Issue - meetings

Mersey Gateway Executive Board considered a report of the Chief Executive.

Council are asked to approve the following:

 (A)

(1)      The Final Business Case including the preferred Local User Toll Discount Scheme;

(2)      The Final Funding Submission and Final Funding Agreement with the Department for Transport as presented in the Final Funding Letter;

and

( B )

Council delegate to the Chief Executive ( in consultation with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder Resources, the Portfolio Holder Transportation, the Operational Director (Legal and Democratic Services), the Operational Director  (Finance ), the Operational Director (Policy, Planning and Transportation) and the Mersey Gateway Project Director ) authority to

i)                 enter into the following formal contracts;

a)    the Mersey Gateway Project Agreement with the Merseylink consortium;

b)    the Demand Management Participation Agreement with Sanef S. A;

c)  the Governance Agreement with the Mersey Gateway Crossings Board;

           and

ii)            to write to senior officials at the Department for

                      Transport to confirm that the terms and conditions in the

                      Final Funding Letter offered by Ministers are accepted by

                      the Council.             

          Mersey Gateway Executive Board had considered a report of the Chief Executive on the funding agreement and final business case for the Mersey Gateway Project.

          Councillors Chris Loftus, Cole, Morley and Tom McInerney made observations on the funding arrangements. In addition, Councillor Rowe read out a letter which had been sent by the Mayor of Halton, Councillor Margaret Ratcliffe, to the Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, on the issue of tolling.

          RESOLVED: That

(A)      Council approve the following:-

(1)      The Final Business Case (including the recommended Local User Toll Discount Scheme - attached)

(2)      The Final Funding Submission and Final Funding Agreement with the Department for Transport as presented in the Final Funding Letter;

and

( B )  Council delegate to the Chief Executive ( in consultation with the Leader, the Portfolio Holder Resources, the Portfolio Holder Transportation, the Operational Director (Legal and Democratic Services), the Operational Director  (Finance ), the Operational Director (Policy, Planning and Transportation) and the Mersey Gateway Project Director ) authority to

i)        enter into the following formal contracts:-

a)      The Mersey Gateway Project Agreement with the Merseylink consortium;

b)      The Demand Management Participation Agreement with Sanef S. A;

c)   The Governance Agreement with the Mersey Gateway  Crossings Board;

           and

ii)            to write to senior officials at the Department for

                    Transport to confirm that the terms and conditions in the

                     Final Funding Letter offered by Ministers are accepted by

                     the Council; 

(C)   That the Leader, on behalf of the Council, make representation to Government, inviting Government to contribute financially to an improved LUDS to ensure ALL Halton residents can cross Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridges – free of any tolls

(D)   That the Leader, on behalf of the Council, writes to Government, expressing the Council’s anger and frustration at the double standards shown by Government by stating existing roads such as the A14 in the southeast of England should not be tolled but insisting that the A533 an existing road crossing the Silver Jubilee Bridge, but in the north of England, must be tolled.                   

The Board considered a report of the Chief Executive which advised Members that prior to achieving Financial Close, the Council was required to submit the Final Business Case, which included the Final Funding Submission. Ministers (Department for Transport and Treasury Ministers) would then be required to approve these submissions. The report explained the key aspects of the draft submission now made to Government and the draft Final Funding Approval letter that had been received from Department officials.

The Board also received a presentation from the Chief Executive and the Project Director Mersey Gateway setting out a proposal for applying a explaining how a Local User Discount can be applied to the proposed tolling arrangements on Mersey Gateway and Silver Jubilee Bridge.

The Board considered a number of options to implement the Local User discount and noted any proposal must be fundable, affordable, and comply with the legal powers granted in the Tolling Orders considered and approved by the Inspector at the Public Inquiry and subsequently approved by Government. 

The recommended proposal set out in the presentation was considered to be capable of meeting all these conditions and, after due consideration, the Board were satisfied it was likely to be the most appropriate means of providing discounts to those least able to afford the full costs of tolls.

RESOLVED: That

(1)        the Board recommend that Council approve the Mersey Gateway:

(i)              Final Business Case;

(ii)             Final Funding Submission; and

Final Funding Letter;

(2)        the Board support the Local User Discount Scheme proposal as set out in the presentation; and

(3)        the Local User Discount Scheme supported by the Board be presented to the Council for consideration and approval.