Issue - meetings

To consider a report by the Director for Place, copy attached as item 11

Before the Committee was a report by the Director for Place, 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 11.

The report updated Members on the Montague Place scheme and sought to authorise Worthing Borough Council (WBC) to act as the lead authority and delivery body for West Sussex County Council (WSCC) on the terms set out in this report.

The report presented the rationale for WBC delivering the project and the combined approach being undertaken by WBC to deliver a series of public realm improvements under Growth Deal arrangements with WSCC.

The report sought approval to release Community Infrastructure Levy budget to enable WBC to contribute to delivering the scheme following the Councils Standing Orders and procurement strategy in appointing further consultants and contractors.

A question was asked about the nature of consultation involved in the scheme. Members were told that there had been 11 months of consultation work undertaken with multiple stakeholders.

Members lauded the new type of engagement in considering the scheme and noted the well-attended community event that exhibited good two way conversations.

Decision

That the Worthing Sub Committee of the Joint Strategic Committee

1)     Delegates authority to the Director for Place to enter into a collaboration agreement with WSCC authorising Worthing Borough Council to take on the project management and delivery responsibility of Montague Place Public Realm work;

2)     Delegates authority to the Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WSCC, the authority to approve and award a contract for project management capacity required to oversee the public realm project subject to the development of a procurement strategy; the outcome of a compliant procurement process and ensuring that the work is within the authorised budget envelope;

3)     Delegates authority to the Director for Place, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WSCC, the authority to approve and award a contract for the construction work required to deliver the public realm project subject to the development of a procurement strategy; the outcome of a compliant procurement process; and, ensuring that the project is within the authorised budget envelope;

4)     Approves the release of £2.7m from the Community Infrastructure Levy strategic pot to support the delivery of Montague Place Public Realm scheme;

5)     Approves the creation of a budget of £2.7m within the capital programme fully funded by the Community Infrastructure Levy to support the delivery of the scheme.

Call-in

The call-in deadline for the decisions will be 5.00pm on 22 September 2023.