A.  Report Title: Lower Thames Crossing (LTC) – Consultation Response

B.  Report Author(s): Colin Black, Interim Assistant Director, Regeneration and Place Delivery

Tel: 07857 656348

E-mail: colin.black@thurrock.gov.uk

C.  Decision Maker: Lyn Carpenter

D.  Position held: Chief Executive Officer, Thurrock Council

E.  Key decision: Yes

F. Delegation ref:

Chapter 6, Part 1, 7.1 (d) which states the Chief Executive ‘in cases of urgency or emergency, take any decision on behalf of the council (after consultation with the Leader)

G.  Is the decision urgent?  Yes

H.  If yes, state why. National Highways ran a consultation on the Lower Thames Crossing for an 8 week period ending on the 8^th September 2021. The Council were granted an extension of the deadline until 6^th October 2021 to enable a sufficient period of time for review and approval through its governance procedures. A paper was submitted for approval a Full Council scheduled for 24^th September 2021, however the scheduled meeting was postponed. It is important that the draft consultation response prepared on behalf of the Council is ratified to enable a final submission to be provided to National Highways by 6^th October.

I.  DECISION (strike out whichever does not apply) :

1.     My decision is:

1.1     That the Council maintains its opposition to the Lower Thames Crossing in Thurrock and pursuant to Section 42 (1)(b) of the Planning Act 2008 and objects in principle to the proposed scheme;

1.2       That the Council agrees the consultation responses set out in Appendix A (Summary Review of Community Impacts Consultation) and B (Appendices A - K) and that these should be submitted to HE by 6 October 2021[1];

The reason for my decision is:

The Council is a key statutory consultee to the Lower Thames Crossing decision making process. There is a need for the Council to present its views in detail and as set out in the attached report.

In reaching the decision to approve the consultation response, I have the benefit of the deliberations of the Lower Thames Crossing Task Group of the 20^th September 2021, who recommended that the documents were approved.

I specifically consulted all group Leaders;

[insert response]

In line with the requirements of the delegated powers I consulted the Leader of the Council prior to making a final decision; he was in agreement with both the approach of an urgent decision and the adoption of the consultation responses.

Signed:                                                           Date: 01/10/2021