Issue - meetings

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council withdrawal of the offer of a £2.6m contribution to the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvements project.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy, Councillor Andy Hadley presented the report on Pokesdown Railway Station and outlined the recommendations as set out on the agenda.

Council was advised that prior notice had been received of a proposed amendment from Councillor Patrick Canavan in respect of this item which had been circulated to all members in advance of the meeting.

Councillor Canavan formally moved his amendment which was seconded by Councillor George Farquhar and read as follows: -

Cabinet recommends to council re-examination of the offer of a £2.6 million contribution to the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvement Project. This to be considered following further discussion with the rail companies and other interested parties and no formal commitment will now be made without a further resolution of Council.

Comprehensive discussion took place on the amendment whereby Members spoke in support of the importance of the accessibility issues being addressed at Pokesdown Station whilst highlighting the length of time the project had taken to get underway and the increased financial pressures on the council.

Following debate, the proposed amendment was put to the vote where it fell with voting: For:19, Against:38, Abstentions:5

Council then thoroughly debated the substantive recommendation as originally proposed.

RESOLVED that Council withdraw the offer of a £2.6m contribution to the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvements project.

Voting: For:38, Against:13, Abstentions:10

Councillor Jamie Martin declared an interest in this item and left the room for the discussion and voting thereon.

Councillor Rachel Pattinson-West left the meeting at 11.28pm prior to the vote on the substantive motion.

On 11 January 2022, the Council approved a contribution of up to £2.6m towards the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvement Project.

The original scope was expected to include replacement, or upgrade of the station building, a new forecourt with interchange facilities, CCTV and help point improvements, seating and shelter improvements in addition to converting the existing lift shafts to passenger use and repairing and painting the footbridge and canopies (all subject to available budget). 

The project has not been delivered, detailed timescales and costs are undetermined, and the expected scope has been reduced to the lifts and canopies over the platforms only. At the same time, the cost of borrowing has increased.

In consideration of the above a recommendation is sought from Cabinet regarding the council commitment to the project.

The Portfolio Holder for Climate Response, Environment and Energy presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

Cabinet was advised that on 11 January 2022, the Council approved a contribution of up to £2.6m towards the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvement Project.

In relation to this Cabinet was informed that the original scope was expected to include replacement, or upgrade of the station building, a new forecourt with interchange facilities, CCTV and help point improvements, seating and shelter improvements in addition to converting the existing lift shafts to passenger use and repairing and painting the footbridge and canopies (all subject to available budget). 

Cabinet was advised that the project had not been delivered, that detailed timescales and costs were undetermined, and that the expected scope had been reduced to the lifts and canopies over the platforms only, and that in addition at the same time, the cost of borrowing has increased.

In relation to this Cabinet was advised that Cabinet consideration of the above and a recommendation was sought from Cabinet regarding the council commitment to the project.

In presenting the report the Portfolio Holder detailed the history of the project and expressed disappointment that the Council was unable to continue with this at this time. Further to this the Portfolio Holder advised that he hoped that funding could still be found in some other form, but highlighted that this wouldn’t be by way of a loan.

Councillor Patrick Canavan addressed the Cabinet as a Ward Member stressing the importance of the project, highlighting that contractors were due to commence work in the summer and urging Cabinet members to reconsider the recommendation and to continue to fund the project.

Councillor Eleanor Connolly addressed the Cabinet as a Ward Member highlighting the benefits of the scheme for BCP residents and the local economy.

Councillor George Farquhar addressed the Cabinet as a Ward Member supporting the comments of the other ward members and appealing to the Cabinet to not pull the funding at this stage and to look for other sources of funding. Further to this Councillor Farquhar expressed thanks to the Portfolio Holder for his continued engagement.

Cabinet discussed the report in detail acknowledging the frustrations expressed by ward members but emphasising the pressures on the budget.

In addition, Cabinet highlighted that the station was not a council asset, and that there were competing pressures on the budget to fund the councils core responsibilities.

Further to this Cabinet highlighted that the plan had changed multiple times, and that whilst this was a difficult position that DDA compliance was the responsibility of the provider.

RECOMMENDED that Cabinet recommends to Council withdrawal of the offer of a £2.6m contribution to the Pokesdown Railway Station Improvements project.

Voting: Unanimous

Portfolio Holder: Climate Response, Environment and Energy

Reason

1.       Approval for the contribution was 4 years ago. The annual repayment for borrowing the contribution has  ...  view the full minutes text for item 133