Agenda item

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure (copy to follow)

Please note the appendices to this report are not for publication by virtue of paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 as this report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the Authority holding that information).

The Leader presented a report which outlined the Carlisle Station Gateway project (the Project).  This was a strategic regeneration project included in the Borderlands Inclusive Growth Deal to revitalise Carlisle City Centre and wider Borderlands area. The Project would strengthen Carlisle’s position on the national rail network, improve access and connectivity to Carlisle and the Borderlands region as well as contribute to decarbonisation by encouraging more journeys to be taken by rail.

This report sought approval from Cabinet to progress a number of changes to the originally approved scheme to facilitate project delivery.

The project was split into four components-

·           Northern Gateway,

·           Southern Gateway

·           Station Interior and

·           Enabling Streets and junctions.

Fundamental to the success of the project was the relocation of car parking and vehicular traffic, including rail replacement bus services, from the Northern Gateway to the Southern Gateway and Cumbria County Council had been working in partnership with Carlisle City Council, Network Rail and Avanti West Coast to enable delivery of the Project and relocation of the car park.

The closure of the existing public car park on the northern side of the station operated by Avanti and the creation of a new public car park on the southern side by the County Council, required Avanti to surrender their lease for the existing car park.  However, it had not been possible to achieve this without paying compensation to Avanti or identifying replacement provision.  Neither of these requirements could be met by the Council.

Due to this impasse, Network Rail had proposed an alternative approach, with Network Rail facilitating the current car park relocation, owning the site and taking responsibility for the management and operation of the new station car park instead of the Council. 

The alternative approach removed the need for the Council to provide capital funding but required agreement by 31 March 2023.  It also required the approval of Cumberland Council at its meeting on 27 March 2023 in order for the County Council to proceed with signing of contracts.

RESOLVED, that Cabinet

(1)     notes the changes to the total project cost and that funding for this scheme is now £20m from Borderlands and £7.915m from Network Rail and that there is no longer a contribution required from the local authority (Cumberland Council);

(2)     subject to Section 24 consent from Cumberland Council on 27th March 2023, delegates authority to the Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure to finalise the detailed terms and enter into the necessary legal agreements with Network Rail for the sale of the Station Retail Park and The Pools site (excluding the James Street Baths) before 31 March 2023 as aligned with the Heads of Terms documented in appendix 1 of the report;

(3)     subject to Section 24 consent from Cumberland Council on 27 March 2023, delegate authority to the Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure, to finalise the detailed terms and enter into a Lease for the Station Retail Park and The Pools site (excluding the James Street baths) with Network Rail before 31 March 2023 as aligned with the Heads of Terms documented in appendix 1 of the report;

(4)     delegates authority to the Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure to finalise the terms of and enter into a Contribution Agreement with Network Rail to increase the funding received to support project delivery as aligned with the Heads of Terms documented in appendix 1 of the report;

(5)     delegates authority to the Executive Director - Economy and Infrastructure, to agree with Northumberland County Council a variation to the Borderlands Grant Funding Agreement for the Carlisle Station Gateway Project in line with the Change Control documented in appendix 2 of the report;

(6)     acknowledges the Capital Receipt for the disposal of the Station Retail Park and The Pools site will be reinvested back into Carlisle Station Gateway Project and agrees the inclusion of additional funding received through the Contribution Agreement into the Capital Programme.

The meeting then broke at 11.45am and reconvened at 11.55am