Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the report of the Assistant Director Finance.

The report of the Assistant Director Finance was submitted to request funding to deliver the new Exeter Bus Station as part of the redevelopment scheme for the existing Bus and Coach Station site. The request for £6.25 million would be added to the City Council’s capital programme, with £4 million to be set aside from Community Infrastructure Levy, (CIL), and £2.25 million from capital receipts.

Councillor Prowse, having given notice under Standing Order no.44, spoke on this item. He questioned if the proposed bus station would be large enough for a growing city and how the budget of £6.25 million allocated to the delivery of the new bus station had been arrived at.

The Leader clarified the position with regards to funding options explored for the delivery of the bus station and that Devon County Council as the transport authority had confirmed that the proposal was fit for purpose.

The Assistant Director Finance made a short presentation, and included details of the proposed Exeter Bus station facilities, and the practical aspects of the delivery of the Bus Station site.  He also presented the financial options that had been considered. The project would be subject to ongoing scrutiny to ensure value for money and additional governance arrangements would be put in place to ensure a successful outcome for the delivery of the project.

In response to a Member, the Assistant Director Finance confirmed that funding for the Bus Station was allocated in the CIL 123 list.

The Chief Executive & Growth Director clarified that stakeholders including Stagecoach had been consulted at an early stage on the number of bays required. He confirmed that the outline planning application for the entire Bus and Coach Station site, including the leisure complex, would be submitted to an Extraordinary meeting of Council on 20 January 2016. This would address the question of the acceptability of a new bus station and requirements from the Local Transport Authority.

The majority of Members supported the proposed way forward to expedite the delivery of the project and acknowledged that funding of £4 million had been allocated from CIL receipts for the provision of a bus station. 

The Leader proposed an additional recommendation regarding the governance arrangements to ensure a successful outcome for the delivery of the project. This was agreed by the majority of the Members.

RECOMMENDED to Council:-

(1)          that a budget of £6.25 million is allocated for the delivery of a new bus station in Exeter; and

(2)          decisions regarding expenditure within the £6.25 million budget, including approval of the design and implementation of interim arrangements for the bus station, be delegated to the Leisure Complex and Bus Station Programme Board. The Board will replace the existing Leisure Complex Programme Board and new terms of reference will be produced.  The Board will be politically balanced in accordance with the necessary proportionality requirements.

(In accordance with Standing Order no.43, Councillor Leadbetter requested that his vote against this recommendation be recorded).

To consider the report of the Assistant Director Finance.  

The Assistant Director Finance presented a report which sought Members’ consideration, together with a request for additional funding to deliver the new Exeter Bus Station, as part of the redevelopment scheme for the existing Bus and Coach Station site. The request for £6.25 million would be added to the City Council’s capital programme, with £4 million to be set aside from Community Infrastructure Levy, (CIL), and £2.25 million from capital receipts.

The Assistant Director Finance made a short presentation, and included details of the proposed Exeter Bus station facilities, and the practical aspects of the delivery of the Bus Station site.  He also presented the financial options that had been considered. He assured Members that the project would be subject to ongoing scrutiny to ensure value for money and additional governance arrangements would be put in place to ensure a successful outcome for the delivery of the project.

A Member sought clarification as to how the requested sum would be used. The Assistant Director Finance responded to the Member and stated that further borrowing should not be required. He confirmed the sum of £6.25m was required to deliver the bus station, and that the request would not result in a rise in council tax. 

A Member enquired why the City Council was taking this action, when Devon County Council was the transport authority. The Assistant Director Finance referred to the need to expedite the delivery of this project to progress the overall scheme.  The Corporate Manager Property provided information on the statutory rights of approved bus operators using the Bus Station and also discussed the current and potential rental income streams from any future operator.  It was also confirmed that the outline planning application for the entire Bus and Coach Station site, including the leisure complex would be submitted to an Extraordinary meeting of Council on 20 January 2016.  

Councillor Thompson had submitted questions in advance of the meeting, to which the Assistant Director Finance offered the following responses - 

·         the matter was not considered to be a key decision, as it was a decision being taken by full Council (key decisions relate only to matters being decided by the Executive).

·         the City Council had the aspiration to deliver a comprehensive scheme facilitating the new leisure complex, bus station, commercial property and public realm on the Bus and Coach Station site. The location and layout of the current bus station prevented this from being possible. The proposed bus station layout was set out in the outline planning application.

·         in respect of the scheme being seen as value for money, the wider development provided the opportunity for the Council to secure some long term income streams, which would support the revenue budget in the future.  If approved, the total commitment for the Council would total £32.25m.  In terms of future maintenance, it was expected that the maintenance of the Leisure Complex would form part of the management contract and the bus station maintenance would form part of the lease obligations.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5