Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport regarding the Environment and Transport Department’s 2023/24 Highways and Transportation Capital Programme and Works Programme, which had been developed in accordance with the overall budget envelopes in the Medium-Term Financial Strategy 2023/24 to 2026/27.  A copy of the report, marked ‘Agenda Item 4’, is filed with these minutes.

With the permission of the Chairman Mr. Max Hunt CC and Mrs. A. J. Hack CC each spoke on this item.

Mr. Hunt referred to his written representations (filed with these minutes) and suggested that greater prominence should have been given in the report to the Council’s carbon reduction obligations.

Mrs Hack referred to a road junction cited at paragraph 70 (vii) of the report. She said that she had been assured by the Director that incorporation of extra safety measures would be considered during resurfacing work.

Mr. O’Shea CC said the proposals would enhance the County’s road network but agreed with Mr. Hunt regarding the need for more Government funding.

RESOLVED:

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 the 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.

(KEY DECISION)

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.