Issue - meetings

To ask Cabinet to authorise additional revenue funding to fund the work required to enable Gloucestershire County Council to enter into contract with Homes England and MHCLG.

To delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Infrastructure  in consultation with the Executive Director Corporate Resources Section 151 Officer) and  the Cabinet Member; Environment and Planning Executive to authorise the County Council to enter into a Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) together with any associated agreements and supporting documentation, with Homes England in relation to the M5J10 Improvement Scheme.

That Cabinet:

1.1 Underwrite, at risk, an additional £2,150,000 to the 2020/21 revenue

budget to cover the period of April 2020 to September 2020;

1.2 Underwrite, at risk, up to an additional £6,479,000 to the 2020/21

revenue budget to cover the period of October 2020 to March 2021

should there be a delay in signing the J10 GDA and to enable the J9

OBC to continue.;

2. That Cabinet delegates authority to the Executive Director Economy,

Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member;

Environment and Planning and the Executive Director of Corporate Resources

(and Section 151 Officer)to:

3. Agree the terms and conditions which give rise to the GDA between GCC and

Homes England in relation the M5J10 scheme, including the Heads of Terms.

4. Authorise the County Council to execute the GDA between GCC and Homes

England by affixing the council’s seal thereto.

5. Authorise the execution of any supplemental documents or agreements

necessary to facilitate the delivery of the M5J10 scheme.

Cllr Nigel Moor, Cabinet Member for Environment and Planning, gave an update on the M5 Junction 10 Improvement Scheme.

Cllr Moor confirmed that on 12 March 2020, the County Council had been successful in securing a Housing Infrastructure Bid of £219.8 million towards the M5 Junction 10 Improvement Scheme. The council had also received approval from the Department for Transport to proceed to the Strategic Outline Business Case Stage for the M5 J9/A46 Large Local Majors Scheme.

Promoting the immediate progression of both schemes, Cllr Moor informed members that to do so, further funding from the County Council would be required. He explained that, in relation to Junction 10, no draw down from the £219.8M capital funding could be made until the County Council had entered into a Grant Determination Agreement (GDA) with the Ministry for Housing, Communities, and Local Government  (MHCLG).  An ambitious timetable had been set out, seeking to sign the GDA in July 2020, followed by the drawing down of the first payment in August 2020. 

Cllr Moor proposed that the County Council enter into a Grant Determination Agreement with Homes England, (together with any associated agreements and supporting documentation). He explained that, to do so, it would be necessary for Cabinet to provide funding for the period up to the contract signing and to the drawing down period.

Referring to the Junction 9 proposal, Cllr Moor stated that the Department of Transport had stipulated a clear priority order that the County Council work with local authorities on their respective bids. With this in mind, the County Council would be required to undertake further work on the County Council business case in order to keep to the deadline for the current Large Local Major Scheme.

Supported by the Leader and Cabinet colleagues, Cllr Moor stressed the importance of delivering major schemes for the county. He also commended the persistence of officers in progressing this important contribution to the local infrastructure, particularly at this crucial time in the economic recovery of  Gloucestershire. 

Having considered the information, including known proposals, alternative options and reasons for recommendations, Cabinet noted the report and,

RESOLVED to:

1.    Agree to

1.1         Underwrite, at risk, an additional £2,150,000 to the 2020/21 revenue budget to cover the period of April 2020 to September 2020;

1.2         Underwrite, at risk, up to an additional £6,479,000 to the 2020/21revenue budget to cover the period of October 2020 to March 2021should there be a delay in signing the J10 GDA and to enable the J9 OBC to continue.;

2.   Delegate authority to the Executive Director Economy, Environment and Infrastructure in consultation with the Cabinet Member; Environment and Planning and the Executive Director of Corporate Resources (and Section 151 Officer) to:

3.   Agree the terms and conditions which give rise to the GDA between GCC and Homes England in relation the M5J10 scheme, including the Heads of Terms.

4.   Authorise the County Council to execute the GDA between GCC and Homes England by affixing the council’s seal thereto.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 10