Issue - meetings

This report seeks approval of the Economy Committee to accept and draw down funding from West Sussex County Council (WSCC) and enter into a collaboration agreement to undertake phase 1 (Terminus Road) works and to appoint the construction contract for the delivery of the regeneration works to Edburton by way of contract variation and to delegate authority for all approvals within the allocated budget of £1.253m to the Director of Place.

The Director of Place provided Members with an overview of the report highlighting that it was pleasing to note that West Sussex County Council (WSCC) had agreed to provide funding for Phase 1 (Terminus Road) of the improvements works. The committee was now being asked to enter into a collaboration agreement to undertake this phase of the works and to appoint the construction contract for the delivery of the regeneration works to Edburton by way of a contract variation.  Delegated authority was also sought to be given to the Director of Place to agree all approvals within the allocated budget of £1.25 m.

The Chair then invited questions from the Committee. Members agreed that this was long overdue good news in that the Council had achieved this funding from WSCC for the phase 1 works. These works had always featured in the original plans but due to a shortage in funding in the development of the scheme, had been paused. The position now reached had been achieved due to much collaborative funding from within WSCC and internal lobbying which was good news for businesses; residents of the town and the visitor economy too. 

Various questions were then asked by the Committee which were responded to at the meeting with some questions being confirmed would be responded to outside of the meeting.

The Chair then read out the recommendations which were then proposed by the Chair, Councillor Cooper and then seconded by Councillor Walsh.

A recorded vote was firstly undertaken on Recommendation (1). Those voting for this recommendation were Councillors Cooper, Mrs Cooper, Dixon, Edwards, Northeast, Roberts, Seex, Staniforth, Stanley, Walsh and Yeates [11].  This recommendation was declared as being approved. 

A recorded vote was then undertaken on Recommendations (2), (3) and (4).   Those voting for the recommendations were Councillors Cooper, Mrs Cooper, Dixon, Edwards, Northeast, Roberts, Seex, Staniforth, Stanley, Walsh and Yeates [11].  Having been declared as approved, 

The Committee

                        RESOLVED - That

(1)          Agreement be given to a variation to the existing construction contract with Edburton for the delivery of phase 1 (Terminus Road, Littlehampton) as recommended by a procurement report (appendix 1); subject to Full Council approval of recommendation 2.

The Committee also

RECOMMEND TO FULL COUNCIL - That

(2)           It accepts and draws down £1.253m from WSCC to complete the phase 1 (Terminus Road, Littlehampton) works and add the expenditure and funding to the 2022/23 Capital Programme;

(3)          It approves authority to enter into a collaboration agreement with WSCC that sets out the billing regime for the funds in (1) above and approves the drawdown and expenditure of external funding, and that the terms and conditions are agreed by Legal Services and in consultation with the Monitoring Officer; 

(4)          As per Part 4 – Officers Scheme of delegation (4.3 to 4.7 refers) and under Part 7 of the Council’s Constitution, delegated authority be given to the Director of Place to plan, draw down and make budgetary decisions on the expenditure on this phase in accordance with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 781