010-2025 to take account of anticipated budget pressures over the coming years.

The revised Capital Plan outlines a wide range of schemes totalling almost £391million that would be progressed across Aberdeenshire across the next six financial years.

The report will be considered by the committee during the session in Woodhill House, Aberdeen, on Thursday.

Committee chair Cllr Anne Robertson said: “At a time when council budgets are under severe pressure it is essential that we ensure our capital projects remain affordable and deliverable.

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“This means taking an approach that is realistic and follows a set process, and I welcome the opportunity for councillors to have a robust debate about the future building programme for Aberdeenshire.

“A lot of detailed work has been done to revise the Capital Plan and the report coming before committee outlines that a significant amount of funding is available to deliver a wide range of projects.”

The revised Capital Plan outlines a wide range of suggested spending priorities ranging from replacement and upgraded schools to replacement care homes and various infrastructure projects.

Each project has been rigorously assessed by the council’s Capital Plan and Asset Management Group, formed earlier this year with the task of undertaking the review.

And while it will be recommended that a number of projects are not brought forward at this time, or phased over a longer timescale, the revised plan focuses on priority projects assessed to be affordable at this time.

The report to go before councillors highlights: “Whilst there has been significant reduction in the overall scope of the plan, it is evident that there is a considerable menu of projects amounting to approximately £391million being expended over the next six financial years.”

The committee will be asked to approve the updated Corporate Asset Management Plan and the revised Capital Plan.

The meeting comes on the same day as the full council is due to discuss the authority’s latest position in terms of budget planning, with a view to considering a draft revenue budget for 2011-13 in November this year.

(GK)