The Director of Neighbourhood Services introduced the report which provided an update on the delivery of the West Kirby Flood Alleviation project and sought approval for an increase in the construction contract sum and acceptance of additional grant funding.

Following approval from the Committee in November 2021, a contract was awarded to Volkerstevin Ltd on 22 April 2022 under the Environment Agency’s collaborative delivery framework, it was reported that due to a range of factors, construction progress and the cost had been affected and as a result of the necessary contract variations to accommodate this, the target cost of the contract had increased from £9.64m to £14.28m. The Director of Neighbourhood Services outlined that no additional Council funding was required and had received approval of a bid for additional grant funding from the Environment Agency which totalled £4.4m.

In response to a Member query on the liaison with the RNLI, the Assistant Chief Executive reported that there was a good working relationship with the RNLI however a key piece of information on how one of their vehicles returned to the station was shared late in the process and the Council had proposed a solution to address this.

The Senior Manager – Flood and Coastal Risk Management gave details of areas where costs had been minimised and savings had been made across the project and gave assurance that there was no further anticipated increase in costs and that the project was still on track to be completed within the timescales set out.

Members raised concern over how the project had impacted the local economy.

Members and Officers put on record their thanks to Colin Clayton, Assistant Director Parks and Countryside, who was due to retire, for his significant contribution and work during his time at the Council and wished him well for the future.

It was moved by the Chair, seconded by Councillor Steve Foulkes that the officer recommendations as detailed in the report be approved with the addition of a fourth recommendation thanking officers for their hard work throughout the project.

Councillor Andrew Gardner indicated that he was supportive of the motion and proposed a friendly amendment that the report be referred to the Audit & Risk Management Committee so that consideration can be given to reviewing concerns relating to the procurement of the construction contract and the increase in cost of the project. The Chair accepted this as a friendly amendment.

The substantive motion was then put and agreed by assent. It was therefore -

Resolved – That

(1)  additional Flood Defence Grant Funding and Local Levy Grant Funding of £4,400,000 provided by the Environment Agency be accepted.

(2)  a variation in the value of the construction contract with VolkerStevin Ltd for the West Kirby Flood Alleviation Scheme from £9,640,000 to £14,282,000 be approved.

(3)  the Director of Law and Governance be authorised to negotiate and finalise the associated grant funding agreements and contract variations.

(4)   Officers be thanked for the considerable amount of work put into the project.

(5)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 70