Issue - meetings

B Report of the Chief Executive (Copy herewith)

2.1       Cabinet authorised the appointment of KierWSP (the County Council’s approved highways contractor) to prepare and finalise the scheme design, inclusive of site clearance, intrusive site investigations, production of estimated costs, and to submit a planning application when appropriate.

2.2       Cabinet noted the informal consultation that has taken place with those business that may be directly affected by the proposed new link road and noted that further consultation would be undertaken as a part of the proposed planning application process.

2.3       Cabinet noted and welcomed the award of Local Growth Fund II and Growing Places Funding from SEMLEP, and the agreement to further support the scheme through the use of Enterprise Zone Business Rates Uplift.

2.4       Cabinet authorised the expenditure of up to £600,000 for site clearance, site investigations, design work and the purchase of a small parcel of land from Network Rail that the route of the proposed link road would traverse.                                                         

2.5       Cabinet approved appropriate provision for this scheme in the capital programme over the period 2017/18 – 2019/20 inclusive, and the allocation of £600,000 into the Capital Programme from the Development Pool.

2.6       Cabinet authorised the Chief Executive, acting in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration Enterprise & Planning, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer, to purchase, on terms to be agreed, a small parcel of land required for this scheme from Network Rail.

2.7       Cabinet authorised the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer to arrange the preparation and execution of such contractual and other legal documents as are necessary to give effect to the above recommendations.

2.8       Cabinet authorised the Chief Executive to submit a further progress report to Cabinet when appropriate.

Councillor Ashraf commented that the proposed St James Mill Link Road had been on the agenda for too long and that a lack of progress and a thorough timetable of was not providing assurance to local businesses. She also questioned the impact of increased air pollution in the area.

The Leader commented that there was a clear schedule in place but that discoveries in the ground might impact on the timetable in the future.

Councillor Hadland as the relevant Cabinet Member elaborated on his report and commented that the Council were currently at the point of entering into a deal with Network Rail but that this had yet to be sealed. He noted his frustrations with the delays but commented that the Council were committed to progressing and moving the proposed project forward. He reported that additional consultation with businesses would be undertaken through the planning process.

RESOLVED:

2.1     That the appointment of KierWSP (the County Council’s approved highways contractor) to prepare and finalise the scheme design, inclusive of site clearance, intrusive site investigations, production of estimated costs, and to submit a planning application when appropriate be authorised.

2.2     That the informal consultation that has taken place with those business that may be directly affected by the proposed new link road be noted and that further consultation would be undertaken as a part of the proposed planning application process.

2.3     That the award of Local Growth Fund II and Growing Places Funding from SEMLEP be noted and welcomed and the agreement to further support the scheme through the use of Enterprise Zone Business Rates Uplift be noted.

2.4     That authorisation be granted for the expenditure of up to £600,000 for site clearance, site investigations, design work and the purchase of a small parcel of land from Network Rail that the route of the proposed link road would traverse.                                     

2.5     That appropriate provision for this scheme in the capital programme over the period 2017/18 – 2019/20 inclusive, and the allocation of £600,000 into the Capital Programme from the Development Pool be approved.

2.6     That the Chief Executive, acting in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration Enterprise & Planning, the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer and the Chief Finance Officer be authorised to purchase, on terms to be agreed, a small parcel of land required for this scheme from Network Rail.

2.7     That the Borough Secretary & Monitoring Officer be authorised to arrange the preparation and execution of such contractual and other legal documents as are necessary to give effect to the above recommendations.

2.8     That the Chief Executive be authorised to submit a further progress report to Cabinet when appropriate.