Agenda item

Report of the Town Clerk.

Consideration was given to a report of the Town Clerk which provided details of action taken by the Town Clerk in consultation with the Chairman and Deputy Chairman of the Streets and Walkways Sub Committee in accordance with Standing Order 41(a) and 41(b).

In addition to the approval of the temporary installation of the Robert Hooke Bell and Globe View Walkway (opening up and enhancing the Riverside Walkway), a decision had also been take regarding the Millennium Bridge paving approach as follows –

Millennium Bridge paving approach - In September, the Streets and Walkways and Projects Sub Committees approved an options appraisal report on the Millennium Bridge area enhancement project.

Members agreed that Options 1 and 2a be progressed to ‘authority to start work stage’ at an estimated cost of £1,473,305 (inclusive of £350,000 for re-paving the Millennium Bridge Approach) and that the paving options for the Millennium Bridge Approach be finalised.

The Sub Committees agreed to trial paving options on site in order to assist Members and for approval of that element of the project to be delegated to the Town Clerk in consultation with Chairmen and Deputy Chairmen of the Policy and Resources and Planning and Transportation Committees and the Projects and Streets and Walkways Sub-Committees.

The trial of the new paving pattern and the cleaning of an area of the existing paving was undertaken in November 2012.  Members of the Streets and Walkways and Projects Sub Committee visited the site to inspect the paving on 7^th December 2012.  Members expressed a preference for the area of existing paving that had been cleaned and agreed that the existing paving should be repaired. They also expressed a desire to carry out these works as soon as possible.

It was therefore agreed, under Delegated Authority, to take forward Options 1 and 2a, as agreed by Committees, with the exclusion of the £350,000 repaving works to the Millennium Bridge Approach and the option to include paving repairs and cleaning works instead, at an estimated cost of £37,000, to be met from existing revenue resources. 

RECEIVED.