Decision details

·         The Cabinet report dated 20 July 2021 (River Thames Scheme Collaboration Agreement Principles), made the three resolutions as set out above.

·         In January 2021, Cabinet approved a recommendation that SCC should be a joint applicant with the Environment Agency and, in July 2021, agreed the principles of Collaboration.

·         The detailed terms of the First Track Collaboration Agreement (“First Track CA”) are confidential to the Parties and as such are a Part 2 item and contained in Annexe 1

·         The terms of the First Track CA are believed to be in accordance with the principles approved by Cabinet on 20 July 2021.

·         This document is a record of the acknowledgment and approval taken under delegated powers relating to resolution 2 referred to above to enter into the First Track CA.

It was AGREED that:

1.    The Service Level Agreement could be signed.

The RTS is a very large, very complex scheme which, as it will be applied for as a Development Consent Order (“DCO”) will require a lot of informal and formal (statutory) consultation with at least the 4 LPAs, amongst other bodies.  For this consultation to achieve maximum effectiveness and not to fall behind anticipated timescales it is considered that an SLA in the form of a binding legal agreement will assist in ensuring that all parties work closely with each other during the development phase of the RTS, within a project management framework, making provision for additional resourcing to be put in place where a need is identified.

Option 1: Don’t Sign the agreement

PROS

Scheme not liable to recompense LPAs for their contribution to the scheme for work outside their statutory role

CONS

Limited ability to ensure key information and effective consultation is conducted with host authorities.

Increased programme timelines as it will take longer to receive information from the LPAs as this Scheme is unlikely to be prioritised.

Development Consent Order at risk largely due to adequate consultation and understanding of key impacts will not have taken place.

Poor relationship with the LPAs

As reflected by ‘Project Speed’ and other initiatives within National Government Planning – Boroughs are poorly resourced to deal with the demands of Development Consent Orders. This SLA sought to recognise this pressure and support financially and practically where feasible to ensure key information is gained.

None.