Agenda item

Consider recommendation of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee of 28 August 2017 relating to the Union Chain Bridge project (copy of Minute attached).

With reference to paragraph 3 of the Executive Committee Minute of 15 August 2017, there had been circulated copies of the Audit and Scrutiny Minute of 28 August 2017.  This special meeting had been arranged in response to a call-in of the decision taken by the Executive Committee, relating to a request to increase the financial contribution to the Union Chain Bridge project. Councillor Bell, Chairman of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee, summarised the discussion and findings of the Committee.  He thanked the officers who had provided background detail to the project and the additional information requested.  There were three main questions raised, namely whether the expenditure on the bridge was to maintain it as a strategic road asset or a historical asset; whether the approved increased expenditure was the best value for money; and whether expenditure on the bridge was a priority in comparison to other commitments within the future block funding for roads and bridges. At the conclusion of their discussion Members were advised that the reports to the Executive Committee had identified an asset in decline requiring significant capital investment but with the ability to leverage in £6.8m for £1m of investment by the Council.  After detailed discussion and consideration of the issues, Members had agreed:-

(i)         to welcome and reinforce the increased focus on the cultural/heritage aspect of the Bridge and to see that as the priority for funding while still recognising it as a roads asset; and

(ii)        to recognise that while officers did not have fully worked out alternatives at this stage, there was more information available which would allow alternative schemes to be worked out should that prove necessary.

It was agreed to recommend to the Executive Committee:

(i)         with regard to its decision on 15 August 2017 to increase the financial commitment to the Union Chain Bridge Project by £450k, the following wording be added ‘subject to the other sources of funding being available’;

(ii)        that a report be provided to the Executive Committee in April 2018 with the outcome of the HLF application, with options and timescales for the project with an enhanced focus on historical objectives, and should the bid fail, the report would contain fully costed alternatives, recognising the historical focus for the Bridge and its use as a road asset if possible;

(iii)       to instruct the Service Director Assets & Infrastructure to write to Northumberland County Council confirming the governance arrangements for the project and that in future joint reports be prepared for both Councils for future decision making;

(iv)       that Members be given access to risk registers for capital projects, as appropriate; and

(v)        that Officers should be encouraged to seek other sources of funding for the Union Chain Bridge project. 

            In the discussion that followed the Audit and Scrutiny Committee were congratulated for investigating the matter in a thorough manner and there was agreement to approve the recommendations in full.

DECISION

AGREED to approve the recommendations of the Audit and Scrutiny Committee as detailed above.