Agenda item

The Chairman introduced the report which provided an update on the comprehensive regeneration of the Brent Cross Cricklewood (BX) programme since the Committee meeting on 16^th March 2020, as well as the addendum and appendices in relation to this report.

Members congratulated the team on the success on receiving money from Homes England.

Members raised concerns about the post construction parking on Brent Terrace on plots 53-54 and asked for clarification on the plans going forward in terms of logistics for parking. The Programme Director for Brent Cross explained that an exercise was currently being conducted to look at controlled parking zones and that a brief on this was being prepared to take forward over the next 18 months. An application for temporary yellow lines on Brent Terrace had also been submitted to the highways department to prevent any construction parking taking place on that road. She said that alternative sites for parking were being looked into through the Brent Cross integrated management and this was being co-ordinated with the Claremont Park school and residents.

Members asked what strategy had been put in place to deal with the movement of the concrete plant and had the environment team been engaged with proposals and ensuring promises made to residents were being met. Councillor Zinkin updated the committee that himself and Councillor Clarke had met with the concrete company and explained in detail the concerns of residents. The concrete company had advised that there would be no increase in lorry movements or tons of aggregate. It was also a possibility that a modern concrete plant would be better on a DG cargo site, rather than simply moving aggregate. However, this would not be evident until such a plant had been installed. Councillors had asked the DG Cargo and concrete company to arrange a visit for residents to a modern plant to see what was being proposed for this site. Councillor Zinkin explained that the company had been informed of all the residents’ concerns and that all the standards that had been agreed with residents around noise and pollution needed to be addressed.

Members noted there was a risk around rail possessions and queried how officers were working with network rail on this. The Programme Director for Brent Cross confirmed that Network rail viewed delivery of the Brent Cross programme as key and would work closely with Barnet over the next few months on any issues that may arise. Members also asked for examples of interfaces that involved multiple parties working well in other areas, officers said that Birmingham new street was a good example and that further details could be provided in future updates.

A member highlighted issues raised by residents regarding the construction transport management plan and asked for assurances that the draft would be brought up to an acceptable standard before publication. The Programme Director for Brent Cross explained that residents had been presented with a first draft, to allow them an opportunity to input into the plan, a second draft was being drawn up over the next couple of weeks, before submission to the local planning authority. The first resident session with L&Q had now taken place and these would continue regularly.

Following discussion of the item the Chairman moved to vote on the recommendations outlined in the report and the public addendum. The votes were recorded as follows:

RESOLVED that the Committee:

1)     Noted the progress update across the scheme since the last report to the committee on 16 March 2020;

2)    Noted the revised station works baseline programme as agreed with Network Rail;

3)    Confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of this Committee be authorised to agree the revised delivery arrangements for the Station Eastern Entrance Box and authorise on behalf of the Council that it enters into the required legal agreement with Brent Cross South Limited Partnership (BXS) to allow the Council to deliver the Eastern Entrance Box and make the necessary amendments to the Station Contract with Volker Fitzpatrick as set out in paragraphs 1.19-1.26 of this report;

4)    Confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of this Committee be authorised to agree and finalise on behalf of the Council the proposed revision to the delivery arrangements for BXT project as set out in paragraphs 1.27-1.29 of this report. Addendum to follow.

5)    Noted that the Homes England Loan Facility Agreement with BXS and Homes England and the Direct Agreement between Homes England and the Council (including the Deed of Indemnity and Counter Indemnity, Legal Charge and Deed of Subordination) were completed on 30 March 2020, and confirm that the Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of this Committee be authorised to agree and amend on the Council’s behalf the terms of the legal charge and any consequential agreed changes to the direct agreement to reflect disposals and acquisitions by the Council and Brent Cross South Limited Partnership (BXS LP) throughout the BXS development and to complete the same as set out in paragraph 1.43 of this report.

6)    Confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of this Committee and Director of Environment be authorised to a) agree any changes to the service operations of North London Waste Authority (NLWA) and London Energy Limited (LEL) which mitigate impact to the BX programme and b) instruct any action which is required as a consequence of (a) including any necessary update or amendment to the procurement strategy and agreeing any consequential changes on behalf of the Council to the Settlement Agreement with NLWA and LEL dated September 2017 and to complete any required documentation in connection with such matters in the terms outlined at paragraph 1.47 of this report;

7)    Confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive in consultation with the Chair of this Committee be authorised to agree and finalise the Section 8 Agreement with London Borough of Brent to allow the council to undertake highways improvements within the London Borough of Brent to the Cricklewood Broadway junction as set out in paragraph 1.51 of this report.

8) Confirmed the renewal on the expiry of the existing contract with CBRE to provide strategic property advice and Schofield Lothian to support the BX Integrated Programme Management Office and delivery of Critical Infrastructure across as set out in paragraphs 5.1.7 of this report.

RESOLVED that the Committee agreed the recommendations in the public addendum:

1)    Confirmed that that Mace (Bidder 3) be appointed as the preferred bidder to provide a new home for the project management team and to provide project management services and support the council in the delivery of the rail construction elements of the BXT programme.  The council will issue the required Standstill Letters on 7 July 2020 and move to make the Contract Award on 20 July 2020.

2)    Noted that a Change Notice to the Brent Cross Thameslink Special Project Agreement (SPA) between the Authority and the Service Provider (Re/Capita) dated 3 March 2020 is being agreed, and will have effect from 1 July 2020 until the end of the SPA.

3)    Noted that Currie & Brown, Arnmore Limited and Amos Ellis Consulting (the “Sub-Consultants”) have been appointed directly to the council to continue to provide commercial support and town planning services to the BXT programme.

4)    Confirmed that the Deputy Chief Executive issue the required Termination Notice to Re/Capita to bring the Brent Cross Thameslink Special Project Agreement SPA to an end on 9 August 2020; and be authorised in consultation with the Chairman of the Committee to agree the final settlement of the SPA and the Change Notice and any other non-material changes.