46 East West Local Rail Contribution
Report of Director of Development
Purpose of Report
For members of the Executive to recommend to Council the level of local contribution to be made towards the construction of East West Rail.
Additional documents:
Decision:
Resolved
(1) That Full Council be recommended to add the promotion and support of the construction of East/West rail to the policy framework.
(2) That Full Council be recommended to approve a local contribution from Cherwell District Council of £4.353m towards the delivery of East West Rail.
Minutes:
The Director of Development submitted a report which requested Executive to recommend to Council the level of local contribution to be made towards the construction of East West Rail.
At the discretion of the Chairman, Councillor Sibley addressed Executive.
Resolved
(1) That Full Council be recommended to add the promotion and support of the construction of East/West rail to the policy framework.
(2) That Full Council be recommended to approve a local contribution from Cherwell District Council of £4.353m towards the delivery of East West Rail.
Reasons
The East West Rail project will lead to the restoration of a strategic transport corridor of national significance. With it will come significantly improved access, which will link those centres of economic activity and remove a key barrier to realizing the ambition to secure the economic and growth potential for the Bicester area.
The Council’s contribution will help to secure the £500m investment identified through the HLOS process as agreeing to pay the local contribution is a pre-condition for its release.
Options
Option 1: To proceed with the Policy as recommended in this report, this is the preferred option and supported by the information in the report.
Option 2: Executive could refuse to recommend making any level of contribution towards delivering EWR. This is not recommended as this could significantly increase the risk of the whole project not progressing.
Option 3: Executive could agree to recommend a lesser amount. This is not recommended as the balance would have to be found by the other partners which could increase the risk of the project not progressing and would also damage the Councils position within the consortium.