Agenda and minutes

Councillors are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests that relate to business on the agenda and which have not already been included in the register of interests, before any discussion takes place on the item. Unless the interest is sensitive, you must also disclose the nature of the interest. In accordance with the Council's Code of Conduct, you must then leave the room and must not participate in any further discussion of the item.  Councillors requiring clarification should seek the advice of the Monitoring Officer prior to the day of the meeting.

No declarations of discloseable pecuniary interest were made.

To receive a presentation on the Bus Station Scheme and progress to date from the Project Design Team.

Formal approval will be sought to precede to the next stage of design.

The Design Team were in attendance to present the detail of the Stage C Concept Design work to date on the Bus Station Scheme.  Nic Bryant reminded Members of the resolution by Council on 20 January 2016, to grant outline planning approval to proceed with the development of the new Bus Station, subject to the completion of a Section 106 Agreement under the Town and Country Planning Act 1990.  He also referred to the meeting of the Programme Board held on 11 February 2016, when the scope of the Bus Station programme was first presented. He outlined the arrangement and massing of the proposed design and confirmed that formal approval would also be sought to proceed to the next stage of detailed design, Stage D.

Nic Bryant presented the detail of the main design attributes, and the aspiration to provide a modern facility that was fit for purpose. He outlined the efforts being made to respond to comments made at the recent consultation event, and also to the original masterplan developed by Crown Estates, both of which had offered a platform to commence their work.  He referred to a review of the existing design parameters and set out the build options, including the concourse arrangements and consideration of the intended vehicle movements. The Design Team had also carried out further research as part of a review of the precedent design to ensure that the site levels between Princesshay and Paris Street were addressed. Chris Chambers of Arup, confirmed that they had, in effect, designed out and reduced the incline of the site to an acceptable level of a 1 in 60 gradient.

Nic Bryant outlined a summary of the Stage C Brief and the proposed detail, which would include a single storey build with an enclosed concourse, and canopy extending over the doors of the buses to afford protection for alighting passengers,  the brief also included for:- 

•       12 Bus bays and 2 lay over bays

•       Waiting facilities

•       Enquiries office

•       Retail kiosk

•       Public toilet facilities

•       Bus Driver paying-in facilities

•       Staff canteen/rest room

•       Inspector’s office

•       Two small administration offices

•       Staff toilets

The Design Team also presented their consideration of the main Design Attributes:-

•       provision of a positive visitor experience

•       adequate capacity to deal with increased numbers

•       the concourse to be a public thoroughfare open at all times

•       fully accessible

•       provision of cycle parking

•       good waiting facilities

•       to make best use of natural light

•       sufficient space for people with luggage

•       an extended canopy to allow passengers to remain dry when boarding

•       to explore enclosed concourse

          A Member enquired if there had been any acknowledgment of the current passenger numbers for Stagecoach and National Express and whether the Bus Station would be able to adequately accommodate future bus and coach movements. The Member also commented on the provision for National Express and other coach operators. Nic Bryant referred to the detail of the public  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press excluded from the meeting for item 5 on the grounds that it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A of the Act.

RESOLVED that, under Section 100A (4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the consideration of the following item on the grounds that it involved the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part I, Schedule 12A of the Act.

To receive a presentation on proposals to strengthen the Programme Management Arrangements.

The Deputy Chief Executive presented a verbal report and asked Members for approval of a Programme and Development Fund Monitor Role for the Leisure Complex and Bus Station project. The development of the leisure centre and the bus station site had evolved into a complex programme of projects for the Council.  The role would ensure that the Council met all of its contractual obligations through an effective programme wide structure, which would align the critical links and dependencies of both projects. He outlined the detail and benefits of this role to the project, which would also provide an additional independent strand and report to Members as part of the existing governance arrangements. It was envisaged that the tender process to recruit for the role would commence on 6 April.

The Deputy Chief Executive responded to a Member’s comment on the need for the role.  The Housing Development Manager & Client Lead (Build) also referred to the level of independent audit it would offer.

RESOLVED that the following be approved:-

(1)     a Programme Manager and Fund Control Monitor role be created due to the complexities associated with developments;

(2)     the Deputy Chief Executive of the City Council commence procurement of a suitable candidate in line with the council’s procurement rules; and

(3)     the costs of this role to be met from the Project’s Contingency Fund.

Meetings of the Leisure Complex and Bus Station Programme Board will be determined to coincide with the future gateway programme.

The next Programme Board meeting would be timed to coincide with the next programme gateway, and the date of this would be determined in due course.