Cllr Symon Fraser, Cllr Felicity Temple and Cllr Barbara Hall support investment

ACCELERATED CAPITAL PROGRAMME

Around £100m worth of East Riding of Yorkshire Council capital expenditure
could be brought forward over the next three years to provide jobs in the
current economic climate under an ambitious scheme being considered next
week.

On Wednesday, 25 February, the council will consider the proposals for an
accelerated capital programme which will see a raft of future projects
started sooner than originally planned, as part of a drive to create
upwards of 500 East Riding jobs for local people.

Currently the capital programme is between £80m to £90m a year for the next
three years with a total overall forward programme in excess of £600m.  On
Wednesday the council will vote on whether to bring forward around £100m
worth of spending, meaning an extra £30m of investment each year until
2012.

The leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, Councillor Stephen Parnaby,
OBE, said: "We have been looking at action we can take as an authority with
a responsibility to do everything we can for the local economy.  Elsewhere
there has been a lot of talking and a lot of committees have been set up,
but in real terms not a lot is happening.

"This is about providing local jobs for local people, particularly in the
building and construction industries.  Bringing so many high-profile
projects forward is the sort of thing we can do that will help local
industry straight away."

Schemes which could be accelerated include major projects such as a £16m
redevelopment of the Leisure World site in Bridlington, which will create a
multi-purpose centre providing a range of community services beyond the
current offering.

Road-users will benefit from £12m of work to upgrade six roundabouts and
one miles of road on the A164 between the Humber Bridge and Beverley in a
plan which will also create around four miles of footway and cycle-paths.

There are also proposals to create between 200 and 350 new council homes
and significant further investment to refurbish existing housing stock to
meet decent homes standards.

The news has been welcomed by local construction firms.

Keith Gilson, commercial director for Houlton, said: "This is an extremely
positive move, demonstrating the council’s commitment to private sector
engagement, and a real boost to a hard-pressed construction sector.

"With 70 per cent of our supply chain being locally based the multiplier
effect of this significant initiative will be felt and appreciated
throughout the sub region."

Neil Symmonds, commercial director for Hall Construction Group Ltd, said:
"Any opportunities that arise by bringing forward public spending will be
welcomed by the Hall Construction Group who are looking forward to
strengthening the already mutually beneficial partnership relationship with
the East Riding of Yorkshire Council.

"This strategy can only assist in helping to secure local jobs and provide
opportunities in the local area that may otherwise be lacking.

"We remain delighted to be working with an authority that recognises the
benefits of partnership working both in good and difficult periods"

Further proposals which look set to be accelerated as part of the scheme
include £6.5m for education buildings and funding for the replacement of
two council depots at Goole and Hedon.

Around £7m would also be spent on the provision of three new multi-purpose
centres, which would include libraries and customer service facilities as
well as other community services run by the council.

An additional £2m will be spent on schemes following further investigations
into the problems of flooding.

Your Driffield & Rural Councillors, Symon Fraser, Felicity Temple and Barbara Hall fully support this proposal and will be working towards further investment in Driffield over the next three years.

February 2009