Agenda item

To consider the report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration & Community Services.

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services.

The Leader of the Council advised in the absence of the Executive Member – Environment, that this report was primarily for information because it had been a matter of necessity that the work needed to commence on Aberbeeg Road as a matter of urgency for obvious reasons therefore, the Executive had taken this decision on behalf of Council.  It was highlighted that the funding methodology was detailed in the report and that Option 2 had been approved.

A Member requested reassurance regarding the level of impact that the closure of Aberbeeg Road would have on the Covid-19 testing facility that was located in Cwm and asked whether it would have been more sensible to stagger the closure in negotiation with Costain with the Heads of the Valleys closure at Brynmawr.

The Corporate Director of Regeneration and Community Services advised that at the time the search for a testing site was being undertaken, the consultants had been advised of the pending road closure but they still felt for accessibility for the majority of the County Borough and wider than the County Borough the site was acceptable and they went forward fully aware of the pending road closure. In terms of reassurance, people were accessing the site and booking tests and it was fully operational at this stage.

In terms of the Heads of the Valleys (HoV) the impact of this was trying to be minimised but it had not been until a late stage that the Council had received confirmation when the road closures on the HoV would be taking place.  As soon as this information was received the Executive Committee was requested to approve the works to the Aberbeeg Road in order to minimise this impact.  It was pointed out that if the work to Aberbeeg Road had not been undertaken until after the work on the HoV work it would have run the risk of heavy duty damage to that section road and it may have had to be closed.  Once the work had been completed the road would re-open and become part of the diversionary route for the HoV.

The Corporate Director concluded by stating that the Council continued to work with the HoV team and would continue to try and minimise the impact that this and had done its best to avoid this.  However, it may be a possibility that there may be an overlap of a couple of weeks between the two pieces of work.

Another Member referred to Option 2 and said that residents was concerned regarding the Big Arch project going forward and was seeking reassurance that as soon permission and commitment had been received from Cadw that work would on the Big Arch would commence within a short period of time and that the funding would also be reinstated swiftly.

The Leader of the Council gave an absolute assurance that this would be the case.  The Executive Member for Regeneration & Economic Development whose portfolio the Big Arch covered had been consulted on this together with officers.  Whilst the work on the Big Arch would not commence until 2021 and whilst applications for funding assistance had been submitted to Cadw if this was not forthcoming at the point in time work needed to be carried out, monies from capital programme would be identified and diverted into the necessary work and remedial action that needed to undertaken.

Although a contingency capital fund had been established instead of this being utilised immediately, the Council may be in a position in next 12 months for additional capital monies to be received by the authority and this would make the capital programme look healthier.  The Leader concluded by providing a guarantee that the work to the Big Arch would be undertaken.

The Deputy Leader/Executive Member for Regeneration & Economic Development confirmed that the Big Arch had been one of the priorities for a considerable time and whilst repairs were undertaken to the structure it remained a priority and the work would be completed.

It was unanimously,

RESOLVED, subject to the foregoing, that the report be accepted and the decision taken by the Executive be noted, namely that:

The Executive had agreed to Option 2, to utilise the BGCBC Capital Programme Big Arch allocation (£1,000K) – this option was the preferred option on the basis that an application to Cadw for consent to undertake remedial works had been delayed and works could not progress until consent was awarded resulting in actual works on site delayed until July 2021/22 at the earliest. At this stage the funding would be reviewed / reinstated prior to Cadw approval and works on site. If Welsh Government subsequently agreed the flood funding for the scheme, then the £405K could then be ‘repaid’ to this capital allocation.