Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport, the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and the Interim Director – Environment, Planning and Enforcement and to consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member on the proposed decision seeking approval to develop agreements for the transfer of funding and conditions of spend to Network Rail in respect of the Ashford Spurs scheme and Dover Harbour Board in respect of Dover A20 Improvements Scheme

Ann Carruthers, Head of Strategic Planning and Policy, introduced the report which asked the committee to endorse or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport on a proposed decision to develop agreements for the transfer of funding and conditions of spend to the following delivery organisations:

·         National Rail in respect of the Ashford Spurs scheme; and

·         Dover Harbour Board in respect of Dover A20 Improvements Scheme

She referred in particular to the following: 

      i.        That £109 million had been secured for 24 transport and regeneration schemes through the Local Growth Fund (LGF). Four of these would be delivered by third party developers.

    ii.        That the Dover A20 Improvements Scheme which focused on improving 2 roundabouts in Dover and was promoted by Dover Harbour Board as part of the Western Docks Revival Scheme.

   iii.        The Ashford Spurs scheme would be required for Ashford International Station to stay on the international rail network and as such was of great value and importance to Kent.

   iv.        That part of the funding had been secured from the European TEN-T CEF stream, as detailed within the report.

    v.        That agreements with the third party deliverers were required as under the terms of the LGF which is allocated via South East Local Enterprise Partnership (for which Essex County Council was the accountable body). All schemes delivered must comply with South East Local Enterprise Partnership’s Assurance Framework.

In response to comments made and questions raised by members, Ms Carruthers provided the following further information:

      i.        The Ashford Spurs schemes would be undertaken in phases. She said she would supply timescales for this to members who requested it after the meeting.

    ii.        It was the Dover Harbour Board’s intention that the Dover A20 improvements scheme would be implemented in 2016.

It was RESOLVED that the proposed decision to authorise the Council entering into agreement for the transfer of LGF to Network Rail in respect of the Ashford Spurs scheme and to Dover Harbour Board in respect of Dover A20 Improvements Scheme be endorsed.