The report of the Interim Director for Highways and Streetscene Services seeks approval for the allocation of £150,000 of Transport Plan for Growth Capital funding to enable the delivery of a series of measures to improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists on New Chester Road between Rock Ferry roundabout and New Ferry Village. The Cabinet has previously approved the delivery of the New Chester Road STEP scheme, following award of a £550,000 Sustainable Transport Enhancements Package (STEP) grant allocation, and this additional funding is now required to enable the scheme, which will support the delivery of the Connecting Wirral Transport Strategy, to proceed to Contract award stage of the procurement process.

Resolved – That the Interim Director for Highways & Streetscene Services be authorised to approve the reallocation of £150,000 Transport Plan for Growth Capital funding (unspent resources from 2018/19) to enable the award of Tender (subject to Contract) for the procurement of the New Chester Road Pedestrian and Cycle Improvements Scheme as shown on appendix 1 to the report.

Following the conclusion of a select list tender process to procure the civil engineering works outlined in the report, the potential winning tender bid submitted has resulted in a projected total scheme spend of £150,000 in excess of the current STEP grant funded allocation of £550,000.

Failure to carry out the proposed improvement works (with the subsequent loss of amenity to the local community) will risk the potential claw back of expended funds / committed funding by the Combined Authority for non-delivery as outlined in the funding agreement.

Failure to implement the delivery of the scheme could also result in a reputational loss of confidence in Wirral Council as a partner to deliver schemes and could jeopardise future funding opportunities at city region level.