Chichester District Council
Agenda item

Agenda item

Award of Contract for East Beach Outfall Replacement

The Cabinet is requested to consider the agenda report and its appendix (which is confidential Part II exempt* material and is printed on salmon-coloured paper for members and relevant officers only) and to make the resolutions set out below:

 

(1)  That the contract for the East Beach outfall replacement be awarded to Contractor B, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

 

(2)  That a variation to the capital programme for 2018-2019 be approved by including the replacement of East Beach surface water outfall at a cost of £149,000.

 

(3)  That the cost of replacing this asset in future years be added to the Asset Replacement Programme.

 

(4)  That the proposed expenditure be funded from Community Infrastructure Levy funds of £100,000 already approved in the Infrastructure Business Plan 2018-2019 and the balance be funded from revenue resources to the extent that it is not otherwise met from external grant from Southern Water.

 

(5)  That authority be delegated to the Divisional Manager for Environmental Protection to approve the funding conditions and the detailed spend of any grant funding awarded by Southern Water for the project.

 

*[Note Paragraph 3 (information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information)) of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972]

Decision:

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the contract for the East Beach outfall replacement be awarded to Contractor B, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

 

(2)  That a variation to the capital programme for 2018-2019 be approved by including the replacement of East Beach surface water outfall at a cost of £149,000.

 

(3)  That the cost of replacing this asset in future years be added to the Asset Replacement Programme.

 

(4)  That the proposed expenditure be funded from Community Infrastructure Levy funds of £100,000 already approved in the Infrastructure Business Plan 2018-2019 and the balance be funded from revenue resources to the extent that it is not otherwise met from external grant from Southern Water.

 

(5)  That authority be delegated to the Divisional Manager for Environmental Protection to approve the funding conditions and the detailed spend of any grant funding awarded by Southern Water for the project.

 

Minutes:

The Cabinet received and considered the agenda report and its confidential appendix, which was circulated to members and officers only.

 

This item was presented by Mr Connor.

 

Mr Henly was in attendance for this matter.

 

Mr Connor summarised the report with particular reference to sections 3 and 5. He outlined the history, nature and purpose of the existing outfall at East Beach Selsey, CDC’s legal liability to maintain it, the clear case for replacement rather than repair of the asset in terms of the benefits it would bring to Selsey and the area, and the tender process which had resulted in the recommendation of contractor B, in whose capability he expressed confidence.

 

Mr Henly did not add to Mr Conor’s introduction.   

 

Mr A Moss (Fishbourne) addressed the Cabinet with the permission of Mr Dignum. He asked two questions: (a) did the recommendation in para 2.2 of the report to approve a variation of the capital programme for 2018-2019 imply that the replacement of the outfall had been an unexpected event? and (b) in view of the mention in para 3.1 of the report that surface water and sewage overflows were conveyed to the sea, had the issue of sewage contamination been discussed with Surfers Against Sewage to ensure everything could and would be done to ensure that the sea would remain safe for surfers, swimmers and sailors? Sailing clubs had advised sailors from time to time not to use Chichester Harbour because of sewage contamination and it was vital for CDC to ensure that the situation continued to be kept under careful control.   

 

In reply to Mr Moss, Mr Connor and Mr Henly explained that (a) the need to replace the outfall was an anticipated event which had been carefully monitored and the decision to proceed had awaited the outcome of negotiations with Southern Water to see if it would assume responsibility and (b) there were two separate discharge pipes for conveying surface water and sewage and these functioned correctly (this was the only method for dealing with overflows in the absence of additional storage capacity) and in addition the Selsey Bathing Water Enhancement Programme, with which Southern Water was involved, would help to ensure that the number of overflows would be reduced and carefully monitored.

 

Mr Connor and Mr Henly also answered questions by Cabinet members about the contractor and tender process and the prospect of a financial contribution by Southern Water to the cost of the outfall replacement. 

 

Decision

 

The Cabinet voted unanimously on a show of hands to make the resolutions below. 

 

RESOLVED

 

(1)  That the contract for the East Beach outfall replacement be awarded to Contractor B, the details of which are set out in the exempt appendix to the agenda report.

 

(2)  That a variation to the capital programme for 2018-2019 be approved by including the replacement of East Beach surface water outfall at a cost of £149,000.

(3)  That the cost of replacing this asset in future years be added to the Asset Replacement Programme.

 

(4)  That the proposed expenditure be funded from Community Infrastructure Levy funds of £100,000 already approved in the Infrastructure Business Plan 2018-2019 and the balance be funded from revenue resources to the extent that it is not otherwise met from external grant from Southern Water.

 

(5)  That authority be delegated to the Divisional Manager for Environmental Protection to approve the funding conditions and the detailed spend of any grant funding awarded by Southern Water for the project.

 

Supporting documents:

 

Top of page