Issue - meetings

To receive a report on Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation – Buckden-Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route.

Executive Councillor: J Neish.

The Cabinet has agreed to approve Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £100,000 for a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton, subject to:

i)  Written confirmation of future maintenance arrangements;

ii)  Written confirmation of landowner consent;

iii)  Submissions of an updated business case detailing match funding secured, detailed design of the route and an implementation plan.

The offer is time limited (12 months) to enable the above matters to be addressed.

Pursuant to Minute No. 20/53 and with the aid of a report prepared by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Cabinet gave consideration to a proposal to support Community Infrastructure Levy funding towards the provision of a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton to facilitate safe cycling/walking to Brampton, Hinchingbrooke Secondary School and Huntingdon.

By way of background, the Executive Councillor for Strategic Planning reminded the Cabinet of their previous discussions at their 11th February 2021 meeting and the actions undertaken by Buckden Parish Council to secure additional funding for the scheme from Cambridgeshire County Council. He then went on to report that the Huntingdonshire Local Plan 2036 recognised Buckden as a Key Service Centre, with identified growth of approximately 435 dwellings which the route would serve. 175 of these dwellings were expected to be built over the next five years.

In noting that Cambridgeshire County Council were yet to confirm the amount they would contribute from the Delivering Transport Strategy Aims Programme for 2021/22, but that support, in principle, had been agreed for the scheme, together with the views of the Overview and Scrutiny Panel (Performance and Growth), the Cabinet

RESOLVED

(a)  to approve Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) funding of up to £100,000 for a new length of cycle/footway and safer crossing point on Buckden Road, Brampton, subject to:

(i)  Written confirmation of future maintenance arrangements;

(ii)  Written confirmation of landowner consent;

(iii)  Submissions of an updated business case detailing match funding secured, detailing design of the route and an implementation plan.

(b)  that (a) above would be time limited to 12 months to enable the above matters to be addressed.

The Panel are to receive a report on the Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation in relation to the Buckden to Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route.

By means of a report by the Strategic Growth Manager (a copy of which is appended in the Minute Book) the Community Infrastructure Levy Spend Allocation, Buckden to Huntingdon Safe Cycling and Walking Route was presented to the Panel.

Following the introduction, Councillor Roberts stated that although there are some elements that are not completely satisfactory, the benefits of the scheme outweigh any negatives.

Councillor Morris stated that it was pleasing to see this scheme return for consideration, particularly as he considered it to be a potentially lifesaving scheme. Councillor Morris thanked everyone involved in making the reconsideration possible and expediting the process.

Following a question, from Councillor Wakeford, on whether it was the intention to bring the scheme back for consideration, it was confirmed that following a communication exchange between the Council, Brampton Parish Council and Buckden Parish Council it was possible to bring the scheme back for reconsideration sooner than anticipated.

Councillor Gardener expressed his support for the bid but stated that the maximum that the District Council should contribute was £80k. The Panel,

RESOLVED

that the Cabinet be recommended to approve the allocation of £100,000 of CIL towards the scheme, subject to the conditions as outlined in the recommendations.