Issue - meetings

Call-In of Decision Made by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment regarding Eastbourne Town Centre Management and Access Package - Phase 2a Revised Scope.

26.1     The Deputy Chief Executive introduced the report. A decision was made by the Lead Member for Transport and Environment on the 18 November 2024 regarding the Eastbourne Town Centre Management and Access Package - Phase 2a Revised Scope. A notification of a call-in request was received from Councillor Tutt, supported by Councillor Murphy and Councillor Stephen Shing within the timeframe for calling-in a decision. When a call-in request is made that complies with the requirements set out in the Council’s Constitution, the request is required to be considered by the relevant scrutiny committee within 10 working days of the request being made. This was why the Committee has been asked to consider this matter as an urgent item.

26.2     The report contains a copy of the report to the Lead Member in relation to the Eastbourne Town Centre Management and Access Package and the draft minute of the decision that was taken. The report also contains a copy of the call-in request which sets out the basis and grounds for calling-in the decision, and a copy of the response from officers in relation to the call-in request for consideration by the Committee. The Committee is asked to consider the call-in in the light of the information presented in the report.

26.3     Councillor Swansborough spoke on behalf of Councillor Tutt. He outlined that since the Access Package Phase 2a was originally devised, the costs of the scheme had gone up dramatically by around £1 million for a scheme that was originally costed at around £5 million. Under the de-scoping exercise, the scheme was subject to a comprehensive design review which led to changes being made to surfacing materials, road layout, and the proposed public space outside the Marks & Spencer store. The Local Member, officers and the bid team have all be notified of what the changes are, but the public have not been consulted or informed about these changes and there is a need for the public to be informed about the revised scheme due to the comprehension design review. The call-in asks for information on the changes to the scheme to be provided to the public via display boards.

26.4     The Assistant Director Economy commented that on the basis of the call-in, the department is happy to provide display material within Eastbourne Town Centre to alert the public to the changes that are being made to the scheme as agreed with Councillor Tutt in the previous week. In addition, meetings have been held with bid team and local businesses on the situation and this is in addition to the consultation that will be undertaken through the statutory Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) process in the New Year. The de-scoping of the scheme was necessary as it was not possible to do everything we wanted to do, within the budget available for the scheme. The design  ...  view the full minutes text for item 26

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

11.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, together with a petition which had been submitted to the County Council.

11.2     Mr Andy Spirou spoke on behalf of the petitioners, to request an extension to the road closure in Bolton Road to assist with al fresco dining.

11.3     Officers confirmed that, based on available budget and without having to revisit design work, a small amendment to the scheme by extending the closure approximately 10m to the south could be accommodated without the need for further consultation or impacts on funding.  Officers further confirmed that Eastbourne Borough Council had agreed to the designation of five disabled parking bays in Hyde Gardens, which would lead to a net gain of three such spaces. 

DECISIONS

11.4     The Lead Member RESOLVED to (1) approve the final detailed design for the Eastbourne Town Centre Improvement Scheme as set out in Appendix 2 and in paragraph 11.3;

(2) approve the construction of the scheme in accordance with the final detailed design;

(3) delegate authority to the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport, in consultation with the Lead Member, to make any necessary minor amendments to the scheme; and

(4) approve publication of the associated Traffic Regulation Orders.

Reasons

11.5     Phase 2a of the Eastbourne Town Centre Movement and Access Package focuses on the section of Terminus Road between Bankers Corner and Langney Road and builds on the earlier phase that was completed in January 2020.  The shaping of the final detailed design has been positively influenced in a number of ways through the ongoing engagement with Eastbourne town centre stakeholders, the outcomes of the access assessment undertaken on the scheme design and the Equalities Impact Assessment (EqIA).  This has resulted in changes to the palette and location of materials and street furniture being used within the scheme design to address any impact on groups with protected characteristics. 

11.6     In addition, alternative provision of on road blue badge parking in the town centre, as well as in surface car parks, has been sought to negate the loss in current blue badge spaces in Bolton Road and Langney Road area.  Officers will continue to investigate alternate provision.  The necessary Traffic Regulation Orders related to the Pedestrian Zone in Terminus Road as well as changes to traffic movements and parking restrictions required as part of the scheme will be advertised later in the summer.