Issue - meetings

This report presents the output of traffic modelling recently undertaken, to refresh the modelling previously undertaken as part of the Foss Basin Transport Implications report, in order to confirm the need for James Street Link Road Phase 2 and determine the optimum time for the construction of the short remaining eastern section.

Members are asked to await the outcome of negotiations with the developer prior to receiving a further report on the financial and legal implications.

Consideration was given to the following options:

  Option 1 - Pursue the developer’s signing of the Agreement requiring him to construct the remaining southern section of Phase 2 (P2S). Under this option, the Council is expected to make a contribution from the Local Transport Plan allocation for enhancing the minor access road that would have otherwise been constructed, to the desired standard for the link road.

If the developer decides not to proceed with the development (and the Council revokes the Planning Permission) then proceed with Option 2.

Option 2 - When the outcome of negotiations with the developer is known a further report on the financial implications is submitted to EMAP for a decision to progress the commissioning of the remaining stages of the design programme so that P2S can be considered for inclusion in the 2009/10 capital programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)                 Note the report and its Annexes;

(ii)               Await the outcome of negotiations with the developer and when they are known, a further report on the financial and legal implications be submitted to a future City Strategy EMAP meeting for a decision to be considered on:

·      Pursuing the developer’s signing of the Agreement requiring them to construct the remaining southern section of Phase 2 (P2S)

·      Authorising the commissioning of the remaining stages of the design programme to enable P2S to be considered for inclusion in the 2009/10 capital programme.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            Themodelling undertaken for the short remaining southern section of James Street Link Road shows that it would enhance the performance of Phase 1 and relieve congestion on several roads in the Foss Basin area of the city now and in the future. The initial financial assessment showed that this should be constructed as soon as possible to generate the most benefit. The Council also needs to be clear of the position and that of the developer regarding the development of the site off Layerthorpe through which the Link Road is to run, in order for it to reach a decision as to whether the developer or the council should fund the construction of the final section of the link road and when it should be constructed.

Members considered a report which presented the output of traffic modelling recently undertaken, to refresh the modelling done as part of the Foss Basin Transport Implications report, in order to confirm the need for James Street Link Road Phase 2 and determine the optimum time for the construction of the short remaining eastern section.

The report also presented several recommendations for progressing the design and construction of the short remaining southern section of Phase 2 (P2S), in order to secure best value for the Council.

Members stated that they welcomed the recommendation which would assist traffic problems at Heworth Green and the tendency of driver to undertake illegal u turns. With reference to Phase 1 of the scheme, reference was made to difficulties faced by local residents owing to the lack of dropped kerbs between Lawrence Street and Morrison’s supermarket.

Members also referred to the reference, in the report, that legal comments were awaited on the implications for securing the developer’s signature on the Section 106 Agreement or land purchase/revocation of planning permission, if the developer did not decide to develop the site. Officers confirmed that no decision notice had yet been issued for this site as the developers were re-examining their options but it was anticipated that they would come back with alternative proposals.

Consideration was then given to the following options:

  Option 1 - Pursue the developer’s signing of the Agreement requiring him to construct the remaining southern section of Phase 2 (P2S). Under this option, the Council is expected to make a contribution from the Local Transport Plan allocation for enhancing the minor access road that would have otherwise been constructed, to the desired standard for the link road.

If the developer decides not to proceed with the development (and the Council revokes the Planning Permission) then proceed with Option 2.

Option 2 - When the outcome of negotiations with the developer is known a further report on the financial implications is submitted to EMAP for a decision to progress the commissioning of the remaining stages of the design programme so that P2S can be considered for inclusion in the 2009/10 capital programme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)                 Note the report and its Annexes;

(ii)               Await the outcome of negotiations with the developer and when they are known, a further report on the financial and legal implications be submitted to a future City Strategy EMAP meeting for a decision to be considered on:

·      Pursuing the developer’s signing of the Agreement requiring them to construct the remaining southern section of Phase 2 (P2S)

·      Authorising the commissioning of the remaining stages of the design programme to enable P2S to be considered for inclusion in the 2009/10 capital programme. ^1.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            Themodelling undertaken for the short remaining southern section of James Street Link Road shows that it would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 50