Issue - decisions

The Leader introduced the report of the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services (previously circulated) presenting Members with the details of the proposed Darlington Station Improvements Project and the wider economic growth opportunities in the surrounding area, including Central Park, the Cattle Market and Victoria Road.

The submitted report stated that the potential need for major rail intervention at Darlington to accommodate new rail services and high-speed services in the future, provided an opportunity to develop a proposition to maximise the benefits for Darlington and the Tees Valley; in partnership with the Tees Valley Combined Authority (TVCA) a wider vision had been developed for the area to influence the proposals and to provide a rail gateway into the Tees Valley fit for the 21st Century that could accommodate future demands for national, regional and local passenger rail services as well as freight; having the overall vision established enabled the project to be developed and delivered in stages; some elements had already commenced with a new bridge linking the station with Central Park which opened in 2019; the project sought to secure and encapsulate wider regeneration opportunities in the area to better connect the station with the Town Centre and Central Park; provided further detail on the project and an update on how the project linked to the Cattle Market site, Victoria Road and linked to the Town Centre and Central Park; and stated that a substantial element of the project would be funded by TVCA with a sum of £25m allocated to enable and deliver elements of the project with a business case being progressed to Government for the balance of funding.

It was reported that the land acquisition and enabling stages, in the form of transport interchanges and parking provision, would be delivered by TVCA and this Council; the latter rail and station development would be delivered in partnership with Network Rail; and that the Project would be carried out under the terms of collaboration between this Council and the TVCA.

Discussion ensued on the multi-modal interchange and the importance of getting this part of the scheme right; the funding of the project, an in particular, funding from the Department for Transport for the latter stages of the project; access to the new platforms for the disabled; the visibility and impact of the multi storey car park on the sky line; the impact of the proposals on the residents and businesses in the area; and the support available to those businesses and residents.

RESOLVED - (a)  That the concept and vision for the Darlington Station Improvement project, as outlined in the submitted report, be agreed.

(b)  That it be agreed that the Council entered into a Collaboration Agreement with Tees Valley Combined Authority relating to the Darlington Station Improvement Project and the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to finalise terms and the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance, be authorised to sign the Agreement.

(c)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, after consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal and Governance, be authorised to agree to enter into any appropriate contractual extensions or variations relating to the Agreements.

(d)  That the land assembly strategy, as detailed at Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the submitted report, be endorsed.

(e)  That the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to acquire land interests, the extent of which are shown in Appendix 1.2 of the submitted report, pursuant to section 120 of the Local Government Act 1972.

(f)  That the Assistant Director - Law and Governance be authorised to complete all necessary documentation with acquisitions being subsequently reported to Cabinet in further update reports on the Project.

(g)  That it be agreed in principle for the Council to use its Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) powers under section 226 (1)(a) of the Town and Country Planning Act 1990 to acquire land interests within the agreed extents, as shown in Appendix 1.2 of the submitted report, that cannot be acquired by agreement/private treaty and thereby embarking on the formalities necessary for the making of the CPO and that following the preparation of the CPO a further report requesting a formal resolution to use compulsory purchase powers he made and to make an application for any other statutory orders that may be required.

(h)  That £350k be released from the Council’s Economic Growth and Investment Fund for the demolition and making safe of the cattle market to be progressed as soon as practicable upon vacant possession, and that the site be made available for a temporary purpose (if required) whilst a masterplan is developed.

(i)  That up to £25m of approved funding from TVCA, be released, subject to release by TVCA following successful business case sign-off in accordance with the TVCA assurance framework, and the Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services be authorised to fund the acquisitions and / or procurement of goods/works and services in accordance with the Contract Procedure Rules.

REASONS - (a)  To progress delivery of the vision for Darlington Station Improvement Project.

(b)  The Agreements and delegations enable acquisitions and project development to be made with appropriate governance and financial mechanisms to ensure successful delivery of a fully funded scheme.