Purpose

To consider the report of Cabinet
Member for Environment and Transport seeking approval for exemption
to procurement to enter into partnership with Network Rail for the
Northam Rail Bridge project, detailing latest Council contributions
and grant from Department for Transport.
 

Decision

(i) 
To delegate authority to the Head of Supplier Management to direct
award a contract for design and build in relation to the Northam
Bridge Project via a procurement exemption to Network Rail to
support the development of the Outline Business Case (for the
design and other products).
(ii) 
To accept the initial Outline Business Case grant of £1.45M
from Department for Transport, to adjust the Northam Rail Bridge
capital budget, and authorise spend of the funding across
2024/25-2026/27 financial years.
(iii) 
To delegate authority to the Executive Director of Growth and
Prosperity in consultation with the Executive Director of Enabling
Services (s.151 Officer) to accept any future grants in relation to
this project and make the necessary budget adjustments (including
spend approvals within budget) arising from the acceptance of such
grants.
(iv) 
To approve the change in the local contribution (an increase of
£0.416M to now a total of £1.377M consisting of SCC
Local Transport Plan, Revenue, and S106 Developer Contributions
funding from 2024/25 and 2025/26) and change the allocation for
Northam Rail Bridge OBC in the Capital Programme.
 
 

Reasons for the decision

1. 
The condition of Northam Bridge is deemed to be extremely poor and
mitigation measures that will be needed if the current structure is
retained (such as weight restrictions or restricted motor vehicle
access) will have significant impacts on the wider city transport
network, and as such a replacement bridge is preferred.
2. 
To enable the Council to direct award via a procurement exemption
to Network Rail to deliver the necessary design, assurance, rail
surveys, engagement with the train and freight operating companies,
and to deliver accurate and compliant bridge structure design that
is acceptable to Network Rail achieving financial best value
without compromising the required service specification.
3. 
To enable the grant monies received from the DfT to be added to the
Capital Programme and enable spend.

Alternative options considered

1. 
Not to proceed with the project.  Due to
the condition of the Northam Bridge, additional mitigation measures
would be needed such as additional weight restrictions or possible
restriction on all motor vehicle access over the Bridge. This would
have significant impacts on the wider city transport network and
reduce the number of east / west crossings. 
2. 
Use an open tendering exercise.  Network
Rail are not on any framework that the Council has access to,
therefore an open tender would have needed to be carried
out.  Given the value of the potential
work this would be through a longer tender process which would
elongate the scheme development. The tasks required can only be
carried out by Network Rail and as such a tendering exercise may
lead to an award to Network Rail in any case.
3. 
Use the Highways Services Partnership (HSP).  The Council has a 5 year Highways Service
Partnership (HSP) with Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) for
highways design, construction and maintenance.  The current contract is due to end in 2025 and
while BBLP are part of the wider Balfour Beatty company and have
access to Balfour Beatty Rail – who work with Network Rail on
delivery of rail infrastructure projects – the nature of the
work at Northam Rail Bridge means this is not an optimal
route.  BBLP would have to engage with
Network Rail to carry out many of the activities that the direct
commission would do.  This would incur
additional costs to the project.