Issue - meetings

Further to Minute No. 37 of the Cabinet meeting held on 3 September 2015, the Council considered the report of the Chief Executive which provided details of the proposals to introduce new slip roads on Junction 1 of the M58 motorway and sought approval to a contribution from the Capital Programme in order to draw down funds from the Liverpool City Region Growth Fund.

It was moved by Councillor Maher, seconded by Councillor Fairclough and

RESOLVED:

That approval be given to the inclusion of the scheme in the Capital Programme 2016/17 as a priority against available resources.

Report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing to follow

The Cabinet considered the report of the Head of Regeneration and Housing which provided details of the proposals to introduce new slip roads on Junction 1 of the M58 motorway; to seek a contribution from the Capital Programme in order to draw down funds from the Liverpool City Region Growth Fund and to seek approval for officers to begin negotiations with the landowners affected by the scheme.

Decision Made: That:

(1)       the progress of the M58 Junction 1 Improvements scheme be noted;

(2)       the preferred scheme layout set out in the report be approved;

(3)       the Council be recommended to approve the inclusion of this scheme in the Capital Programme 2016/17 as a priority against available resources;

(4)       Officers begin negotiations with affected landowners on the understanding that no acquisitions would be completed until the Council received the Growth Fund Contribution; and

(5)       Officers develop a Memorandum of Understanding with Highways England for the procurement and delivery of the scheme, to be submitted to Cabinet Member – Regeneration and Skills for approval.

Reasons for Decision:

An indicative allocation of £5.5m had been allocated to the M58 Junction 1 Improvements project within the Liverpool City Region Growth Fund. The Combined Authority expects the funds to be expended from 2016/17. The indicative development programme for the project required the detailed design to be developed, the appropriate statutory approval process and the process of securing the necessary land to begin in early 2016 in order to enable works to begin in 2016/2017 and the Growth Fund money to be expended.

The process of securing the Growth fund money requires an Outline Business Case (OBC) to be submitted, and this needs to include confirmation for the Council’s Section 151 officer that the necessary match funding is available. The OBC is targeted for submission in September/October 2015.  If approved by the Combined Authority a Full Business Case (FBC) would be invited. This revisited and expanded on details within the OBC. The FBC was targeted for submission in December 2015. If successful the funding offer should be with the Council in early 2016.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

An Optioneering Report had been completed by Atkins, the Council’s consultant, to examine other potential options for the junction. All the options proposed are broadly similar as there was little scope, due to geometric constraints and the need to comply with design criteria, of a significantly different layout. Some consideration was given within the report to a scheme including a cycle lane around the roundabout, which included amended parapets; however this scheme was due to be delivered separately by Highways England in 2016.

The proposed re-alignment of Giddygate Lane, the access track affected by the scheme, would be agreed following detailed discussions with the affected landowners and farmers.