Joint Chair of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee: Councillor Coker.

The City Council will be asked to consider the Cabinet recommendation. 

Minutes 121 and 121a (of the Cabinet meeting held on 15 January 2013) and the report of the Director for Place refer.

Councillor Evans (Leader) presented the recommendations in Cabinet minute 121a on the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee revenue estimates and capital programme. Cabinet minute 120 and the written report of the Director for Place to Cabinet also referred.

The council was advised that the proposal would require an increase in toll income to mitigate the risks but that despite recent media reports, the joint committee had not agreed any toll increases to date. Members were continuing to look at options before presenting a report to Cabinet.

The proposals were seconded by Councillor Wheeler.

Agreed to approve the revenue and capital budgets for 2013/14, as proposed by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee and recommended by Cabinet.  

The Director for Place will submit a report seeking Cabinet approval of the  Business Plan as recommended by the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Ferry Joint Committee and recommending that Council approve the capital and revenue budgets for 2013/14. (Minutes 24 and 25 of the Tamar Bridge and Torpoint Joint Committee refer).

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.