Millions of pounds earmarked for schools, housing and roads in council’s Capital budget

Thousands of pupils from communities across Swansea could benefit from one of the biggest-ever investments in new schools and upgrades in the coming years.Around £150m in capital funding has been earmarked for upgrading schools as part of the Budget being considered by Swansea Council’s Cabinet next week.On top of that a pot of more than £57m has been earmarked for upgrading hundreds of council homes which includes cash for new-build council houses.The council houses upgrade for kitchens and bathrooms is part of a continuing £220m improvement programme designed to meet the Wales Quality Housing Standard that’s also helping create and protect hundreds of jobs.And more money has also been earmarked for highways improvements, including an extra £1.4m being spent on road maintenance and improving traffic management.The proposals are all part of the council’s Capital Budget plans which will go to Full Council on March 1 for a final decision.There’s also future investment planned for the council’s share of the £1.3bn City Deal which will transform the whole of south-west Wales in the years ahead. The capital programme will increase further as the City Deal comes fully on stream.While Councils are allowed to allocate funding for roads and building investment from a number of sources, including borrowing, capital budgets cannot be used to run day-to-day council services, budgets for which have seen significant reductions over recent years.