Agenda item

Members asked questions of Portfolio Holders in accordance with Procedure Rules 8.1 and 8.2 as follows:

·         Councillor Gerstner referred to the Whittlesey Relief Road Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) and stated that given the low benefit to cost ratio (BCR) and that further funding of £22,000 is required for the next stage, he would like clarification as to how funding will be obtained even though there is a strong case for the relief road. He questioned that, given that the Royal Haskoning report from March 2021 is now four years old, whether it is still relevant? Councillor Boden stated that this is a very important issue not only for the residents of Whittlesey but for the whole of Fenland because of the implications of what will happen if no action is taken, with the implication to the centre of Whittlesey being that it will end up being totally gridlocked by traffic, meaning that Whittlesey will not be able to take its fair share of economic and housing growth as the road system will not be sufficient to be able to take the traffic, which was very clearly enunciated in the SOBC, and is the subject of a motion in today’s agenda. He explained that the BCR which Councillor Gerstner referred to was not high, however, it is not the same as it used to be and in previous years BCR was a specific number and if you went above a certain number then you would obtain a project going forward and if you were below that number then you would not. Councillor Boden explained that now it is a much more nuanced approach, and it is not just the BCR which is relevant, but it includes all the associated elements too, with there being several items mentioned in the report which are associated with the project. He stated that the recommendations in the SOBC include that a further £220,000 is spent in order to explore the further possibilities to produce scheme which will increase the likelihood of being able to move forward to an outline business case. Councillor Boden explained that, at the earlier Cabinet meeting, it was agreed that officers can now proceed and approach various sources to see if that funding is available and Cabinet agreed that the most obvious place to go is the Combined Authority and that will be the first place that officers will approach to seek that funding. He expressed the view that he is not confident that it will come immediately but he knows that Councillor Gerstner will recognize that members have battled for many years on this subject and that battle will continue until a satisfactory resolution is found. Councillor Boden stated that reference has been made to the Royal Haskoning report which was an inception report, and he explained that if there is a major infrastructure project such as this, there are seven stages which need to be overcome which start at stage zero to six with stage zero being the inception report which was what Whittlesey Town Council funded. He explained that the positive report provided the opportunity for the SOBC and it will now be suggested that the further money is spent in order to see how that case may be amended in order to justify moving to the outline business case.

·         Councillor Booth thanked Councillor Mrs Laws for the update concerning the Local Plan but stated that what is disappointing is that there still is no timetable for when things are going to take place. He made the point that the Local Plan should have been completed by February 2022 and it is now three years from this and it is not going to be completed for at least a couple of years so it would be good to get some timetables that can be worked towards and get it delivered, bearing in mind Local Government Reorganisation (LGR). Councillor Mrs Laws responded that she understands but it has been out of the Council’s control for several reasons but the situation is complicated with the LGR and with very new regulations coming forth from Central Government relating to Local Plan delivery expectations. She stated that officers are now working on this as well as waiting for some further clarification nationally but she is not in a position to provide a definitive answer to the next steps but intends to do so at the earliest opportunity and will update members in due course. Councillor Booth stated that with the changes to the proposals from Government there is a new number allocated to Fenland for the number of houses, approximately a further 50 dwellings per year, and asked does this mean that the Council has to go out to public consultation again or is this something that requires clarification? Councillor Mrs Laws responded that it requires further clarification and she acknowledges that it is disappointing for members as she knows how important the plan is but does not want to provide incorrect information.

·         Councillor Gerstner stated that it has been a while since members have received any update about parking enforcement and asked, considering there is now a new administration at County Council, has there been any contact with them at all? Councillor Mrs French responded that no progress has been made but it will be discussed at the June Cabinet meeting.