Decision details

To submit a bid to the Department for Transport for funding to undertake repairs to the A67 Carlbury Banks Landslip.

Under the Scheme of Delegation to Officers the Director of Resources has delegated authority to submit bids for funding greater than £100,000 to the relevant body where the deadline occurs prior to the next meeting of Cabinet.

On the 27 September 2013 the Secretary of State unexpectedly announced that a further £80m of Pinch Point funding was being made available for a further two trances of the Fund (Tranches 3 and 4). Tranche 3 funding was allocated to 15 schemes which have previously been submitted to the Department. The remaining £55m was available on a competitive basis and would make up Tranche 4 of the Local Pinch Point Fund. The approach was to enable any new schemes to come forward and for bids that have previously been submitted (but have been unsuccessful to date) to be strengthened following feedback from the Department. The deadline for bids was 31st October 2013 and as such it was not possible to request authority from Cabinet to submit a funding application.

In 2013 an initial landslip was identified on the southern (westbound) verge of the A67 single carriageway road. The embankment dropped 200mm with a 1m deep visible crack alongside the road. The embankment is a steep 1in 1 gradient of around 12m in height on top of a 5m vertical cliff face. The immediate response was to introduce traffic management to move traffic loading away from the road edge and the steep, high embankment. Minor remedial work was undertaken and investigations and monitoring started. Further movement has taken place since and action is in place to manage the slip and water infrastructure. The road could be closed if there is further movement.

Detailed ground investigations have been completed and an Options Appraisal Report has been completed by Halcrow in September, which was fortuitous as this provided the information necessary to formulate an application into this unexpected tranche of funding. The area affected is much wider than the two active landslips that are impacting on the road. A 387m section of the A67 has been classed as very unstable by geotechnical experts. This is much worse than the original two localised slips. The application to the fund provides an opportunity to restore the A67 stability at a much reduced cost to the Council.

To submit a bid to the Department for Transport for funding to undertake repairs to the A67 Carlbury Banks Landslip.
Having regard for the urgent nature of this decision the Leader and Portfolio holder were consulted prior to the bid being submitted and prior to the delegation being exercised. The Chief Executive and Assistant Director Resources were also consulted. In relation to Para 3(c) the Ward Councillors have been advised of the exercising of the powerss and this will be reported to Cabinet.