Issue - meetings

1)  That approval be given to go out to tender for the appointment of a design team for Phase 3 – North end of Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill subject to the agreement of the design brief as per the recommendations set out below;

2)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee; Communities, Housing and Environment Committee; and Policy and Resources Committee to agree the final design brief;

3)  That a working group be formed for this project which will act as a sounding board for the design consultants.  This group will consist of the chairs and vice-chairs of the Committees outlined in recommendation 2 above or their nominated substitutes;

4)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services to agree and enter into a contract with the successful bidder;

5)  That the parallel piece of work commissioned to produce a Public Realm Policy for the town centre, as set out in paragraph 2.12 of the report of the Head of Commercial and Economic Development be noted, a draft of which will be presented to the relevant Committees in August 2016;

6)  That approval be given to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and any other appropriate fund that may become available for the Townscape Heritage Fund, for Gabriel’s Hill; and

7)  That approval be given to finance the Public Realm Phase 3 project with estimated capital costs of £3.1m, which includes the design fees and HLF fees.
 

The Committee considered the report of the Head of Commercial and Economic Development which related to the progress of Phase 3 of the public realm improvement project. 

Members noted that Phase 3 would cover the north end of Week Street, from the entrance of Fremlin Walk to the junction with Station Road near Brenchley House, and the entire length of Gabriel’s Hill from Jubilee Square down to the junction with Lower Stone Street.

The design team would be required to produce very early sketch designs that would be presented to Members.

In response to questions from Members, it was noted that:-

·  The Council would not be notified if the Heritage Lottery Bid had been successful until January 2017

·  Regular progress reports would be presented to Members

·  New versions of the proposed layout would be due in the next couple of weeks and full attention will be given to the safety of all users

·  The budget for the project was estimated

RESOLVED:

1)  That approval be given to go out to tender for the appointment of a design team for Phase 3 – North end of Week Street and Gabriel’s Hill subject to the agreement of the design brief as per the recommendations set out below;

2)  That delegated authority be given to the Director of Regeneration and Place, in consultation with the Chairs and Vice-Chairs of Heritage, Culture and Leisure Committee; Communities, Housing and Environment Committee; and Policy and Resources Committee to agree the final design brief;

3)  That a working group be formed for this project which will act as a sounding board for the design consultants.  This group will consist of the chairs and vice-chairs of the Committees outlined in recommendation 2 above or their nominated substitutes;

4)  That delegated authority be given to the Head of Mid Kent Legal Services to agree and enter into a contract with the successful bidder;

5)  That the parallel piece of work commissioned to produce a Public Realm Policy for the town centre, as set out in paragraph 2.12 of the report of the Head of Commercial and Economic Development be noted, a draft of which will be presented to the relevant Committees in August 2016;

6)  That approval be given to submit a bid to the Heritage Lottery Fund and any other appropriate fund that may become available for the Townscape Heritage Fund, for Gabriel’s Hill; and

7)  That approval be given to finance the Public Realm Phase 3 project with estimated capital costs of £3.1m, which includes the design fees and HLF fees.

Voting:  For:  15  Against:  0  Abstentions:  0