THOUSANDS of pounds have been approved by civic chiefs to be spent on improving projects throughout the district, writes Sophie Day.

At a cabinet meeting of Winchester City Council £835,000 was given the go-ahead to be spent on three schemes.

In a report presented by Cllr Martin Tod, cabinet member for service quality and transformation, it details that an extra £350, 000 is needed for the Durngate Flood Relief Scheme.

It states: “Due to increasing complexity as the scheme has developed, notably that it now qualifies as a reservoir under the Reservoirs Act, the overall estimated cost of the scheme has increased to up to £1.6m from the approved budget of £1.35m.”

However, the council has stated that a grant from the Environment Agency has been secured which will allow for the extra.

The meeting was also told that £350,000 is needed to spend on improving the Chesil multi-storey car park, including waterproofing and resurfacing levels 9 and 10 – costing £250,000.

It was also said that £40,000 will be used to refurbish the ground floor toilet, and £60,000 for replacement fire doors throughout.

Councillors approved £135,000 of Community Infrastructure Levy money – contributions from developers – to improve the Chilcomb Sports Ground pavilion.

The pavilion was acquired by Hampshire County Council in 2019, with works anticipated to begin early this year.

The approval for funds came as council chiefs were criticised by opposition Conservative councillor Caroline Brook.

She said: “Nine months in power and I see nothing really achieved at all apart from a climate emergency declaration.

“It seems you have been resting on your laurels rather looking for creative ways to generate that money meaning that any grants would be a bonus than a necessity

“I’ve heard this administration blame everything on the government or other councils to make cheap political shots. Using political excuses for their lack of progress, how much has your inactivity cost this council.”

Cllr Brook detailed a list of projects which she considered that the council had made a lack of progress on.

However, cabinet member for finance and risk, Cllr Neil Cutler, swiped back saying some of the investments made by the Tories were actually costing the authority money.

He said: “[There is] delusion that this council will make huge amounts of revenue by borrowing money and investing it for returns has proved that at the moment the strategic asset purchase scheme is costing this council revenue.

“We are continuing to look for investments, but we are not prepared to do it on an ideological basis as the previous administration had and lose money for this council.”