Decision:
To approve the acceptance of the Section 31 Grant monies award from the Department for Transport (DfT) to procure and manage works to deliver customs checking and freight holding areas and associated infrastructure at sites secured by DfT to support Government Transition arrangements.
This approval includes agreement to;
a) AGREE to accept the Grants under the terms and conditions required by Government; and
b) APPROVE the implementation of the necessary works as detailed in this report and the Grant specification to deliver the sites’ facilities;
c) CONFIRM that the projects will be delivered via the KCC Highways Term Maintenance Contract as a Highways Improvement Scheme in support of traffic management plans; and
d) DELEGATE authority to the Corporate Director for Growth, Environment and Transport to, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport and the Leader, take any necessary actions to implement this decision, including but not limited to entering into relevant legal agreements and authorising spend from Grant monies.
Reason for the decision:
The decision will support operational traffic management plans relating to Transition from the EU on the 31st December 2020
Background:
As part of the arrangements to support Transition from the EU, Government has identified the need for sites to provide additional custom checking and freight holding areas. The first site is adjacent to J10a, M20 and will provide capacity to hold up to 2,000 HGVs.
Reason for Urgency:
The site must be delivered in advance of 31 December 2020 to allow time for training and testing. Confirmation of the site and offer was only received Mid-July and to achieve the deadline, some enabling works have commenced. This key decision is now required urgently to ensure appropriate authority is in place to support the delivery of the site and to provide necessary flexibility to allow for swift significant Officer decisions on this project to enable the site to be delivered by the deadline date.
Decision type: Key
Reason Key: Expenditure or savings of more than £1m;
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Division affected: Ashford Central; Ashford East; Ashford Rural East; Ashford Rural South; Ashford Rural West; Ashford South;
Notice of proposed decision first published: 14/08/2020
This decision will be taken under urgency procedures.
Anticipated restriction: Part exempt - View reasons
Explanation of anticipated restriction:
Legal advice including commercially sensitive information
Decision due: 14 Aug 2020 by Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Reason: Urgent Decision
Lead member: Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport
Lead director: Barbara Cooper
Department: Growth, Environment & Transport
Contact: Simon Jones, Corporate Director of Growth, Environment and Transport Tel: 03000 411683 Email: simon.jones@kent.gov.uk.
Consultees
Has any public consultation been undertaken or is any planned?
This is a Government-led project. On behalf of DfT, KCC delivered letters to all properties on the immediate boundary of the site being worked on.
No Cabinet Committee consultation is possible due to urgency process. Under this process, comments will be sought from the Chair and Group Spokesmen of the Scrutiny Committee and the Chair and Group Spokespeople of the Environment and Transport Cabinet Committee.
Additionally, an All Member Briefing on Transition traffic management proposals was held on 5 August 2020.
Financial implications: DfT has confirmed that works will be fully funded via Section 31 grants. The grant can be used to support revenue as well as capital works. Grants will be made in phases in line with the project delivery phases, with the initial grant being £12m for preparatory work at a site adjacent to J10a, M20. Any further works will be subject to confirmation of grant funding award.
Legal implications: QC advise has been provided.
Equalities implications: An EqIA has been undertaken. This an off-network construction project. Initial screening confirms there are no anticipated negative impacts on groups with protected characteristics.