Decision details

The Cabinet Member  for  Environment& Transport is asked togive approval to take the schemeslisted belowthrough thenext stagesof development  and deliveryincluding authority to progress statutoryapprovals andconsultation whereappropriate, andto enterinto funding and constructioncontracts.

a) DartfordTown Centreimprovements scheme,in drg.No. 4300378/000;

b) A2500Lower Roadimprovement scheme,in drgNo. 43000416/000/06;

c) A2/A28Coast boundoff-slip, Wincheapscheme, indrg. No. 5269/GA01

Specifically to:

i)              giveapproval tothe progressthe designof theschemes fordevelopment  controland land charge disclosures;

ii)             giveapproval toprogress allstatutory approvalsor consentsrequired forthe schemes;

iii)            giveapproval tocarry outconsultation onthe schemes;

iv)           giveapproval toenter intoLocal GrowthFund fundingagreement subjectto theapproval of the CorporateDirector ofFinance &Procurement, and

v)            give  approval  to  enter  into  construction  contracts  as  necessary  for  the  delivery  of  the schemes  subject tothe approvalof theProcurement Boardto therecommended  procurement strategy.

In theGrowth Dealannouncements inJuly 2014(Round One)and January2015 (RoundTwo), theGovernment allocated£482 millionfrom theLocal GrowthFund tocapital projectsacross theSouth EastLocal EnterprisePartnership (SELEP)area.

The GrowthDeal extension(Round 3)included theallocation offunding forDartford Town Centre, A2500Lower Road,Isle ofSheppey andA2/A28 Coastbound offslip, Canterbury transport schemesfollowing thesubmission ofoutline businesscases foreach schemeto SELEP (http://www.southeastlep.com/growth-deal).

It hasbeen agreedwith Governmentthat SELEPand thereforeKent CountyCouncil will receiveLocalGrowth Fundin quarterlyinstalments inadvance inaccordance withthe scheme spending profiles,subject tocompletion ofa TransportBusiness Casefor eachproject andthe approval of theproject bySELEP AccountabilityBoard.

The matchfunding hasbeen securedfrom otherlocal governmentprogrammes, anddeveloper contributionswhich willbe securedthrough alegal agreementto besigned bythe contributors and theCounty Council.

An agreementwill bedeveloped forthose schemesto bedelivered bythird partiesto transfer the conditionsof LGFspend and the project management responsibilityto them.  This will include updating KentCounty Councilwith regularreporting onproject progressand spend.

TheLGF fundingfor the 3schemes isnot requiredin 2016/17,therefore it is anticipated that the TransportBusiness Casesfor theseschemes willbe consideredby afuture meetingof the SELEPBoard in2017/18.

All3 schemes willbe delivered inline withthe currentgovernance arrangements under the Local Growth Fund(KCC andSELEP).  Therefore  eachscheme will carryout necessary consultationand equalityimpact assessmentsas partof thescheme progression.

As Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport, I agree to give approval to take the schemes listed below through the next stages of development and delivery including authority to progress statutory approvals and consultation where appropriate, and to enter into funding and construction contracts.

a) Dartford Town Centre improvements scheme, in drg. No. 4300378/000;

b) A2500 Lower Road improvement scheme, in drg No. 43000416/000/06;

c) A2/A28 Coast bound off-slip, Wincheap scheme, in drg. No. 5269/GA01

Specifically to:

i) give approval to the progress the design of the schemes for development control and land charge disclosures;

ii) give approval to progress all statutory approvals or consents required for the schemes;

iii) give approval to carry out consultation on the schemes;

iv) give approval to enter into Local Growth Fund funding agreement subject to the approval of the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement, and

v) give approval to enter into construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the schemes subject to the approval of the Procurement Board to the recommended procurement strategy.