Agenda item

In their Strategic Economic Plans (SEPs), the two Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) covering Surrey, Enterprise M3 (EM3) and Coast to Capital (C2C), have set out their proposals for supporting economic development in their areas. The county council has worked with them to develop these plans, which include improvements to transport infrastructure to provide economic benefits. Funding for the schemes included in the SEP comes from the Local Growth Fund, and the arrangements require a local contribution to be made to the cost for the transport schemes.

The prioritised transport infrastructure schemes are a key element of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEPs), submitted by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to Government in March 2014, which set out how they will support the economic development and regeneration of their areas.

Runnymede Roundabout was one of the prioritised schemes selected during 2014. This major scheme is in a strategic location, with immediate connections to M25 (Junction 13 including to Heathrow Airport), Staines-upon-Thames, Egham and Windsor. All roads connected to the roundabout experience significant traffic bottlenecks at peak times, and this junction is considered to be one of the worst congested areas in the county.

The proposed schemes will deliver a range of benefits to Surrey’s residents, including reduced congestion, improved journey time reliability, enhanced safety, improved access for cyclists, pedestrians and buses, and it is expected to contribute to the retention of existing businesses, and attract new development, thereby contributing to local economic growth and job creation.

The Strategic, Economic, Financial, and Management cases were set out in the full Business Case submitted to the EM3 LEP on 30 September 2014, and has been through an independent assurance assessment and approved by the EM3 LEP Board on 24 November 2014.

This scheme was approved by Cabinet on 23 September 2014 with an original budget of £4.80m, together with the Egham Sustainable Transport Package (STP) with a budget of £3.70m.

The Runnymede Roundabout scheme was subject of a tender using the former SE7 Regional Highways Framework, however the submitted tenders were unaffordable. To enable this critical scheme to proceed, it was agreed with the EM3 LEP at their Programme Management Group that the funding for Runnymede Roundabout and Egham STP could be amalgamated into a single package of works, allowing funding to be switched between the two schemes.

The Runnymede Roundabout project  has now been revised, including a re-design, and an enhanced overall budget of £7.225m. The Egham STP has been redesigned and its budget reduced to £1.775m. It is currently under construction.

Following Cabinet approval of the scheme, and the LEP approval to treat the two schemes as a package, detailed design has been undertaken. Approximately £800,000 has been spent on detailed design and charged to the capital account. Construction works for the revised project has been tendered using the new GEN3 Regional Highways Framework, and this report provides details of the procurement process followed.

Given the current financial climate Cabinet is asked to re-affirm the financial support it gave to this scheme in December 2014, so that the scheme can proceed, Cabinet is also asked to award the tender, so that the main construction works can start. 

If Cabinet decided to delay a decision on this scheme the contract award process would fall outside the 120 day period during which tenderers are required to hold their prices, with consequent risk that costs could change.

A significant delay could result in the LGF funding allocated to the scheme being withdrawn by EM3 LEP and allocated to other projects, and the scheme therefore being cancelled.

N.B. There is a Part 2 report containing exempt information – item 21.

[The decision on this item may be called in by the Economic Prosperity, Environment and Highways Scrutiny Board]

RESOLVED:

This item has been deferred until the next Cabinet meeting on 13 December 2016.

Mr Furey, Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding declared a personal interest in the reports relating to the Runnymede Roundabout Scheme (item 13 and 21) because he was also a member of Runnymede Borough Council.

Introducing this report to Cabinet, the Cabinet Member for Highways, Transport and Flooding said that the prioritised transport infrastructure schemes were a key element of the Strategic Economic Plan (SEPs), submitted by the Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) to Government in March 2014, and which set out how they would support the economic development and regeneration of their areas.

He said that Runnymede Roundabout was one of the prioritised schemes selected during 2014 because this scheme was in a strategic location, with immediate connections to M25 (Junction 13 including to Heathrow Airport), Staines-upon-Thames, Egham and Windsor and all roads connected to the roundabout experienced significant traffic bottlenecks at peak times. This junction was considered to be one of the worst congested areas in the county.

He considered that the proposed scheme would deliver a range of benefits to Surrey’s residents, including reduced congestion, improved journey time reliability, enhanced safety, improved access for cyclists, pedestrians and buses.

This scheme had been approved by Cabinet on 23 September 2014 with an original budget of £4.80m, together with the Egham Sustainable Transport Package (STP) with a budget of £3.70m. The Runnymede Roundabout project  had since been revised, including a re-design, and an enhanced overall budget of £7.225m. The Egham STP has been redesigned and its budget reduced to £1.775m and was currently under construction.

Following Cabinet approval of the scheme, and the LEP approval to treat the two schemes as a package, detailed design has been undertaken. Approximately £800,000 had been spent on detailed design and charged to the capital account.

However, given the current financial climate Cabinet was asked to re-affirm the financial support it gave to this scheme in December 2014 and he drew attention to the S151 finance commentary, as detailed in the report.

Finally, he advised that if Cabinet decided to delay a decision on this scheme, the contract award process would fall outside the 120 day period during which tenderers were required to hold their prices, and therefore there was a risk that costs could change. Also, a significant delay could result in the LGF funding allocated to the scheme being withdrawn by EM3 LEP and allocated to other projects, and the scheme being cancelled.

The Leader of the Council considered that in the light of what had been discussed earlier in the meeting in relation to the County Council’s financial position, it was not possible to make a decision on this scheme today and therefore, proposed deferring a decision until the next Cabinet meeting on 13 December 2016.

Following the Leader’s proposal to defer a decision on this item, it was the view of most Cabinet Members, despite the risks in doing so, to reluctantly agree to its deferral to the next Cabinet meeting, when it was hoped that the Local Government Financial Settlement for the Council would be known and would enable a decision to be made.

After debate, the proposal to defer this item was put to the vote, with seven Members of the Cabinet voting for deferment and three Members voting against it.

Therefore, it was:

RESOLVED:

That this item, and the related part 2 report (item 21), be deferred to the Cabinet meeting on 13 December 2016 when the reports’ recommendations can be re-considered in the light of the Autumn Statement and the Secretary of State’s announcements on the Local Government Financial Settlement and their impact on the Council’s financial situation.