Decision details

Decision:

The Cabinet Member for Highways & Transport is asked to give approval for KCC to accept the capital grant from Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) and to take the Green Corridors Phase 3 Programme through the next stages of development and delivery.

Specifically, to:

i)              give approval to enter into the EDC grant agreement subject to the approval of the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement

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

iii)           give approval to carry out consultation on the schemes;

iv)           give approval to enter into construction contracts as necessary for the delivery of the schemes

I also agree to delegate authority to Corporate Director of GET, in consultation with the Corporate Director of Finance & Procurement, to enter into relevant legal agreements and take other actions necessary to implement this decision.

Background:

Ebbsfleet Development Corporation (EDC) are providing KCC with a grant of £7.4m between 2020/21 and 2022/23 for KCC's Major Capital Programme Team to manage and deliver the Green Corridors Phase 3 Programme.

The principle behind the Green Corridors project is to aid the creation of a walking and cycling culture to improve public realm, the quality of life for residents and resident satisfaction, whilst making routes safer to use, more appealing and less polluted from traffic. It aims to connect developments around Ebbsfleet Garden City to usable walking and cycling infrastructure within a fully connected network.

Phase 3 of the initiative will provide a combination of new routes to connect developments with destinations and improvements to existing routes. The programme will provide up to 20 small scale improvements and 2 large scale improvements to existing routes alongside up to 6 new routes.

The Green Corridors Programme is fully externally funded by EDC and the extent of the works delivered is scalable dependent on the level of funding available.  No KCC funding will be used to deliver the schemes and officer time will be capitalised against the grant provided by EDC.

Through KCC managing and delivering this programme of works, we have the opportunity to shape the routes which are progressed; in particular linking with potential initiatives being delivered with Emergency Active Travel funding as well as Local Growth Fund schemes which have already been constructed.

A key decision is required to allow KCC to progress with the next stages of scheme delivery; including appointing a project manager to deliver the programme and commissioning feasibility work and outline designs for the proposed routes.

Options:

EDC has considered options for the routes to be investigated within their business case for the Green Corridors programme.

The long list of routes comprised all the missing walking and cycling links needed to connect the planned new developments with existing destinations.  This was reduced to the shortlist by removing all links which are expected to come forwards through other developer contributions.  The full list can be seen in the business case which is included as a background document.

EDC also considered options for delivery; primarily either:

·   EDC fund and directly deliver the scheme or

·   EDC fund and KCC deliver as the Highway Authority utilising approved highway contractors

EDC’s preferred delivery method is that KCC deliver the programme as the Highway Authority.  This delivery method also has benefits for KCC, the main two being:

·   Allowing KCC to influence the routes which are taken forwards to link with other initiatives and schemes already delivered

·   Ensuring that the schemes are installed in line with our Asset Management Plan

How the proposed decision meets the objectives of ‘Increasing Opportunities, Improving Outcomes: Kent County Council’s Strategic Statement (2015-2020)’

The scheme particularly addresses Strategic Outcome 2 “Kent communities feel the benefits of economic growth by being in work, healthy and enjoying a good quality of life”.

The provision of safe and attractive walking and cycling routes linking new developments with key destinations gives Kent’s residents options for travel, improving access to employment, education, health care and local amenities without relying on the private car. This programme aims to improve health and wellbeing, reduce levels of congestion and improve air quality.