Issue - meetings

To Consider a report on the Middlewich Eastern Bypass – Approval to enter into Construction Contract.

The Committee considered a report which sought approval for officers to enter into a contract with Balfour Beatty to build the Middlewich Eastern Bypass (MEB) but subject to receiving a positive decision by the Department of Transport (DfT) to award the Council grant funding of £46.78 million towards the cost of the scheme.

The possible impacts of any delay to the DfT grant decision on the potential start date and estimated costs of the scheme were highlighted to members along with the consequences of not receiving a positive decision.

Officers reported that they were doing all they could behind the scenes and publicly to make it clear to government the importance of a positive decision by February to allow for works to start on site immediately which would take advantage of summer working and environmental constraints.

In response to a question raised in respect of whether officers were confident that lessons had been learnt from the HS2 project and that they had carried out the maximum amount of preparation for this project officers reported that the revised business case had been shaped and improved following feedback from government and support from civil servants from the DfT. The business case had been submitted and was now just waiting for a decision.

RESOLVED: (by Majority)

That the Highways and Transport Committee

1. Note the previous financial and delivery decisions and delegations in previous reports.

2. Subject to DfT grant approval and that the construction target cost and other scheme cost estimates are in line with the budget and funding arrangements in the 2024/2025 Medium Term Financial Strategy (MTFS) and subsequent approved virements, delegate authority to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure to enter into Stage 2 of the construction contract under the SCAPE framework.

3. Delegate authority to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure, in consultation with the S151 Officer, to make all necessary arrangements prior to the DfT decision (for example including, but not limited to, expenditure on preparing the target cost and value engineering design work) to enable the scheme to start on site in Summer 2025. (The Contract Preparation Works)

4. Delegate authority to the Director of Transport and Infrastructure to bring forward appropriate elements of construction (The Early Site Works) into Stage 1 of the existing Scape Contract (This work to be contractually awarded only after a positive decision on the DfT grant award)

5. Note the possible impacts of a delay to a DfT Decision on the start date and estimated cost of the scheme.

6. If any delays or any other factors cause estimated scheme costs to rise above the current approved capital budget, authorise the Director of Transport and Infrastructure to:

a. request the Finance Sub Committee and Council make any necessary adjustments to the MTFS and

b. make any minor scope changes to the scheme which may arise as a result of a value engineering exercise to ensure the scheme is affordable.

7. Authorise the Director of Governance, Compliance and Monitoring Officer to take  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55