Agenda item

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 increased from £140k per year in 2022 to over £195k per year in 2026. This means that a total of £9.75m would now be paid by the council across the next 50 years if it continues to part fund the project.

2.        Supporting the project would create a £55k per year additional pressure for the cost of borrowing. Withdrawing the council’s financial contribution to this project would therefore in-effect create a £195k per year saving helping the council to safeguard statutory (essential) services.

3.       The proposed scope of the project has reduced.

4.       As of January 2026, whilst there has been email correspondence stating that the total budget has been increased there is no firm assurance from partners that the project is deliverable within the available budget.