Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport on the proposed decision to give approval to the preliminary design scheme for Willington Street Maidstone A274 Sutton Road junction & Willington Street Maidstone A20 Ashford Road junction for development control and land charge disclosures.

1.            The Deputy Director Highways Transport and Waste, Mr Read, introduced the report on the improvement scheme to widen the Willington Street Junction. The overall estimated scheme cost was £1.8 million.  The allocation from the Local Growth Fund was £1.3 million.  The remaining £500k was available from Section 106 Local Developer contributions. The Scheme information had been submitted to Government, to confirm the £1.3 million Local Growth Fund allocation to the Willington Street Junction improvement Scheme as recommended by the South East Local Enterprise Partnership Accountability Board.

2.            Mr Read noted comments and responded to questions by Members as follows:-

a)    This was a very welcomed report.  This area was notoriously conjected with traffic and any widening of this road was welcomed.

b)    Mr Chittenden advised that this was one of many items from the Integrated Plan which had been agreed by Maidstone Borough Council and the Joint Transport Board.  He considered this the only sensible route South of Maidstone.

3.            Resolved that:-

(a)    the comments and responses to questions by Members be noted; and

(b)    the Cabinet Committee endorsed the proposed decision to be taken by the Cabinet Member for Environment & Transport to:

i)     approve the preliminary design scheme for Willington Street Maidstone A274 Sutton Road junction & Willington Street Maidstone A20 Ashford Road junction for development control and land charge disclosures;

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

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

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