The Director of Finance (Section 151 Officer), has accepted additional grant in aid (GiA) of £3m from the Environment Agency (EA) and authorised with immediate effect that this be included in the council’s Capital Programme for defrayment solely upon the West Kirby Flood Alleviation Project.  The Section 151 Officer also decided to approve the necessary purchase orders to vary the council’s construction contract with Volkerstevin Ltd with immediate effect, up to a maximum contract sum of £17,273,533, subject to certificates issued by the independent contract Project Manager.

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)  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.