Agenda item

The Cabinet is asked to consider entering into contracts with the LEP for RIF funding agreements, including drawdown and repayment schedules subject to the Council’s Capital Governance approval process for the first 3 priority scheme bids

Councillor Charles Gerrish in an ad hoc statement welcomed the opportunity for the Council to maximise its income.  He observed however that only £5.1Mhad been identified for flood mitigation, and this did not include any consideration of the effects down-stream in places such as Keynsham, where the flood plain there could be very adversely affected if the water flow was speeded up by the Bath flood mitigation.

David Redgewell in a statement welcomed the proposals which he said had been 10 years in preparation.  He felt the proposals would enable another key part of the river regeneration.  He was however disappointed that transport, equalities, housing and employment issues had not been mentioned at all in the report.

Councillor Cherry Beath thanked the previous speakers for their contributions.  She observed that the flood mitigation measures would support local jobs, encourage the economy and provide affordable housing.  She reassured Councillor Gerrish that measures for flood mitigation in Keynsham were being considered.  She moved the proposals which would enable the first phase of the regeneration of the sites.

Councillor Paul Crossley seconded the proposal.  He said that the points raised by Councillor Gerrish would receive a response and assured him that the present proposals would not impact negatively on Keynsham.  The use of this funding would enable the Council to bring forward its regeneration of the river corridor and the public walkways would totally revolutionise the area.

Councillor David Bellotti said that the visual improvement of the area would be evident very quickly and welcomed the use of the fund to achieve this.

Councillor Tim Ball said in response to Councillor Gerrish’s concerns that the Environment Agency had been involved in the plans from the very start and would ensure that there were no negative impacts down river.  He was delighted by the prospect that the gas tower would at last be removed.

On a motion from Councillor Cherry Beath, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To AUTHORISE the Strategic Director for Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and Strategic Director for Resources to enter into contracts with the LEP for RIF funding agreements (including drawdown and repayment schedules subject to the Council’s Capital Governance approval process for the first 3 priority scheme bids):

(a)  Decommissioning and decontamination of the Windsor Gas Station:  to enable removal of the HSE restriction on development at Bath Western Riverside and other sites in the Windsor Bridge area.

(b) The construction of a new road and pedestrian bridge to replace the Destructor Bridge at BWR: to provide access to the BWR western site.

(c) The provision of flood mitigation works for the enterprise area, comprising river and landscape works between Churchill Bridge and Midland Bridge.

(2) To AUTHORISE the Strategic Director for Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development and Strategic Director for Resources to enter into Contract with Crest (by extending the current Corporate Agreement) to use RIF for decommissioning of the Gas Holder on the basis of a policy based loan at an appropriate market rate for a maximum of five years on the grounds of economic development; and

(3) To APPROVE the schemes set out above as Capital Projects in the 2013/14 Capital Programme to covert from in-principle to fully approved now the business case for the investment has been completed.