Agenda item

To consider the following items as agreed at the last meeting of the Corporate Scrutiny Committee, held on 8 September 2020:

(a)      Cowes Floating Bridge

          The Committee agreed the following :-

          THAT the Committee receive a report at its next meeting detailing the actions being taken to ensure that the vessel is operational, and to enable discussions to take place on future options for the service involving Cllrs Love, Peacey-Wilcox and Jones-Evans, the Leader, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Chief Executive.

          A verbal update will be provided at the meeting.

(b)      Highway PFI

          The Committee agreed the following :-

          THAT a report be submitted to the next meeting to clarify the approach taken in assessing the average measures used within the performance report.

          A presentation will be made at the meeting.

(a)      Highway PFI

The Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Transport introduced the item by reminding members that at the meeting on 8 September 2020 the Committee agreed to receive a report clarifying the approach taken in assessing the average measures used within the performance report.

Representatives of Island Roads delivered presentation (Appendix) which provided an overview of the road & footway condition measurements, including monitoring lengths, hierarchies, and districts, the determination of scores including the structural conditions and safety, spot defects, and the contract requirements.

The content of the presentation was noted, and it was agreed that a copy of this would be circulated to the committee. Questions were raised regarding publicly available data, escalation of safety issues, communication with residents, repeatedly repaired roads, and the frequency of highway and footpath checks. Members requested that the next performance report contain details relating to the number of people making use of the FixMyStreet app.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT the presentation be noted.

ii)              THAT the latest annual programme of works be circulated to all members.

iii)            THAT the next performance report contain details relating to the number of people making use of the FixMyStreet app.

(b)      Cowes Floating Bridge

Members noted that at the meeting on 8 September 2020, the Committee agreed to receive a report detailing the actions being taken to ensure that the vessel was operational, and to enable discussions to take place on future options for the service involving Cllrs Love, Peacey-Wilcox and Jones-Evans, the Leader, Cabinet Member for Transport and Infrastructure and the Chief Executive. The Leader confirmed that discussions had taken place. 

The Assistant Director of Neighbourhoods delivered a presentation (Appendix) which detailed the plan in place to resolve the immediate issues with the hydraulics system (identified after routine maintenance), and the significant operational issues experienced since the vessel commenced service in May 2017; including the insufficient clearance over the chains, deviation from the vessel’s track across the river, noise issues, and the failures of the loading ramps’ lifting systems.

Questions were raised regarding the installation of side thrusters and its impact on the marine life, the vessel design, and the nature of the legal proceedings.  Members noted the planned return of the vessel to full service on 17 October 2020 and requested a position update at the meeting on 10 November 2020. Members suggested a confidential briefing to discuss the legal and financial issues and requested that the Leader provide a full detailed report when the legal and financial aspects have been resolved. It was requested that the report from Longitude regarding options for the fitment of side thrusters to the vessel be shared with interested parties when received at the end of October 2020.

RESOLVED:

i)               THAT the presentation be noted, and a position update be provided to the Committee at its meeting on 10 November 2020.

ii)              THAT the report regarding options for the fitment of side thrusters to the vessel be shared with interested parties when available.

iii)            THAT, when appropriate, a confidential briefing for the Committee be arranged to discuss the legal and financial issues related to Floating Bridge 6.

iv)            THAT when the legal and financial aspects have been resolved, the Leader be requested to provide a report to the Committee detailing all the issues related to Floating Bridge 6.

At the conclusion of the discussion members adjourned for a 10-minute comfort break.