Decision details

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Digital & Resources, copies of which had been circulated to all Members and a copy of which is attached to the signed copy of these minutes as Item 12. 

The report provided an update to members on the progress made in respect to the Worthing Coastal Protectionscheme, outlined the preferred option of rock groynes and sought approval for Capital investment to assist with the further development of the project.

Delegated authority was also sought for the Head of Facilities & Technical Services, in consultation with the Worthing Executive Member for Regeneration, to award the contract for the initial design and modelling works up to the value of £500,000.

A Member raised concerns regarding the level of detail in the report regarding the replacement of wooden groynes with rock groynes, the level of public support for the proposals, the lack of consultation and the wider impacts arising from the changes proposed. Officers advised that multiple options had been considered and that Option A was the preferred option. This was based on sustainability and financial viability grounds as there were significant costs and a limited lifespan associated with timber groynes. Officers advised that consultation had not yet taken place as the report before the Committee was looking at the funding structure for the scheme.    

Decision:  

The Joint Strategic Committee:- 

      i.        noted the progress on the project;

     ii.        noted the future requirements for the associated Maritime structures along the frontage to be improved and committed to making provision within the future capital investment programme once the full extent of the works were established;

    iii.        recommended that Worthing Borough Council approve the provision of £500,000 within the capital investment programme for 2020/21, funded jointly by the Environment Agency £200,000 and Worthing Borough Council £300,000, for the modelling and initial design stage of the preferred option;

   iv.        delegated authority to the Head of Facilities & Technical Services  in consultation with the Worthing Executive Member for Regeneration, to award the contract for the initial design and modelling works up to the value of £500,000;

    v.        noted that a further report would be presented to Members outlining the final cost of the scheme once the modelling had been completed.

Call In:

The call-in deadline for decisions (i), (ii), (iv) and (v) will be 5.00pm on 19 November 2019.

There is no call-in for recommendations to Council (iii).