Agenda item

Before the Council considered this item, the Deputy Mayor drew attention to the two reports on Ash Road Bridge on the agenda, the first of which was Item no. 14 which would be considered in public.  The second report, which was Item no. 16, was essentially the same report as Item 14 except that Item 16 included the “not for publication” commercially sensitive detail of the budget and funding strategy and more detailed legal advice in respect of the Ash Road Bridge project.

As no councillor wished to discuss, or seek clarification on, any information contained in Item 16, the Deputy Mayor indicated that the Council would deal with this matter wholly in public by considering Item 14.

The Council noted that the Ash Road Bridge Scheme comprised a long-term infrastructure solution to the current and future issues posed by the Ash level crossing, including increased usage associated with housing growth in the Ash and Tongham area and greater barrier downtime resulting from enhanced rail use of the North Downs Line.

The Council was asked to approve the new budget for the Ash Road Bridge Scheme, which had been revised to £33.77 million for Stage 1 (road bridge) and £5.02 million for Stage 2 (footbridge) and the funding strategy for both Stages, to ensure that the scheme was satisfactorily funded.  The funding strategy included further Homes England funding of £13.9 million, in addition to the £10 million agreed previously, which was being secured through a Deed of Amendment to the original funding agreement.  An update on progress with the Deed of Amendment was included on the Order Paper.

Upon the motion of the Lead Councillor for Regeneration, Councillor John Rigg, seconded by the Leader of the Council, Councillor Joss Bigmore, the Council:

RESOLVED: That the Council approves the budget and funding strategy as set out in the budget and funding sections of the exempt (Part 2) report published as Item 16 with the agenda for this meeting.

Reasons:

This is a unique opportunity to utilise £23.9 million of central government funding towards the Ash Road Bridge Scheme to deliver an alternative road crossing of the North Downs railway line in close proximity to the Ash level crossing. The Ash Road Bridge Scheme forms a requirement of Policy A31 of the Council's Local Plan which allocates land for housing in Ash. Delivery of this scheme will also enable the closure of Ash level crossing, which will improve safety for highway and rail users and significantly reduce traffic congestion on the A323 and the use of alternative local roads to avoid the Ash level crossing in Ash.