Additional £7m investment agreed by Cabinet
Cabinet have agreed a fifth wave of capital investment in key priority areas through #RCTinvest – by allocating £7m for targeted highways, leisure and community hub schemes.
A report to the Cabinet meeting on Thursday, October 26, set out the Council’s current position with regard to one-off resources now available following a review of earmarked reserves. Cabinet Members agreed to the report’s recommendation to approve the wider £7m investment.
It includes funding towards major highways schemes and new 3G sports pitches, as well as the development of the Park and Ride capital programme, community hubs and to improve leisure centre changing rooms.
|
Investment Area |
Estimated Spend (£M) |
|
Funding for Major Highway Schemes |
3.000 |
|
Funding for 3G Pitches |
0.650 |
|
Park and Ride Programme |
1.000 |
|
Pontrhondda Bridge |
1.100 |
|
Community Hubs |
0.500 |
|
Leisure Centre Changing Rooms |
0.750 |
|
Total Investment |
7.000M |
The funding will see separate £1m investments made to develop major highways projects – the Llanharan Bypass scheme and the A4119 dualling between Coedely and Ynysmaerdy, known locally as ‘Stinkpot Hill’.
An additional £1m will also be invested in the Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link Scheme, bringing its total funding to more than £8.5m so far, while Cabinet have also agreed a £1.1m investment to replace Pontrhondda Bridge at Tyntyla Road between the Ystrad and Llwynypia wards.
Cabinet’s decision will see Bryncelynnog Comprehensive School in Beddau and Ysgol Gyfun Rhydywaun in Penywaun receive new community-use 3G sports pitches.
Thanks to the £1m investment in Park and Ride schemes, plans for stations in Treherbert, Ynyswen, Treorchy, Llwynypia, Trehafod, Cwmbach, Abercynon (Phase 2), Fernhill, Pontyclun and Llanharan will be further developed.
Councillor Andrew Morgan, Leader of Rhondda Cynon Taf Council, said: “At the meeting on Thursday, Cabinet agreed with recommendations to provide a significant £7m investment into a number of priority areas for the Council, to support the delivery of a number of public commitments.
“Our £200m #RCTinvest programme continues to deliver our ambitions right across the County Borough, in key investment areas such as Leisure, Schools, Play Areas, Highways, Housing, and Town and Village Centres.
“Among the investment is £600,000 funding to help deliver two more 3G, all-weather sports pitches, following a commitment made to sports clubs to improve local leisure facilities. It is another step forward in our ambitious plan for every resident to have access to such a facility in a three-mile radius.
“Three major highways schemes will also receive £1m to help them progress and develop. The Mountain Ash Cross Valley Link is making rapid on-site progress, while development works are ongoing for the new Llanharan Bypass and A4119 dualling at Tonyrefail.
“At the end of September, Cabinet agreed to the Council’s capital programme for Park and Ride schemes, with a combined total of more than 600 spaces set to be built across 10 railway stations. An additional £1m will be invested to further progress these schemes, along with a £1.1m investment for the necessary replacement of Pontrhondda Bridge.
"By remodelling the way we deliver our services the Council can provide key frontline services with less financial resources, and through targeted investment we can improve the services provided to residents. That is why Cabinet agreed to the £500,000 investment to develop Community Hubs.
“The #RCTinvest programme is ensuring that the Council, despite significant financial challenges, is able to help deliver vital improvements right across Rhondda Cynon Taf, despite the reducing revenue funding we received.”
Subject to the approval of Full Council in November, this additional investment will be funded through the release of one-off earmarked reserves.
