The Director for Place submitted a written report on the business plan and the capital and revenue budgets for 2013/14 as recommended by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee (Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee minutes 24 and 25 refer).

The report indicated that the forecast capital and revenue budgets would require an increase in toll income of approximately 13 per cent from April 2014.  This would ensure that risks were mitigated and that the cost of the operation did not fall upon the parent authorities’ budgets.  Additional work was on going to optimise options for the replacement of the bridge protective coating and a feasibility study would review the need to replace administration and control facilities on the Tamar Bridge site.

Councillor Coker (Joint Chair of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee and Cabinet Member for Transport) presented the report and indicated that the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee had not yet agreed any toll increase.  He added that the joint committee would continue to look at options and would present a recommendation on income to Cabinet in due course.   

Alternative options considered and reasons for the decision –

As set out in the report.

Agreed the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Business Plan 2013–2017.