Officers, along with the Leader of the Council had been working in conjunction with Highways England (HE) and East Sussex County Council (ESCC) to investigate options and costs to enhance the appearance of the Ravenside roundabout and put a sustainable management solution in place.  The roundabout was situated at an important gateway into Bexhill-on-Sea and its unkempt appearance had been a cause of resident dissatisfaction for many years. 

HE was agreeable in principle to Rother District Council (RDC) taking on responsibility for improving and maintaining the roundabout and RDC officers had therefore explored the options to do so.  ESCC had a successful roundabout sponsorship scheme and their experience in this and expertise in traffic management and health and safety for works on the Highway, meant that they would play a key role in facilitating the project. 

The proposed project had had two phases, clearance followed by the installation of a sculpture and hardstanding.  It was envisaged that it would take least 18 months to complete with the first phase potentially commencing in autumn 2020.

The report gave details of the project and necessary actions, summarised as follows:

-       RDC would have to enter into a Section 96 Agreement with HE (similar to an existing agreement for the roundabout at Little Common);

-       a traffic management plan would be required to support any work carried out and officers were working with HE and ESCC in this regard;

-       there would be a one-off tidy up and application of herbicide (phase 1) (could be actioned ahead of Section 96 Agreement being in place, subject to a traffic management plan);

-       the installation of a sculpture (phase 2) and the construction of a hard surface across the roundabout (this would require a road closure to be in place); and

-       the sculpture would be commissioned through a tender process invited from Sussex-based professional sculptors and decided by a Panel comprising of the Leader of the Council, the Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Tourism, the Pebsham and St. Michaels’ District Ward Members and the East Sussex County Councillor for East Bexhill.

In order to support the project costs officers would liaise with ESCC and their sponsorship partner to secure sponsors for the roundabout and investigate other sources to provide match funding for the sculpture against RDC’s committed funding.  Currently, prior to investigations into traffic management and underground facilities having been made, the total cost of the project was estimated to be around £150,000-£200,000 including the clearance of the roundabout, traffic management and the installation of the sculpture.  These costs would need to be met from other funding sources as the Council’s reserves were under considerable pressure and uncertainty, especially through the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

It was therefore suggested that the project progressed, using the allocation of the Bexhill (local) Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL) receipts that currently amounted to £174,709 and that the project funding from CIL be capped at £150,000.  The amount of funding required from the CIL would be dependent on the success of the sponsorship.  

Members were keen to support the project which had been a source of resident dissatisfaction for a long time and requested that officers give thought to ways of increasing public participation in the project such as a design competition, working with local schools or consultation on a shortlist of designs.     

RECOMMENDED: That the cost of the Ravenside Roundabout Project be met from external sponsorship and the Bexhill (local) Community Infrastructure Levy, capped at a total contribution of £150,000, and the Capital Programme be amended as appropriate;

AND

*RESOLVED: That, subject to the approval of the funding:

1)        the Ravenside Roundabout Project, including the installation of a bespoke gateway sculpture to Bexhill-on-Sea be supported;

2)        the Executive Director be authorised to enter into a Section 96 Agreement with Highways England; and

3)        officers be authorised to commission the sculpture through a tender process with invited Sussex-based professional sculptors and a Ravenside Roundabout Sculpture Panel be established, comprising of the Leader of the Council, the Lead Cabinet Member for Communities, Culture & Tourism, the Pebsham and St. Michaels’ District Ward Members and the East Sussex County Councillor for East Bexhill to manage the tender, consultation, design stage and delivery. 

*The RESOLVED parts of this minute are subject to the call-in procedure under Rule 16 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules.

(Councillors J. Barnes, Mrs D.C. Earl-Williams and Field each declared a personal interest in this matter in so far as they were elected Members of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).

(Councillor Maynard declared a personal interest in this matter in so far as he was an Executive Member of East Sussex County Council and in accordance with the Members' Code of Conduct remained in the room during the consideration thereof).