It is not always clear how capital plans are helping councils in Wales to deliver their priorities, auditors have concluded.
A new report by Audit Wales looks at how well councils plan their capital spending, focusing on how well-informed their plans are and if they clearly set out intended outcomes.
It found that it is not always clear how capital plans are helping delivery, which means it is difficult for councils to know if they are achieving value for money.
Audit Wales also urged councils to improve their knowledge of the condition of the assets they manage and include this in their capital plan. This would give them a better idea of the cost of maintaining assets for the future and the size of any funding gaps.
The auditor’s report recommends that councils review their capital planning arrangements using a checklist provided by Audit Wales, which sets out key aspects of effective capital planning.
It also recommends that councils support councillors with training focused on capital planning, make sure that asset condition information is up to date, and regularly assess the effectiveness of capital projects.
