Agenda item

To consider the reports of the Cabinet and to receive answers to any questions asked on those reports as follows:

a)    Reports of Cabinet – Matters which require a decision (Yellow pages); and

b)    Report of Cabinet – Summary of decisions taken (White pages).

The Council considered the addition of the A38 Bromsgrove Major Scheme to the Capital Programme.

In the ensuing debate, the following principal points were raised:

·         The Leader of the Council introduced the report. He indicated that it was proposed to add £6.3m to the capital programme to enable package 1 of the A38 Bromsgrove Major Works Scheme to proceed which included work on 2 key motorway junctions. There were 5 packages overall totalling over £40m, of which the Worcestershire LEP had secured £7.5m funding (£1.5m for package 1) 

·         It was recognised that there was much work to be done in particular to improve access to the A38 however this Scheme was the first stage towards the improvement of the road infrastructure in Bromsgrove

·         Although these minor changes were welcomed, a member expressed concern that this proposal did not in any way meet the economic and housing growth needs of Bromsgrove which required a sustainable and fit for purpose road network. The creation of a western bypass and changes to the motorway network were the only way to meet these needs. In response the Leader responded that this was the first of five packages and the Council needed to be realistic and proportionate about its impact on the islands on the motorway junctions however it would improve traffic flow and make them as efficient as possible. The A38 had been named as a major route network road by the Government which could open up opportunities for bids for significant sums of money to support the other packages in the scheme

·         Concern was expressed that this urgent scheme would be delayed due to a lack of certainty about funding. The Leader commented that to overcome this concern, the Council would be using cashflow to fund the initial payment of £1.3m until the planned funding sources became available, to enable the works to proceed in a timely fashion. There were risks associated with this approach but not to do so could put other sources of funding at risk 

·         The ability of traffic to access the A38 itself was the main highways issue affecting Bromsgrove and no suitable proposals had been put forward to address this issue. An assurance was required from the Cabinet Member for Economy and Infrastructure and the Leader that meetings, as and when necessary, would be arranged with officers at the highest level possible to discuss the highways issues for Bromsgrove  

·         This scheme was the first phase of the plans for the economic development of Bromsgrove

·         The Leader recognised the concerns about tackling congestion in Bromsgrove but emphasised that a partnership approach was necessary to weave together alternative means of funding to move this proposed package of changes forward to resolve this issue.

RESOLVED that the addition of £6.3m to the Capital Programme for the A38 Bromsgrove Major Scheme - Package 1 be approved on the understanding that this is fully funded by external funding sources, namely Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, Highways England's Growth and Housing Fund and developer contributions through Section 106 contributions, with the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership contribution of £1.3m having already been included in the approved Capital Programme.