Issue - meetings

Councillor Gary Sumner, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning, Councillor Maureen Penny, Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, and the Head of Planning, Regulatory Services and Heritage (on behalf of the Corporate Director of Communities and Housing) introduced a joint report setting out proposals for strategic transport schemes to support the New Eastern Villages development. 

Councillor Sumner elaborated on how the proposed schemes would benefit existing residents as well as facilitate the New Eastern Villages developments.

Councillors Dale Heenan, Jim Robbins and Bob Wright asked a number of questions relating to:

·        The possible level of borrowing and the revenue impact this would bring,

·        The level of risk the Council would have to bear,

·        The provision of landscape features to protect residents from the effects of building work or increased traffic,

·        The provision of rapid transit or other public transport corridors.

Councillors Sumner and Holland, supported by the Head of Finance (Deputy Section 151 Officer) along with the Strategic Allocations Planning Manager and New Eastern Villages Programme Lead, responded at the meeting. Councillor Sumner agreed to provide a written update on Landscaping between Coleview and Merlin Way to Cllr Heenan.

Resolved:

1)   That the Director for Communities and Housing, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment, be authorised to progress the detailed design and construction for White Hart Junction, Gablecross Junction, Nythe Road Junction, Piccadilly Roundabout and the Southern Connector Road schemes, subject to confirmation of grant funding, as detailed in Section 3 of the joint report;

2)   That the Head of Property Assets, in consultation with the Director for Communities and Housing and the Chief Legal Officer, be authorised to undertake the necessary land assembly through voluntary and/or Compulsory Purchase of land necessary for the delivery of the White Hart Junction and Gablecross Junction improvement schemes as detailed in paragraphs 3.3 to 3.16 of the joint report;

3)   That the budgets detailed at paragraphs 3.31 and 3.32 of the joint report be approved.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.