Issue - meetings

Report of the Assistant Director - Highways and Public Protection

Further to Minute No. 64 of the meeting of the Cabinet of 7 November 2024, the Council considered the report of the Assistant Director -- Highways and Public Protection advising that schemes over £1m in value required approval by the Council and the necessary funding needed to be included within the Council’s Capital Programme. The Southport Eastern Access scheme was expected to cost approximately £16.3m. Subject to approval from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, a Grant Funding Agreement would be received for this amount.

It was moved by Councillor Veidman, seconded by Councillor Atkinson and

RESOLVED:

That a supplementary capital estimate for £16.3m externally funded using the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement from the LCRCA for the delivery of the Southport Eastern Access scheme, pending receipt and signing of a Grant Funding Agreement from the LCRCA, be approved.

Report of the Assistant Director - Highways and Public Protection

Further to Minute No. 10 of 23 May 2024, the Cabinet considered the report of the Assistant Director - Highways and Public Protection advising that schemes over £1m in value required approval by the Council and the necessary funding needed to be included within the Council’s Capital Programme. The Southport Eastern Access scheme was expected to cost approximately £16.3m. Subject to approval from the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority, a Grant Funding Agreement would be received for this amount.

Cabinet Members welcomed the Grant Funding Agreement.

Decision Made:

That the Council be recommended to approve a supplementary capital estimate for £16.3m externally funded using the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement from the LCRCA for the delivery of the Southport Eastern Access scheme, pending receipt and signing of a Grant Funding Agreement from the LCRCA.

Reasons for the Decision:

The Liverpool City Region Combined Authority (LCRCA) had received a City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement allocation from the Department for Transport to deliver highway improvement and maintenance projects throughout the City Region by March 2027. Within the recently completed re-baselining exercise an allocation of funding for £16.8m had been identified to fund the Southport Eastern Access projects. It was recognised that careful planning and co-ordination of all the elements of work would be critical to ensure the works were delivered within the window and that disruption was minimised as far as possible.

In order to meet the LUF Funding deadline, the target programme identified that the works contract needed to be signed  in Autumn 2024.The report sought to ensure that the necessary funding allocation was within the Capital Programme before the Contract was signed for the first Phase of works.

Whilst the Cabinet Member - Housing and Highways had previously approved the Transport Capital Programme which included the Southport Eastern Access scheme, the financial regulations required the Cabinet to approve schemes over £1m.

Alternative Options Considered and Rejected:

No alternative options had been considered.

Report of the Assistant Director of Place (Highways and Public Protection)

Consideration of the report was deferred to enable further consultation with Ward Councillors to take place.