Agenda item

Decision

RESOLVED

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that it approves the required works to the Overstrand sea wall (option 4 of this report at paragraph 3.9) and that £1.280m be added to the Capital Programme for 2025/26 for this scheme and that this be funded by £0.245m of capital receipts, £0.386m of grant funding if able to obtain grant funding and the balance from borrowing.

That Cabinet agree Option 1 for the financing of the scheme (as outlined in the table at paragraph 1.5 of Appendix A)

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that the scheme be funded by up to a maximum of £1.035m of borrowing. It should be noted that the Council may be able to access grant funding (c. £0.386m) for this scheme and if successful it is proposed that the level of borrowing be reduced to £0.649m.

That Cabinet approve that delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Coast, to procure, design and deliver the scheme, together with the development of any applications for external funding or necessary consents.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure appropriate measures are taken in a timely manner to maintain the integrity of the sea wall at Overstrand for as long as is feasible in the circumstances and in accordance with the Shoreline Management Plan.

Cllr H Blathwayt, Portfolio Holder for Coast, introduced this item. He explained that Overstrand’s soft cliffs were protected at the bottom by a sea wall, which also acted as a walkway (promenade), on which the England Coast Path passed. This sea wall comprised a series of integrated concrete defences which, as beach levels had dropped, had become significantly undermined in several places. As a result of the undermining, they had sustained at least two major fractures from top to bottom, undermining the structure above. It was therefore proposed that £1.28m was added to the Capital Programme to be funded by receipts and grant funding and the remaining balance to be covered by borrowing.

The Chairman invited members to speak:

Cllr N Dixon asked why it was not included in the 2025/2026 capital budget that was approved by Full Council in February. The Chairman replied that it had been highlighted at the time that it would be coming forward.

Cllr H Blathwayt explained that the Council’s approach to coastal issues was nuanced. It had previously been ‘hold the line’ but government funding could no longer be relied on and NNDC was having to manage incidents as they arose.

The Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth added that there was grant funding available from the Regional Flood and Coast Committee and this project seemed to match the criteria well. Applications needed to be submitted by 16^th April.

Cllr Dixon asked for clarity regarding the second recommendation, specifically the following wording: ‘to reallocate existing scheme budgets to reduce the level of overall borrowing if it is minded to do so’. The Chief Executive replied that the Corporate Leadership Team (CLT) had been advised in 2024 that work was needed on the seawall but that there was no case for supporting the whole of the wall and that work would be focused on critical areas instead.

Following a further query from Cllr Dixon regarding the reference to the ‘context of overall borrowing’, the Chairman explained that if the schemes were left as they were, £649k of additional borrowing would be required.

The Monitoring Officer sought clarification on Members’ preferred options. The Chairman confirmed that in terms of scope, Option 4 was supported and in terms of financing, Option 1 was preferred.

It was proposed by Cllr T Adams, seconded by Cllr L Shires and

RESOLVED

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that it approves the required works to the Overstrand sea wall (option 4 of this report at paragraph 3.9) and that £1.280m be added to the Capital Programme for 2025/26 for this scheme and that this be funded by £0.245m of capital receipts, £0.386m of grant funding if able to obtain grant funding and the balance from borrowing.

That Cabinet agree Option 1 for the financing of the scheme (as outlined in the table at paragraph 1.5 of Appendix A)

That Cabinet recommend to full Council that the scheme be funded by up to a maximum of £1.035m of borrowing. It should be noted that the Council may be able to access grant funding (c. £0.386m) for this scheme and if successful it is proposed that the level of borrowing be reduced to £0.649m.

That Cabinet approve that delegated authority be given to the Assistant Director for Sustainable Growth, in consultation with the portfolio holder for Coast, to procure, design and deliver the scheme, together with the development of any applications for external funding or necessary consents.

Reason for the decision:

To ensure appropriate measures are taken in a timely manner to maintain the integrity of the sea wall at Overstrand for as long as is feasible in the circumstances and in accordance with the Shoreline Management Plan.