Decision details

a)      That the evermore acute financial context in which the Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme have been developed and will be delivered, as set out in Part B of this report be noted;

b)      That the Environment and Transport 2023/24 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme be approved;

c)      That the Director of Environment and Transport be authorised,

                 i.             following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources and the Cabinet Lead Members for Highways and Transportation and Corporate Resources, to prepare and submit bids, as appropriate, to secure external funding for delivery of schemes identified in the Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme;

               ii.             following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Resources, to enter into such contracts as is necessary to progress schemes in the approved Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme to allow early contractor involvement to take place in advance of all external funding required to deliver the scheme being secured, subject to the key principles set out in paragraph 18 of the report; and

              iii.             following consultation with the Director of Corporate Resources, the Director of Law and Governance and the Cabinet Lead Member for Corporate Resources, to undertake preparatory work as considered appropriate to develop savings as set out in the Medium Term Financial Strategy and to consider further savings and implemented in a timely manner.

REASONS FOR DECISION:

To highlight evermore challenging financial context in which the two Programmes are being developed and will be delivered.

To approve the Environment and Transport Department’s Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme for the 2023/24 financial year.

To enable the delivery of large capital schemes using a collaborative approach, to work with contractors to reduce risk and increase cost certainty. Working in this way will also provide necessary assurance to partners and third-party funders contributing to the cost of delivering the Highways and Transportation Capital Programme.

To enable early work to be undertaken on the development of new savings to address the worsening financial position.