Issue - meetings

Report from Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations.

Councillor O’Brien, Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth presented the confidential report which set out the full financial details.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1.    Agreed that following the agreement of funding at the Bee Network Committee on 28th November that Cabinet approve the appointment of the winning bidder which has been procured via an open tender exercise under an NEC4 contract to deliver the replacement Milltown Street Bridge scheme and to delegate negotiation and finalisation of contracts to the Director of Operations in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance.

2.    Agreed that the finalisation and sealing of the NEC4 contract together with any related documents, including the variation of the grant funding agreement from City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), be delegated to the Director of Law and Democratic Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Operations and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations.

Reasons for the decision:

·         As set out for Part A.

Alternative options considered and rejected:

·         As set out for Part A.

Report from Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations.

The Leader and Cabinet Member for Strategic Growth presented the report on behalf of the Cabinet Member for the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations which sought approval of a contract award for the replacement of Milltown Street Bridge in Radcliffe following a tendering process.

It was noted that construction expected to commence in Spring 2025.

Councillor Mike Smith raised that Milltown Street should be considered within the future for development and improvements.

Decision:

Cabinet:

1. Agreed that following the agreement of funding at the Bee Network Committee on 28th November that Cabinet approve the appointment of the winning bidder which has been procured via an open tender exercise under an NEC4 contract to deliver the replacement Milltown Street Bridge scheme and to delegate negotiation and finalisation of contracts to the Director of Operations in consultation with the Director of Law and Governance.

2. Agreed that the finalisation and sealing of the NEC4 contract together with any related documents, including the variation of the grant funding agreement from City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), be delegated to the Director of Law and Democratic Services in consultation with the Executive Director of Operations and the Cabinet Member for Environment, Climate Change and Operations.

Reasons for recommendation(s)

• The Milltown Street Bridge scheme is a key priority for Bury Council, TfGM and GMCA. It is a key element of the Greater Manchester Bee Active Network in Radcliffe and will complement the proposed CRSTS investment in cycling and walking infrastructure elsewhere in Radcliffe. It will provide improved connectivity for deprived communities and will form part of a wider programme to improve journey quality, reduce travel times, and improve health and wellbeing.

• An open tender exercise was carried out by Bury Council under an NEC4 contract via The Chest in accordance with Contract Procurement Rules. The scheme is fully funded by GMCA with Department for Transport Funding (DfT) awarded to the GM Mayor through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.

• The scheme has progressed to Full Business Case approval through the GMCA agreed governance process and is ready to be delivered. A delay in appointing a contractor could result in the loss of funding to replace the bridge and the risk of clawback of funding spent to date on design and development, as well as reputational risk to the Council. It could also impact on the Council’s ability to secure future transport funding from GMCA and the DfT.

 Alternative options considered and rejected

• To delay appointing a contractor and not to replace the bridge. This option has been discounted as it could result in the cost of replacing the bridge increasing and would risk non-completion within the funding timeframes.