Agenda item

The Team Manager Projects and Growth presented the report seeking support for the procurement of a strategic transport model in the Gainsborough urban area for the purpose of promoting sustainable growth through improving traffic flows within the town whilst also maintaining connectivity from Nottinghamshire and South Yorkshire into the District safeguarding the economic benefits to West Lindsey of the primary routes to Scunthorpe, Lincoln and the coast.

The Council’s regeneration plans for Gainsborough and wider area were predicated on housing led economic growth which was formalised through statutory obligations to seek to deliver the emerging Local Plan. Due to the position of Gainsborough and its relationship with the Trent Bridge it was important to consider the impact of any growth in the town on the wider District.  The river crossing was considered a key gateway providing access routes across the area.

In February 2016 members approved a Regeneration Delivery Plan for Gainsborough, this included an outline project for infrastructure delivery.  The Homes and Communities Agency had also funded an infrastructure study for the town. As part of this regeneration programme Mouchel were commissioned by ALTAS (Part of the Homes and Communities Agency) and West Lindsey District Council to produce the Gainsborough Infrastructure and Planning Delivery Strategy (GIPDS).

As a partner of Lincolnshire County Council, Mouchel had been invited to provide a proposal, including a methodology and fee structure to undertake a more detailed study of a number of development related transport issues in

Gainsborough with a view to safeguarding the gateway routes from South

Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire into the District of West Lindsey, focussing specifically on connectivity and traffic flows.

The context behind the project along with the Study Objectives and Project Approach were set out in the report, along with the timescales for the project plan.

The Authority had successfully secured grant funding from the Greater

Lincolnshire Local Enterprise Partnership for the Housing Unlocking fund for

£4million as part of the Gainsborough Growth Programme.  £1.85 million of this was earmarked to accelerate the delivery, specifically in relation to infrastructure.  This allocation would be used to fund this study removing any cost liability to the authority.  Along with the grant funding, negotiation had been undertaken with Lincolnshire County Council for them to help client this work, with a view to providing specialist knowledge to support the project management element of this study. This in kind benefit provided approximately £5,000 worth of consultancy fees.

The Ward Councillor for Gainsborough noted that the project was exactly what was needed for the area, and questioned if Members would be able to feed into specific issues.  The Developer Contribution Officer noted that she would feed that back to the Consultants to ensure that this be part of the brief.

It was questioned how the value of the survey had been benchmarked, and whether this had been to tender.  The response was that guidance had been given by the County Council as the highways authority and that its consultant Mouchel had been used.  It was hoped that further funding could be levered in, and that an evidence base would be needed to support applications.  The opportunity to work with the County Council highways department to improve the road infrastructure was welcomed.  There would be two forms of governance, as the LEP was the ultimate accountable body it had its own assurance process.

The recommendations in the report were moved, seconded and voted upon.

RESOLVED that:

a)    the need for the Strategic Transport Model and Development Study be acknowledged, and its procurement be agreed;

b)    the Single Growth Fund 3 Grant award be accepted and the Director of Resources be delegated to accept the Terms and Conditions of the grant once known; and

c)    the release of £271,000 of the grant, to fund this study, be approved.