Issue - meetings

Planning and Economic Development Portfolio

To consider report PES/442 of the Head of Economy and Planning, which was referred to the meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Commission on 27 November 2023.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)         notes the progress of the scheme to date.

b)         delegate authority to the Head of Economy and Planning (in consultation with Head of Governance, Performance and People and the Head of Corporate Finance) to sign a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council with regard to £1,949,419 of BSIP monies.

(Generic Delegation 3 will be used to exact this recommendation).

c)         delegate the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant documentation, including legal paperwork, to the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Head of Governance, People and Performance and Head of Corporate Finance

(Generic Delegations 2 and 3 will be used to enact this recommendation).

d)         That the Full Council is asked to approve the addition of the of £1,949,419 of BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) monies to the Crawley Borough Council capital programme as part of the Western Boulevard scheme, subject to a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council.

Reasons for the Recommendations

The recommendations will allow Crawley Borough Council to progress the Western Boulevard Scheme to the on-site delivery phase.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Economic Development presented report PES/442 of the Head of Economy and Planning.  The report updated Cabinet on the progress of the Western Boulevard scheme as part of the Crawley Growth Programme with a recommendation that Full Council agree to add £2m of BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) monies to the scheme, which have been secured, subject to a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council.

Councillor Ayling presented the Overview and Scrutiny Commission’s comments on the report OSC/315 to the Cabinet following consideration of the matter at its meeting on 27 November 2023, which included:

·       Recognition that the scheme was set to deliver significant improvements to bus connectivity in the town centre alongside better sustainable transport facilities.

·       Clarification was obtained regarding various cycle lanes within the scheme, together with the exit closures and carriageway improvements. 

·       Acknowledgement that funding would be required in order for the scheme to be fully completed along The Boulevard.

Councillors C Mullins, S Mullins and Jones spoke as part of the discussion on the report. 

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet:

a)          notes the progress of the scheme to date.

b)          delegate authority to the Head of Economy and Planning (in consultation with Head of Governance, Performance and People and the Head of Corporate Finance) to sign a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council with regard to £1,949,419 of BSIP monies.

(Generic Delegation 3 will be used to exact this recommendation).

c)          delegate the negotiation, approval and completion of all relevant documentation, including legal paperwork, to the Head of Economy and Planning, in consultation with the Head of Governance, People and Performance and Head of Corporate Finance

(Generic Delegations 2 and 3 will be used to enact this recommendation).

d)          That the Full Council is asked to approve the addition of the of £1,949,419 of BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) monies to the Crawley Borough Council capital programme as part of the Western Boulevard scheme, subject to a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council.

Reasons for the Recommendations

The recommendations will allow Crawley Borough Council to progress the Western Boulevard Scheme to the on-site delivery phase.

To consider report PES/442 of the Head of Economy and Planning.

The Commission considered report PES/442 of the Head of Economy and Planning.  The report updated on the progress of the Western Boulevard scheme as part of the Crawley Growth Programme with a recommendation that Full Council agree to add £2m of BSIP (Bus Service Improvement Plan) monies to the scheme, which have been secured, subject to a funding agreement with West Sussex County Council.

During the discussion with the Leader of the Council and the Head of Economy and Planning the following comments were made:

·         Recognition that the scheme was set to deliver significant improvements to bus connectivity in the town centre alongside better sustainable transport facilities. It would widen The Boulevard/The Broadway junction, giving priority to buses turning in and out of the junction as well as improve cycle facilities in the area by continuing the segregated cycle tracks on The Boulevard completing the link from the Eastern Gateway to the existing cycle infrastructure on the High Street.

·         Clarification was obtained regarding various punctuated cycle lanes within the scheme, together with the exit closures and carriageway improvements. 

·         Acknowledgement that funding would be required in order for the scheme to be fully completed along The Boulevard.

RESOLVED

That the Commission noted the report and requested that the views expressed during the debate, were fed back to the Cabinet through the Commission’s Comment sheet.