The Director of Regeneration
and Place introduced the report which provided revised costings for
the refurbishment of the Stilebridge Lane and Water Lane mobile
home sites. A report had been presented to the Policy and Resources
Committee on 15 September 2021 recommending additional funding for
the works, and it had been resolved to refer the matter to this
committee for consideration.
The projected cost had
increased from £1 million to £1.9 million, which was
due to the increase to the scope of the project and the significant
rise in material costs and pressures within the sector. Both sites
required significant expenditure to bring them up to a modern
standard which the Council had an obligation to provide.
In response to questions, the
Director of Regeneration and Place explained that Kent County
Council (KCC) managed most of the gypsy and traveller sites in Kent
and had the expertise and staffing resources to do so. If the
transfer of ownership of the sites to KCC was being considered in
the future, the Committee could be involved in the decision. It was
confirmed that the excess cost would be funded through the
affordable housing allocation, and the contractors surveying the
sites had not reported concerns about flooding.
RESOLVED: That the revised scope of the project be endorsed, and the
Policy & Resources Committee be requested to make the requisite
funds available within the Council’s capital
programme.