URL: https://northumberland.moderngov.co.uk/ieDecisionDetails.aspx?ID=339

Decision Maker: Cabinet

Outcome:

Is Key Decision?: Yes

Is Callable In?: Yes

Purpose: To provide an update on progress on the Blyth Relief Road project in advance of the planning application submission.

Content: RESOLVED that Cabinet:-   a)       note progress to date on the Blyth Relief Road project;   b)       approve submission of the refreshed Outline Business Case to the Department for Transport for review and approval following approval of the Council budget in February 2025;   c)       delegate authority to the Executive Director for Place and Regeneration to authorise submission of the planning application to the Local Planning Authority on completion of the necessary documentation;   d)       approve £0.720m of capital expenditure to enable detailed design and development of the scheme and preparation of the planning application documentation to progress during 2024/25 to be funded from the virement of £0.720m of Local Transport Plan funds for schemes that were due to be delivered in 2024/25 but which are now being re-programmed for delivery in 2025/26;   e)       approve the proposed inclusion of a £5.006m match funding allocation within the Council’s proposed MTFP, to be funded from Strategic Management Reserve for the period 2025/26 to 2027/28, which will be considered by the County Council when setting its overall budget in February 2025, and for £0.650m of this funding to be used to continue progressing the scheme to ‘shovel-ready’ status by the end of December 2025, to maintain the overall delivery programme for this strategically important project. This will bring the Council’s total contribution to the project to £8.963 million, representing 15% of the estimated scheme cost; and   f)        approves the updating of the capital programme as set out in 10.9 Table 1.

Date of Decision: January 14, 2025