Agenda item

Peter Osborne (Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport). Simon Jones (Corporate Director for Growth Environment and Transport) and Abigail Roscoe (Senior Assistant Project Manager) were in attendance for this item.

1.Mr Osborne presented the following:

a)    The Committee received an update on the ongoing closure of Galley Hill Road, which had been in place since the collapse in April 2023 and continued to cause disruption to residents, the local road network, and bus services.

b)    Members were advised that the immediate priority following the incident had been to ensure public safety, including securing the site and undertaking detailed investigations and feasibility work to understand the cause of the collapse and identify viable options.

c)    The purpose of the report was to seek Member support to progress the preferred option to the detailed design stage. It was discussed that work would continue to secure external funding, including a pre submission bid to relevant funding streams and also to pursue the recovery of costs from third parties.

2. In response to comments and questions from Members, the discussion covered the following:

a)    Members thanked the Dartford Councillors that had aided in the facilitation of resolving the issues around Galley Hill in addition the works and coordination of Highways and Transport officers was commended.

b)    The Committee placed on record its thanks for the submission of the Structures Fund bid and for the expenditure to date of just over £1 million in progressing a solution to the Galley Hill Road issue.

c)    Members asked that consideration be given to including a standing agenda item at future meetings to provide regular updates on the progress of the bid and the subsequent delivery of the project. This would be captured in future Cabinet Member verbal updates.

d)    Officers outlined that a draft submission to the technical advisory body was due to be submitted by 19 June. It was noted that feedback would be received on the draft and subsequently used to strengthen the final bid.

e)    Final submission deadline was scheduled for the 3^rd of August, at which point a full and final proposal would be submitted for assessment by the Technical Advisory Body and the Department for Transport. It was further reported that funding decisions were expected in the autumn, with successful schemes required to commence reporting from 1 April the following year.

f)      The Committee was advised that a number of internal funding avenues had been explored. Originally anticipated internal funding had not been secured at the time of reporting, but an alternative solution had since been identified. As a result, there was no current risk to progressing the scheme and the earlier funding concerns would no longer be considered relevant.

g)    Officers highlighted that further investigation was required to understand the root cause of the incident, including whether issues relating to utilities had contributed. In addition, there were a number of associated legal considerations that would remain under review.

h)    Members raised concerns on funds being drawn from elsewhere in the County to fund the Galley Hill works being of a negative impact. The Committee was advised that, in the event of an unsuccessful Structures Fund bid, further action would be pursued to recover the affected land and would include efforts to restore the road, subject to the outcome of ongoing investigations into liability for the defect.

i)      Clarification was sought on the two bids that had been submitted and the specifically the cost of £490,000 on the feasibility fund bid. Officers clarified that consideration had been given to utilising a feasibility reserve, described as a dedicated reserve within the authority to support the development of feasibility plans for structures and related projects. However, it was noted that this reserve was not currently available.

j)      Officers reported that work was therefore underway to explore how the required £490k could be secured, including consideration of other capital programmes and available funding within the highways and transportation portfolio. Confidence was expressed that the funding could be identified through a range of potential approaches.

k)    In addition, subject to a successful bid to the structures fund, the expenditure would be capitalised and allocated accordingly, ensuring that there would be no financial burden on the authority.

l)      Members were informed of the Structures Fund and the strong support for the scheme from the local MP and County Councillors. It was noted that a bid was required despite the clear need arising from the impacts at Galley Hill.

m)  Members acknowledged the need to consider next steps should the bid be unsuccessful, and it was placed on record that there was cross party support for the project. The estimated cost of £50 million was noted, and it was expressed that it would be disappointing if the scheme did not proceed.

RESOLVED to endorse the proposed decision, namely:

a)    Progress the design through the next stages of development up to and including detailed design including any survey works.

b)    Give approval to carry out public engagement on the proposed scheme.

c)    Give approval to prepare and submit funding bids (including to the Structures Fund or successor programmes) to support the detailed design and development stage of the scheme.

Give approval for any further decisions required to allow the scheme to proceed through to and including detailed design to be taken by the Corporate Director of Growth, Environment & Transport under the Officer Scheme of Delegations.