Decision details

The Cabinet Member considered the report of the Planning and Economic Development Director that advised of the current progress with the Thornton to Switch Island (TSIL) scheme, including the responses from Government to the Council's Best and Final Funding Bid and the planning application; that sought approval to accept the Government's funding offer to initiate the next stages of the project, including land acquisition and of the revised project management arrangements; and that advised of the current scheme programme and cost profile.

The report indicated that the Council had been promoting the TSIL scheme for many years and there was overwhelming public support for the scheme, as demonstrated by the public consultations undertaken over recent years; that the Government had fully recognised the benefits and value for money the scheme offered by approving the Council's funding bid and that the scheme proposals were considered deliverable within the current allocation in the Council's Capital Programme; and that it was now important to move to the next stage of scheme delivery and proceed with the preparation of statutory Orders and negotiations with landowners for the purchase of land by agreement.

This was a Key Decision and was included in the Council's Forward Plan of Key Decisions.

RESOLVED:  

That Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)      note the Department for Transport's acceptance of the Council's Best and Final Funding Bid for the scheme;

(2)          approve the acceptance of the Terms and Conditions of the proposed Government funding for the scheme and increase the cost of the scheme in the capital programme by £14.5m to be funded by the Department for Transport grant;

(3)      note the Government Office response to the planning application for the scheme confirming that they do not require a Public Inquiry to be held to consider the planning issues;

(4)      note the progress in the preparation of the necessary statutory Orders for the scheme;

(5)          approve the activities that were put on hold in June 2010 to be re-commenced, including land acquisition;

(6)          approve the start of work on the next stage of the scheme;

(7)          approve the revised Project management arrangements and Project Board for the scheme;

(8)      note the revised programme for the scheme; and

(9)      note the revised spend profile for the scheme.