To consider a report from the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services.

The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services introduced the report circulated to the Committee in response to feedback received in January. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services went through the background of the programme, which had started in the early 2000s with the closure and subsequent opportunity to redevelop the shell refinery. Plans were made in 2012 which led to the need for improved transportation links to deal with the increased demand the plans would create. The Executive agreed in 2021 that the road network in Carrington needed to be improved and it became formal policy. In September 2021 the preferred route for a road within Carrington, to provide some of the needed improved transportation links, was selected. 

The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services gave an overview of the budget details around the programme and the building of the road. The funding currently identified would be adequate for the planned works. However, that funding would not be adequate to deliver the completed road and the programme team were working to identify funding to address the full costs of completing the road. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services went over the sections of the report relating to the carbon footprint of the road works and recognised that one of the main disbenefits of the chosen path was that it would go through arable land.

The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services went through the next steps of the programme of works, which would include full formal consultation and the need to engage with a number of groups to inform the design and the planning application. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services suggested that the Committee could be involved in the engagement with the public, as well as opportunities around finance and the business case before they were submitted to the Executive. There were also opportunities for the Committee to be involved with the redesign of the existing motorway.

Following the overview, the Chair noted that it was going to be a long process and expressed that public engagement was a good area for the Committee to be involved in.

The Vice Chair stated that he felt the decision around the route chosen had been done with an inadequate level of consultation and it should be addressed in discussions with residents over the remainder of the project.

Councillor Axford asked how secure the funding listed within the report was. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that the planning obligation funds were secured. The other areas of funding were subject to funding agreements with conditions, except for £2M of advanced funding from Homes England which had lesser conditions attached.

Councillor Axford noted the figures of other transport developments in 3.7 of the report and how the funding for a road compared to developing the Metrolink. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that the examples given were to demonstrate that relatively small transport developments were still expensive and gave an example of the Poynton Relief Road, which was a 3KM stretch of road with costs around £53M. The most recent estimate for the Carrington Relief Road and the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services stated that all he could say is that the final cost would likely be more than that.

Councillor Jerrome asked about the money available through the developments being completed in the area, which amounted to around £8M. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that the funding from the developments towards the programme would not impact the funding from other areas, such as conservation.

Councillor Thompson thanked the Director of Growth and Regulatory Services for coming back to the Committee and for looking to involve the Committee in the programme. Councillor Thompson asked for the Committee be provided with a briefing on the developments prior to the consultation in October and that the information be delivered in a timely manner to enable the Committee to have an impact. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that draft plans should be in place over the summer and would look to bring them to the Committee in time to influence the plans.

Councillor Dagnall noted the comments made by Councillor Wright at the previous meeting and asked whether people from across Trafford would have the opportunity to be involved in the consultation. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that all feedback from residents within Trafford would be considered as would any comments received from people who lived within a reasonable distance from the road.

Councillor Newgrosh asked how the Council were ensuring they met the gunning principles when the consultation did not mention route options. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that the choice given within the consultation was a genuine choice and a large number of properties had been included within the consultation exercise.

Councillor Carter agreed with the involvement of the Committee in the forthcoming consultation exercises and suggested that if it was difficult to work in with the formal meetings this could be picked up by a subgroup.

Councillor Carter asked for contentious issues to be highlighted within future reports to the Committee along with the pros, cons, recommendations, and proposed mitigations relating to those issues. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that he would provide the requested details in further reports to the Committee.

Councillor Axford noted the £1M investment mentioned at 4.6 in the report for active travel infrastructure and asked for more details. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that those details would be worked out as part of the further design of the road over the summer and would form part of the submission for planning permission.

Councillor Dagnall raised a question about who was going to use the units in the development and if the Clean Air Plan had proceeded as originally planned it would have impacted the use of those units. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services responded that the Clean Air Plan was delayed but would come into force in 2026 rather than 2024. While it could not be known what the final plan would be it was very likely it would have HGVs listed within it. There was still a large demand for logistics, but it was likely that greener vehicles and processes would be put in place.

Councillor Dagnall asked for assurance to be provided in further reports that the units would be used with the additional costs to providers imposed by the Clean Air Act. The Director of Growth and Regulatory Services agreed with the points made by Councillor Dagnall and stated that he felt the Clean Air Plan would change the way the needs were met rather than reduce them.

RESOLVED:

1)    That the report be noted.

2)    That the Committee agreed to scrutinise the consultation exercise in October.

3)    That contentious issues be highlighted within future reports to the Committee and include the pros, cons, recommendations, and proposed mitigations relating to those issues.

4)    That assurance be provided in further reports that the units within the development were going to be utilised.