Agenda item

The Committee received a further report on the acquisition of the footbridge which had previously been considered on 23 May and 25 July 2017.

Members expressed frustration that no progress had been made since the meeting on 23 May, given that the bridge had been closed since October 2016.

They questioned why an initial assessment of the bridge had not been carried out between 25 July and the current time and why the issue was being brought back to the committee. A query was also raised on how the process of making a decision on the bridge by the CoL could take 12 months.

Officers advised that the main issue being brought back to committee related to the vesting of the bridge and whether the committee wished to authorise this before the structure could be  comprehensively assessed. The decision to assess the structure  had been agreed to by Committee on 25 July.

Even though the structural surveys werepromptly commissioned, the appointed surveyors had to wait for a date to access to the highway from TfL. This delay had also meant that there had been no opportunity for approval of any project through the Gateway process.

Members expressed the view that given the bridge would be of use to all in the City, not just those in the locality, it was essential that ownership be transferred to the CoL as soon as possible so that the project could proceed to the Gateway process.

RESOLVED – That the owners be advised that the CoL wish to acquire the Thames Court Footbridge and that a project be initiated through the Gateway procedure to bring it back into use.