Fife Council today agreed a Capital Investment Programme which will see £357 million pounds spent on delivering its top eight priorities over the next three years. And the council has agreed to fund a ten year plan which will see investment in Fife of around £600 million.

The plan includes investment in new schools, residential care homes for the elderly, improvements to technology, public facilities and infrastructure, more cash for sports and leisure facilities, community centres and halls, and more money for improving Fife's environment, local economic development and on road safety and traffic management.

Leader of the Administration Peter Grant said: "I'm delighted to announce our capital plan for the next three years and our commitment to a 10 year plan that will take us up to 2019. This investment commitment fulfills the promises we made to the people of Fife when we came into power last year. We clearly set out our vision for Fife in a set of eight priorities, which we felt were most important for Fife, and through this ambitious investment plan we will begin to make these happen.

"We firmly believe that our children are our future and we must invest in that future by providing them with an education which will give them the best possible start in life. By building new, 21st century schools for Fife we are creating the conditions necessary to reach our goal of raising attainment and achievement. These schools will be a source of pride where children can learn in purpose-built, modern, surroundings in order to achieve their full potential."

Detailed business plans for each of the proposed investments will be brought before the appropriate strategic committee for full consideration in developing the council's 10 year investment plan.

The proposal for 21st century schools for Fife is to begin by building a new primary school in the Dunfermline Eastern Expansion, and a new Burntisland Primary School. New buildings will replace Dunfermline High School and Madras College. There will also be a new high school in Kirkcaldy East as well as a replacement or refurbishment for Auchmuty High School. A programme has also been agreed which will start to remove temporary hutted accommodation in schools.

Depute Leader Cllr. Elizabeth Riches continued: "While our children are important, we have an equal duty of care to those who are no longer young and able to take care of themselves. It is their right to live out their lives with the dignity and respect we would all wish. The overwhelming majority of elderly people would choose to remain in their own home and as a local authority we strive wherever possible to provide the support they need to enable them to do that. Where this is no longer possible it is our duty to ensure that they are being cared for in safe, comfortable homes, which are fit for purpose.

"The service and care we provide in our homes is second to none but the age, design and state of repair of many of these buildings needs improvement. We are investing a record amount of money to ensure that our vulnerable older people are being cared for in buildings designed for that purpose. And a Best Value Review of Care Homes is being carried out to determine how best we provide the right accommodation for the elderly in Fife ensuring support for vulnerable people. This capital programme gives us the funding to support that process."

In order to become a top performing council it is necessary to invest in the systems, technology and facilities used to carry this out. £73m will be spent on a range of projects to help Fife Council reach this goal in the next three years.

Cllr. Riches said: "One of the most valuable assets which Fife Council has is its staff and we will do everything we can to ensure that they are not hindered in their jobs by inadequate or out-of-date systems, buildings and facilities. We want to provide the people of Fife with the best service we can and in order to do that we must provide the infrastructure needed to carry out the job.

"We are also creating an example for other businesses, who will see that we have the confidence to invest in Fife and they can too. To aid economic development in the kingdom we are investing millions in local economic development, traffic systems and Welcome Ports."

Over the next three years sport and leisure will receive an additional £5.25m to upgrade sports facilities and community halls and centres, with a further £5.5m pledged to a Dunfermline Cultural and Heritage Centre, subject to external funding being agreed.

In order to become a leading green council an initial sum of £6.1m has been agreed for a variety of projects which will improve land quality, improve recycling and reduce carbon emissions while creating safer residential areas.

An additional £340,000 over three years will be invested in improving road safety through out the kingdom making Fife a safer place for all.

Cllr. Riches concluded: "This is a very exciting time for Fife. I'm very proud to be able to announce this investment today and look forward to seeing all these fantastic projects coming to fruition."