Agenda item

This report aims to outline the necessary steps and approvals required to advance the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme to the next stages of the project governance process. It seeks to secure authorisation to proceed to detailed design and construction, planning permissions, and any other essential resources or endorsements needed to move forward with the project implementation.

Resolved:   To approve Option 2, progressing a separately resourced and funded project to identify and confirm the remedial works required to improve Riverside Embankment stability, as set out within the “Options Analysis and Evidential Basis – Riverside Embankment Stability” section of this report and Annex B, and provide recommendations to a future Executive Member Decision Session and progress the Riverside Path Improvement scheme to detailed design based on the scheme proposals and preliminary design inclusions set out within the “Options Analysis and Evidential Basis - Affordable Scheme” section of this report (beginning at paragraph 91) but delay construction until the dependency on the Riverside Embankment Stability issue is fully determined and resolved.

                    Also to approve the following delegations of authority:

·       To Approve the procurement of a Principal Contractor and Principal Designer for the Riverside Path Improvement scheme and delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport & Planning (in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Head of Procurement) to take such steps as are necessary to procure, award and enter into the resulting contracts and the identification of the remedial works required results in the construction costs being in excess of the Key Decision threshold, a further report will be presented to a future Executive meeting.

·       To delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to proceed with all necessary technical work, including preparation of a detailed design, investigation and conduct of diversions of statutory-undertakers apparatus to enable the works in regard of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

·       To delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to approve the final design to be delivered for the Riverside Path Improvement scheme unless the scheme objectives or cost tolerances cannot be met without significant alteration to the preliminary design in which case a further report will be submitted to a future Executive Member Decision Session

·       To Delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport, and Planning, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to carry out any necessary value engineering to ensure the Riverside Path Improvement scheme remains within budget.

·       To approve the submission of any relevant planning application(s) required to deliver the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme affordable solution and delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to do so.

·       To approve the advertisement of an amendment to the Traffic Regulation order to introduce ‘Prohibition of cycling’ restrictions on the Aldborough Way access ramp to the Riverside Path as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

·       To introduce ‘No waiting at any time’ restrictions on Jubilee Terrace as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme in respect of traffic management and to approve any statutory consultation which may be required for this option.

Also regarding Scheme Design:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation. Advertise no waiting at any time restrictions (double yellow lines) to the length of Jubilee Terrace outside the church as part of a formal Traffic Regulation Order process. This option meets the Department for Transport’s Inclusive Mobility Design Guidance, and supports the objectives within our Transport Strategy.

Also regarding Traffic Regulation Restrictions:

·       To approve Option 2a, undertaking the Statutory Consultation to Advertise a proposal for ‘No waiting at any time’ restrictions on Jubilee Terrace as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

Also regarding Design Section B1:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation. Advertise a prohibition to cyclists using the ramp connecting the Aldborough Way estate with the Riverside Path as part of a formal Traffic Regulation Order process.

Also regarding Design Section B2:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation.

Also regarding Options Analysis and Evidential Basis – Riverside Embankment Stability:

·       To approve Option 2 – Parallel Delivery, mandating a separately resourced and funded project with a brief to identify the need for remedial works to improve Riverside Embankment stability, generating recommendations for how this can be achieved in a report which will be brought before a future Executive Member Decision Session. Undertake detailed design work for the Riverside Path improvement Scheme but delay construction until the dependency on the Riverside Embankment Stability issue is fully determined and resolved. Deliver both Projects in parallel with delivery timelines to be aligned to provide one, robust, future proofed solution.

Reason:      Approval of the above options fulfils the council’s strategic objectives regarding the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

The Head of Highways and Transport and Transport Project Manager presented the report. They noted that this report did not seek an immediate decision to implement the proposed changes, rather officers sought to advertise the proposed action.

The Executive Member responded to public participation which had expressed concern at the speed of progress, she acknowledged that this plan was an investment designed to last and officers needed to properly consider the stabilising of the riverbank so that the improvements would last for many generations to come. Any work done may need to be phased with this end in mind, but the intention was to progress the scheme as fast as possible.

The Executive Member also acknowledged public concern over the eight parking spaces proposed for reduction, weighing the potential needs of up to eight families against those of the large number of residents that would be afforded safer foot and wheel access to the school and Riverside Path without concern for cars.

She noted that there was unrestricted on street parking on Salisbury Terrace and Jubilee Terrace nearby and there was still reasonable provision within the Traffic Regulation Order for those wishing to attend weddings and funerals at the church; the double yellow lines would also still allow for loading and unloading of vehicles at the church without a time limit.

The Executive Member stated that she was still considering the access for Blue Badge parking for church access, but the current decision was to progress to consultation. She also expressed disappointment that it had not been possible to dovetail this scheme with the Leeman Road closure to provide better support to residents.

The Executive Member thereby

Resolved:   To approve Option 2, progressing a separately resourced and funded project to identify and confirm the remedial works required to improve Riverside Embankment stability, as set out within the “Options Analysis and Evidential Basis – Riverside Embankment Stability” section of this report and Annex B, and provide recommendations to a future Executive Member Decision Session and progress the Riverside Path Improvement scheme to detailed design based on the scheme proposals and preliminary design inclusions set out within the “Options Analysis and Evidential Basis - Affordable Scheme” section of this report (beginning at paragraph 91) but delay construction until the dependency on the Riverside Embankment Stability issue is fully determined and resolved.

                    Also to approve the following delegations of authority:

·       To Approve the procurement of a Principal Contractor and Principal Designer for the Riverside Path Improvement scheme and delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport & Planning (in consultation with the Director of Governance and the Head of Procurement) to take such steps as are necessary to procure, award and enter into the resulting contracts and the identification of the remedial works required results in the construction costs being in excess of the Key Decision threshold, a further report will be presented to a future Executive meeting.

·       To delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to proceed with all necessary technical work, including preparation of a detailed design, investigation and conduct of diversions of statutory-undertakers apparatus to enable the works in regard of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

·       To delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to approve the final design to be delivered for the Riverside Path Improvement scheme unless the scheme objectives or cost tolerances cannot be met without significant alteration to the preliminary design in which case a further report will be submitted to a future Executive Member Decision Session

·       To Delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport, and Planning, in consultation with the Director of Finance, to carry out any necessary value engineering to ensure the Riverside Path Improvement scheme remains within budget.

·       To approve the submission of any relevant planning application(s) required to deliver the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme affordable solution and delegate authority to the Director of Environment, Transport and Planning to do so.

·       To approve the advertisement of an amendment to the Traffic Regulation order to introduce ‘Prohibition of cycling’ restrictions on the Aldborough Way access ramp to the Riverside Path as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

·       To introduce ‘No waiting at any time’ restrictions on Jubilee Terrace as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme in respect of traffic management and to approve any statutory consultation which may be required for this option.

Also regarding Scheme Design:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation. Advertise no waiting at any time restrictions (double yellow lines) to the length of Jubilee Terrace outside the church as part of a formal Traffic Regulation Order process. This option meets the Department for Transport’s Inclusive Mobility Design Guidance, and supports the objectives within our Transport Strategy.

Also regarding Traffic Regulation Restrictions:

·       To approve Option 2a, undertaking the Statutory Consultation to Advertise a proposal for ‘No waiting at any time’ restrictions on Jubilee Terrace as part of the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.

Also regarding Design Section B1:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation. Advertise a prohibition to cyclists using the ramp connecting the Aldborough Way estate with the Riverside Path as part of a formal Traffic Regulation Order process.

Also regarding Design Section B2:

·       To approve Option 1, proceeding with the affordable scheme as presented during the public consultation.

Also regarding Options Analysis and Evidential Basis – Riverside Embankment Stability:

·       To approve Option 2 – Parallel Delivery, mandating a separately resourced and funded project with a brief to identify the need for remedial works to improve Riverside Embankment stability, generating recommendations for how this can be achieved in a report which will be brought before a future Executive Member Decision Session. Undertake detailed design work for the Riverside Path improvement Scheme but delay construction until the dependency on the Riverside Embankment Stability issue is fully determined and resolved. Deliver both Projects in parallel with delivery timelines to be aligned to provide one, robust, future proofed solution.

Reason:      Approval of the above options fulfils the council’s strategic objectives regarding the Riverside Path Improvement Scheme.