Agenda item - Valley Gardens Phase 3 revised scheme with detailed design principles

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture

1)             Approves the Valley Gardens Phase 3 detailed design as shown in Appendix 1: General Highway Arrangement Plan.

2)             Notes that the principles and details outlined in this report will help to inform all final technical matters, with regards to this scheme, in preparation for the procurement of a construction contract by officers in line with the decision made by this committee in February 2019 as outlined in paragraph 7.2 of this report.

3)             Authorises that all Traffic Regulation Orders required for Valley Gardens Phase 3 be advertised in accordance with the standard procedure.

4)             Notes the increased budget requirement due to significant delay in delivering Phase 3, additional stakeholder infrastructure commitments, and significant increases in construction costs, as set out in in Appendix 2.

5)             Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it approves capital borrowing of up to £5.0m to address estimated increased scheme costs arising from new Department for Transport design guidance; significant increases in construction costs and risk management; additional infrastructure, including for sustainable transport and events; as shown in Appendix 2.

70.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that sought approval of Valley Gardens Phase 3 detailed design and other related matters.

70.2      Councillor Nemeth moved a motion to amend the recommendations as shown in bold italics below:

2.1    Approves the Valley Gardens Phase 3 detailed design as shown in Appendix 1: General Highway Arrangement Plan subject to 2.6.

2.3   Authorises that all Traffic Regulation Orders required for Valley Gardens Phase 3 be advertised in accordance with the standard procedure subject to 2.6.

2.6     Calls for the release of traffic modelling data and simulations to publicly demonstrate that the proposed scheme in its current form results in no increase to average bus journey times.

70.3      Councillor Bagaeen formally seconded the motion.

70.4      Councillor Davis stated that he could not support the motion as it would unnecessarily delay the project and the modal shift it was seeking to achieve.

70.5      Councillor Wilkinson commended the development of the Valley Gardens scheme and stated that the Labour Group could not endorse the amendment.

70.6      The Chair then put the motion to the vote that failed.

70.7      The Chair then put the recommendations to the vote that were agreed.

70.8      Resolved-

That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee:

1)             Approves the Valley Gardens Phase 3 detailed design as shown in Appendix 1: General Highway Arrangement Plan.

2)             Notes that the principles and details outlined in this report will help to inform all final technical matters, with regards to this scheme, in preparation for the procurement of a construction contract by officers in line with the decision made by this committee in February 2019 as outlined in paragraph 7.2 of this report.

3)             Authorises that all Traffic Regulation Orders required for Valley Gardens Phase 3 be advertised in accordance with the standard procedure.

4)             Notes the increased budget requirement due to significant delay in delivering Phase 3, additional stakeholder infrastructure commitments, and significant increases in construction costs, as set out in in Appendix 2.

5)             Recommends to Policy & Resources Committee that it approves capital borrowing of up to £5.0m to address estimated increased scheme costs arising from new Department for Transport design guidance; significant increases in construction costs and risk management; additional infrastructure, including for sustainable transport and events; as shown in Appendix 2.