Issue - meetings

This report sets out the background to the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) project and the reasons why an increase in the scheme budget is required.

RESOLVED:

1)         The Shadow Executive approve the change of budget for the South East Aylesbury Link Road from £24,683,000 to £35,493,283.

2)         Note the opportunities the Project Team are currently seeking to reduce the cost of the scheme. This includes negotiations with HS2 over Surplus Excavated Material.

3)         Note the Compulsory Order Process the Council will be entering for the scheme.

The Leader highlighted that here would be a public discussion of the report and then the meeting would move into a private session to discuss confidential information and then back into the public meeting to give a summary and confirm the decision made.

Members were asked to consider a report that set out the background to the South East Aylesbury Link Road (SEALR) project and the reasons why an increase in the scheme budget was required.  An increase in budget was largely down to significant changes to environmental mitigation, size of the crossing required and an increase in land evaluation costs.  It was stated that there were a number of opportunities to reduce costs and officers were actively pursuing those.

Members agreed the necessity of the project due to increased pressure on infrastructure in Aylesbury and it was confirmed that if HS2 were not to continue and their funding was lost, officers would work up a number of options for the Executive to consider.

RESOLVED:

1. The Shadow Executive approve the change of budget for the South East Aylesbury Link Road from £24,683,000 to £35,493,283.
2. Note the opportunities the Project Team are currently seeking to reduce the cost of the scheme. This includes negotiations with HS2 over Surplus Excavated Material.

Note the Compulsory Order Process the Council will be entering for the scheme.