To approve as a correct record the minutes of the Planning, Transport, Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committeemeeting held on 5 July 2022.

The minutes of the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 5 July 2022 were approved as a true and correct record.

To receive additional items that the Chair is of the opinion should be considered as a matter of urgency, in accordance with Section 100B (4) (b) of the Local Government Act 1972. To agree any relevant briefing notes submitted to the Committee.

There were no items of urgent business.

There were no interests declared.

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery presented the report found on pages 15-20 of the agenda.

The Chair of the Committee thanked the Assistant Director for the report, referring to lighting issues he sought as to whether the equipment required had been ordered and further sought assurances that 23 January 2023 was to be the completion date. The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery commented this was the estimate date given to the Council by contractors and subject to any unknown delays this date was being worked to.

Councillor Raper referred to paragraph 2.2 regarding issues on the project which had resulted in delays and asked that these reports be circulated to Members of the Committee. The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery agreed and commented that once the project had been completed the Committee would receive a closure report.

Councillor Watson enquired as there was now a completion date of 23January as to whether Officers forecasted any delays which would prevent the project from completing. She further asked whether the Committee would receive a breakdown of the actual costs come January 2023.

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery advised Members most of the milestones within the project except for lighting were due to be completed in November 2022. He continued by stating the 23 January 2023 was an estimated date for the scheme to be completed and handed it back Thurrock. The Assistant Director commented the next report presented to the Committee would set out a timeline of the project for Members and a closure report would also be submitted to the Committee outlining the lessons learned as well as financial closure of the project.

Councillor Gledhill enquired about the acquisition of the lighting equipment, specifically seeking what equipment was being waited on. The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery explained contractors were waiting for a component element of the control for the light system.

It was suggested by Councillor Gledhill that an additional recommendation be added following requests to Officers for additional information “That Officers provide the requested information by Members at the next meeting.” This was agreed by all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Planning, Transportation and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1.  Notes and comments on the report content.

2.  Officers provide the requested information by Members at the next meeting

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery presented the report found on pages 21-28 of the agenda.

The Chair of the Committee thanked the Assistant Director for the report and referring to paragraph 3.10 of the report enquired as to when construction on the project was now scheduled to take place and what impact the negotiation with regards to the contract was going to have on the construction start date and overall completion of the project. The Assistant Director commented it was unfortunate but by looking at the table at paragraph 3.10 of the report, it was clear there were to be further delays to the construction start date due to contract negotiations, however Officers were hopeful to come to a contract agreement by the end of October. The Chair of the Committee requested a Briefing Note be circulated to Committee updating them on the project after the 31^st October 2022.

During discussions Councillor Watson thanked the Assistant Director for the report and highlighted her main concern was the risk that this project could also become overspent as has happened the A13 Widening Project. She continued by stating there was already a project envelope set at £29 million, however if delays were continuing this would incur more costs. She sought assurances that the overall project would remain the same and that the business case would be approved and signed off so that both phases of the project could to be completed together.

The Assistant Director of Regeneration and Place Delivery advised Members a lot of design work had already been completed which gave Officers slightly more control to make sure timelines were kept too. He confirmed that reports would be presented to the Committee to ensure Members were updated as to the process of the project. Members heard how Officers were bringing into the project the additional resources required to support the scheme, which in the long term could save resources. This included ensuring the experts required were involved and making sure that people internal to the Council were also involved in those discussions, this included the Urban Design Team and the Highways Department.

Members sought clarity on inflations costs and how much these would be costing the project per month, asking that the information be reported back to the Committee.

The Chair of the Committee suggested an additional recommendation be added following requests to Officers for additional information “That Officers provide the requested information by Members at the next meeting.” This was agreed by all Members of the Committee.

RESOLVED that the Planning, Transport and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee:

1.    Notes and comments on the information provided relating to the Stanford-le-Hope Interchange project

2.       Officers provide the requested information by Members at the next meeting

The Chair addressed the Committee explaining he had requested an extraordinary meeting to be held on 23 November 2022, this was agreed by Members, who requested that the work programme be updated and circulated to the Committee.

Councillor Kelly asked that Members receive an update on the A13 East Facing Access. 

RESOLVED

That there be an Extraordinary Committee on 23^rd November 2020 and that update on the A13 East Facing Access be included on the Work Programme.