Overall, the council’s 10 year capital plan will see nearly £320 million spent on local assets. Capital budgets are one off investment that are used to improve assets. This includes refurbishing buildings, play areas, parks and roads. It also includes one off investment such as new schools or extensions.

Assets can be broken down into four main areas:

• Property
• Roads and related assets (such as bridges, footpaths etc)
• Open spaces
• Information Communication Technology (including schools)

The overall capital budget last year was £69.1 million and officers provided an update at today’s Council Executive to confirm the stages of various projects.

Resourcing challenges (an example being the availability of external contractors to do the work and recruitment of staff) particularly in the Roads and Property capital budgets, has resulted in some delays to projects, resulting in last year’s underspend.

However, senior council officers confirmed that the projects and underspend from last year will move forward to this year with many projects already planned.

Here’s a snapshot of programmes planned within roads:

In 2023/24, there will be investment of £4.379 million in roads and footways. This includes works on A71 Lizzie Brice roundabout to Oakbank roundabout and the A71 Newpark roundabout. Resurfacing work on the A706 Whitdale Roundabout will be carried out in conjunction with the proposed cycle/waling improvements.

A number of projects originally planned for 2023/24 will be undertaken in 2024/25 due o the development works impacting the road networks. This includes the A801 Heatherfield to Westfield Roundabout, A89 between Dechmont & Kilpunt Roundabout, A89 Mossbank to Dechmont and B9080 Winchburgh Main Street.

Investment of £300,000 has been allocated for road casualty schemes this year.

There will also be significant investment in street lighting, bridges and flood prevention within the Broxburn area.