Issue - meetings

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Economic Development and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Cabinet Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision to delegate authority to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme

(1)       Andy Moreton (Project Manager HT&W) introduced the report which asked the Cabinet Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations to the Cabinet Member for Economic Development on the proposed decision to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme.

(2)       Mr Moreton said a scheme of work within Dartford Town Centre had been included in the Kent Thameside Strategic Infrastructure Programme.  A project like this would ordinarily be managed by the Major Projects Team within KCC however Dartford Borough Council had made a request to be the lead authority on the procurement, design and implementation of the agreed works.  To make this possible a third party, back to back legal agreement was required between KCC and Dartford Borough Council.

(3)       A question was asked about whether a specific reference to the need for approval of the Homes and Community Agency and the South East Local Economic Partnership should be included in the proposed decision. 

(4)       Comments were made about the value of KCC’s input to the project, its response to the request by Dartford Borough Council to lead the project and in particular to the invaluable professional advice given by Mr Moreton.

(5)       Resolved that the Cabinet Committee endorse the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member for Economic Development to delegate authority to the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme.

To receive a report from the Cabinet Member for Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport which asks the Committee to consider and endorse, or make recommendations on the proposed decision of the Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme

Andy Moreton (Project Manager) was in attendance for this item.

(1)  Officers introduced the report which indicated that it was intended to seek approval for Kent County Council to enter in to a Legal Agreement to enable Dartford Borough Council to undertake a programme of transport improvements and public realm work within the Dartford, funded by the Kent Thameside Strategic Transport Infrastructure Programme (STIP) for which KCC was the Accountable Body.

(2)  In response to questions the Cabinet Member and officers advised that:

·         Detailed drawings of the project would be shared with Committee members outside of the meeting

·         Further consultations would be held with local businesses in due course.

(3)  Resolved that the Committee endorse the proposed decision of thethe Corporate Director Growth, Environment and Transport and the Corporate Director Finance and Procurement, to negotiate and execute legal and/or partnership agreements for the delivery of the Dartford Town Centre scheme.