To receive apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Councillor MAF Hubbard and Councillor RI Matthews (Chairman).

To receive any details of Members nominated to attend the meeting in place of a Member of the Committee.

Councillor PJ Edwards substituted for Councillor MAF Hubbard and Councillor B Hunt for Councillor RI Matthews (Chairman) 

To receive any declarations of interest by Members in respect of items on the Agenda.

There were no declarations of interest.

To consider suggestions from members of the public on issues the Committee could scrutinise in the future.

No suggestions were made for future scrutiny.

To consider the Cabinet decision to approve expenditure to provide a temporary bailey bridge over the sub-standard bridge in Colwall carrying the B4218 if the results of an assessment report show, on deliberation, that such a solution is the most appropriate means of opening the bridge to normal highway traffic which has been called in by three Members of the Committee: Councillors MAF Hubbard, AT Oliver and A Seldon.

The Committee considered the Cabinet decision to approve expenditure to provide a temporary bailey bridge over the sub-standard bridge in Colwall carrying the B4218 if the results of an assessment report showed, on deliberation, that such a solution was the most appropriate means of opening the bridge to normal highway traffic.

The agenda report detailed the three Members who had called-in the decision and the stated reasons for the call-in.  Appended to the report was the decision notice of Cabinet setting out the decision and the report to Cabinet on 13^th December 2007 on which that decision had been based.  Also attached to the report at appendix 2 was an extract from the draft minutes of Cabinet held on 13th December 2007.  Committee Members had also received copies of the Network Rail Western Region report ‘Early Notification Report – August 2007’ and a technical drawing entitled ‘Colwall temporary road bridge’.

The Cabinet Member (Highways and Transportation) reported that constitutionally the report had not needed to be put to Cabinet but in the interests of openness and public interest Cabinet had considered the report.  He briefly set out the background to the inspection of the bridge, its initial closure and subsequent opening limited to light vehicles weighing up to 3 tonnes.   He clarified that these actions had been taken following the Network Rail August 2007 inspection report.  A further inspection had been carried out in October and the results of that inspection had only been received over the Christmas period. 

Replying specifically to the reasons for call-in he confirmed that written confirmation had now been received from Network Rail that they were agreeable to a 50/50 share of the cost of the bailey bridge.  However, this would be subject to the appointment of independent advisors to undertake an independent feasibility study and assessment of the cost.  He emphasised that he wished to avoid spending £.5m now only to find that Network Rail would undertake works next year.  Concerning the cost of a permanent replacement bridge this rested with its owners, Network Rail.  However, £1m to £1.5m could be taken as a provisional estimate.  Regarding the competitive tendering process he had been assured that there was only one supplier of a bridge to the required length and loading capacity, as stated in the report.  However, he confirmed that the Director of Environment was reviewing the tendering position regarding the installation and associated works.

The two Members for Hope End Ward, who had been invited to attend, emphasised the severe detrimental effect the initial closure and subsequent weight limit was having on both the local community and businesses and commented on the difficulty larger vehicles were having in using the long diversionary route, particularly if approaching from the south.

The Programme and Contracts Manager confirmed that the diversionary route for larger vehicles approaching from the south necessitated a detour to Malvern with a subsequent approach via the hairpin bends coming down from Wyche Cutting.  He also confirmed that alternative routes into the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 48.