Decision details

Decision

RESOLVED

To recommend to Full Council:

That Cabinet recommend that full Council:

1)    Confirm its continued support for the approach being taken in the delivery of the Mundesley and Cromer Phase 2 Coastal Management Schemes.

2)    Delegate the authority to Director of Place and Climate Change, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, to approve quotations, tenders, funding applications, access agreements and contractual appointments/variations. This is so the schemes can continue to progress in a timely manner.

3)    Approve increases in the delegated financial authority for the Director of Place and Climate Change (up to £1 million), for the Assistant Director of Place and Climate Change (up to £500,000) and for the Project Manager (up to £100,000) for these two schemes only.

4)    Approve an increase to the value of the Cromer and Mundesley coastal protection schemes from £6.476m (approved by full Council on 1 March 2023) to £25m within the Capital Programme.  This is subject to securing the additional grant funding of £18.524m for the scheme from the Environment Agency (EA).

5)    Approve the descoping of the schemes if the grant funding secured from the EA is less than the Council has applied for so that expenditure will be fully met by the total grant to be awarded by the EA.

Reasons for the decision:

To enable continued and timely progression for the Mundesley and Cromer Phase 2 Coastal Management Schemes.

An increase to the delegated financial authority is required as the payments made to contractors and suppliers will be of large value due to the size of the schemes. The increased authority levels will enable invoices to be paid promptly and in accordance with the contractual terms and conditions.

Full Council need to approve all additions to the Capital Programme, in accordance with the Constitution. Whilst additional grant has been applied for from the EA, which if successful would bring the total value of the two schemes up to £25m, the Council may not be successful in securing the full amount. If this is the case then approval for the schemes to be scaled back is sought in advance to reduce any delays in delivery of the two schemes.