A £8.619 million overspend on the new Gedling Access Road (GAR) was “not acceptable but probably predictable” given surging material costs associated with the pandemic, a leading councillor has said.
Nottinghamshire County Council confirmed last autumn that the long-awaited bypass had surged in cost since its initial valuation of £40 million.
The project, which started construction in January 2020, was due to open at the end of last year but was delayed until the coming spring due to Covid-related delays, site problems and staffing issues.
Council figures showed £4.47 million of extra costs relate to the pandemic, while the remaining £4.149 million is down to “challenges” including adverse weather and unexpected site conditions, and loss of working hours.
The additional spending took the road’s overall costs roughly 21 per cent above its budget.
Speaking at the time, leading council officers said “lessons have been learned” when it comes to oversight and spending on major investment schemes, with concerns raised in November over the ballooning figure.
PICTURED: Progress made on the Gedling Access Road in August
And now further concerns have been raised after the council’s transport and environment committee, which is overseeing the access road, is forecast to be £1.1 million overspent on its budget overall.
It follows an additional £4.5 million being needed for the access road in this financial year, alongside £2.1 million in extra costs from the road maintenance and renewals budget.
The £6.6 million in extra costs is being offset by £1.7 million in “slippage” in the Active Travel Fund budget and a further £3.5 million from the Transforming Cities Fund which will be moved into the next financial year.
Speaking during the finance committee meeting on Monday (February 7), Councillor Lee Waters (Ash Ind), who represents Hucknall South, raised concerns about the overspend and asked councillors to address what “lessons have been learned”.
“I worry about rises in costs for Gedling Access Road contained within the Transport and Environment spend, responsible for a large part of its overspend,” he said.
“On November 23 last year, this council said ‘lessons have been learned’ about oversight on major infrastructure projects following the £8.619 million increase in the costs of building Gedling Access Road.
“Can you outline what lessons have been learned [and] whether the overspend has risen?”
In response, Cllr Richard Jackson (Con), chairman of the committee, said he and another councillor have been meeting with Via East Midlands – the council-run highways contractor – to oversee major projects like the GAR.
And he said many of the extra costs were Covid-related and “beyond our control”, praising the decision not to pause the project and believing it will offer more benefits than the additional £8.619 million it is costing.
“We are having very regular meetings [with Via East Midlands] on major capital projects and having a very careful watching brief on that,” he said.
“It’s worth noting that the majority of the overspends on the Gedling Access Road are Covid-related, which are beyond our control.
“Whilst we don’t like to see overspends on anything, I think the overspend on the GAR largely are not acceptable, but probably predictable in the current climate.
“The main thing is that road is still going to deliver benefits that significantly outweigh the costs with or without the overspend.”
Cllr Bruce Laughton (Con), deputy leader of the council, added: “We could well have mothballed the whole scheme, and that would have left the residents in [Gedling] with a half-finished road scheme that was having to then be restarted.”
Once complete, the 3.8km (2.36 miles) single-carriageway road will link the A612 Trent Valley Road and Nottingham Road with Mapperley Plains.
It will also ease congestion through Gedling Village and unlock development at the new £140 million, 1,050-home Chase Farm scheme on the former Gedling Colliery site.
Council figures estimate the scheme, once complete, will provide benefits worth at least £73 million to the county.
Gedling Borough Council are continuing to shine the spotlight on local independent businesses.
The authority’s #Rediscover campaign was launched before Christmas to celebrate independent businesses across the borough following two years of struggle during the pandemic.
The unisex hairdressers opened a sensory area on Saturday which will help keep children with additional needs calm whilst getting their hair cut.
The new area was opened by the Mayor of Gedling Meredith Lawrence and was also featured on ITV News.
The council is currently building an A-Z database of businesses in the Borough and are inviting independents to get involved by providing information. The council will then promote the businesses through their website and our digital platforms.
A Calverton lad is planning to sleep outside for over a month to raise much-needed cash for homeless veterans.
Joshua Partridge, 11, has already started sleeping in a tent in his garden to bring in funds for the annual Great Tommy Sleepout appeal
The Colonel Frank Seely pupil took part in the event last year and is hoping to smash his record for nights under the stars in 2022.
Proud mum Anne-Marie Partridge said: “Joshua took part in the sleepout last year and decided that one night outside wasn’t enough, so he set himself a challenge to do as many nights and raise money as much as he could.
“He ended his sleepout after 56 nights and raised £3874 for the charity.
“He was highest single fundraiser and only a group of army cadets beat his fundraising total.
“He is now hoping to smash his target of nights spent outside and is already on night four.”
You can sponsor Joshua by visiting his fundraising page HERE
Households in Gedling borough will get money off after it was announced energy bills are set to increase again in April.
The government revealed their action plan by offering a £200 rebate for customers.
The latest rise is set to push bills up by almost £700 a year.
The price cap is set according to wholesale costs which have rocketed over the winter.
The price cap, which is reviewed twice a year and adjusted in April and October, will shoot up by 54% to £1,971, Ofgem revealed this week.
For those on prepayment meters the price cap will rise from £1,309 to £2,017 – an increase of £708.
This week Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced he was giving all energy customers a £200 discount on their energy bill to tackle the rising costs.
Speaking in Parliament earlier this week, Mr Sunak said the help will spread the worst of this year’s energy price shock over time.
He said: “This year all domestic electricity customers will get an upfront discount on their bills worth £200
“Energy suppliers will apply the discount on people’s bills from October, with the government meeting the cost in full.”
“That discount will automatically be repaid from people’s bills in equal £40 instalments over the next five years.”
PICTURED: Sherwood MP Mark Spencer praised the initiative
Repayments will start from April 2023, when it’s hoped that the energy market will have returned to normal.
The £200 rebate is designed to soften the blow of bills rising from the price cap increase in April.
But hard-up folk in Gedling borough will have to wait until October when the cap could increase again, and they will have to pay the money back later on.
Sherwood MP Mark Spencer praised the move.
He said: “The Government is taking a sensible and comprehensive approach to tackling the rising costs of energy.
“The £200 rebate on our electricity bills is going to be open to every single household in Gedling borough. This will be an incredible help to many of my constituents and many households across the United Kingdom.
“We needed immediate action, and the Chancellor of the Exchequer delivered.”
What help can I get with my energy bills?
On top of the £200 energy bill rebate announced today, there’s other help you can get if you’re struggling with energy bills.
In the first instance it’s best to speak to your supplier directly if you are struggling to pay your bill or are worried about falling behind.
It’s best to do this sooner rather than later as failed direct debit payments could cost you extra and affect your credit score.
Six people have been arrested after reports that a high street jeweller had been burgled in Carlton.
At this time it is believed nothing was taken during the botched burglary this morning (4) after intruders triggered the shop’s alarm.
Police arrived at D D & A Jewellers, in Carlton Hill, at around 1.10am to find a window had been smashed and a metal grille had been ripped from the brickwork to gain access to the property.
Acting on information provided by automatic number plate recognition cameras, officers quickly managed to locate and then pull over a car containing the six suspects just minutes later.
The six men, aged between 25 and 49, have all been arrested on suspicion of burglary and remain in custody as enquiries continue.
Detective Sergeant Gary Hewson, of Nottinghamshire Police, said: “This is a great example of officers acting on the intelligence immediately available to them to quickly arrest a group of suspects within a short time.
“As a Force, we’re committed to reducing burglary in the communities we serve, as we understand the lasting impact this invasive crime can have on people.
“Nobody should ever have their livelihoods put at risk by intruders taking what isn’t theirs or be made to feel unsafe, which is why our officers are working so hard to reduce burglaries across the county.
“We are pleased to have made multiple arrests on this, but our enquiries are still ongoing, so we would appeal to anyone who may have any information relating to this incident to get in touch with us immediately.”
Anyone with any information or any further CCTV footage is asked to contact the police on 101, quoting incident number 119 of 4 February 2022.
There are plenty of high-quality Chinese restaurants and takeaways across Gedling borough, and many of them have been given great star ratings and excellent reviews from impressed customers on TripAdvisor.
But which are the cleanest? We have taken a look at all the Chinese takeaways in Gedling borough to see how the Food Standards Agency (FSA) rates them – and put together a list of those who have been given the top score.
Food Standards Agency inspections are carried out by the local authority and findings are updated on the FSA website every time a new inspection by the council is conducted.
Free school meal vouchers in Notts are to double in value over the February half-term holiday.
Vouchers given out to those families across Gedling borough who are eligible have been doubled in value to £30-per-week, which will include £15 to be used for food for the child and an additional £15 to help families meet winter cost-of-living increases such as heating costs.
Councillor Tracey Taylor, chairman of the Children and Young People’s Committee, said the council is committed to helping youngsters from families who are struggling with cost-of-living pressures.
She said: “I am pleased that children in Nottinghamshire will once again receive help at a time when many families continue to be confronted by financial challenges and, I hope, this will be one less thing for them to worry about.
“I’m also delighted we’ve been able to increase the value of the vouchers which will be distributed during the forthcoming school holiday.
“Once more, despite our own budget pressures, this reaffirms our commitment of providing help and support to hundreds of families across Nottinghamshire when they need it most, which is good news and means many youngsters will not go hungry this half-term.”
Councillor John Cottee, chairman of the Communities Committee which oversees the HSF, said he was pleased funding had been set aside to help families in Nottinghamshire.
He said: “The pandemic has led to some families struggling financially and, therefore, I am really pleased money from the Household Support Fund will once again help to support vulnerable children who might otherwise run the risk of missing out on receiving the food they need.
“It goes without saying that we remain committed to supporting children and families in Nottinghamshire at this time.”
Parents in Nottinghamshire can find out if their child is eligible for free school meals here www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/freeschoolmeals, with the vouchers distributed to youngsters by their schools.
For further information, parents or carers are urged to contact their school directly.
There are plans for a care home which ‘requires improvement’ to be turned into supported living apartments.
Redhill Farm in Arnold has applied to Gedling Borough Council to convert the home into two one-bedroom apartments and a four-bedroom supported living dwelling – which are “much needed” locally and nationally.
The home in Bestwood Lodge Drive is currently an eight-person care home which has been rated ‘requires improvement’ by watchdog the Care Quality Commission (CQC).
The home, which is run by Heathcotes, cares for adults with mental illnesses and learning disabilities.
In May 2019, CQC inspectors placed the service in special measures after finding three breaches of regulation.
In a follow up inspection in November, inspectors said that improvements had been made but the service was rated ‘requires improvement’.
The new plans for the home would “provide adults with care and support needs suitable accommodation they will be able to call their home”, according to council documents.
Each apartment would have a shower room, living room and separate kitchen.
Support staff would have access to all apartments.
Documents put forward by Jackson Design Associates stated: “Redhill Farm needs major refurbishment to revive it back to the high standard of accommodation befitting its residents.
“Heathcotes are committed to providing all their residents with desirable living spaces in a safe environment and, subject to planning permission, will not only provide the investment needed for refurbishment, but will also help fulfil the shortfall of suitable supported living accommodation.
“Careful consideration has been given to minimise impact on the existing building fabric to provide good sized, quality accommodation, without losing the architectural character of the original property and maintaining its residential appearance.”
Plans for signs at a new Aldi in Stoke Bardolph and an apartment block in Woodthorpe are among the planning applications that have been made this week across Gedling borough
Every week dozens of planning applications are submitted to the council – and the recent coronavirus pandemic has not changed that.
Here is the list of applications that have been submitted and validated by Gedling Borough Council in the last week.
Visit the council site HERE the links below to find out more and to have your say…
Arnold
New rear extension and first storey apartment 25-27 Calverton Road Arnold NG5 8FF Ref. No: 2022/0061
New 3 bed chalet style bungalow to be constructed within the grounds of 383 Mapperley Plains 383 Mapperley Plains Arnold NG3 5RU Ref. No: 2021/1448
Bestwood
Change of use of existing residential care home (C2) and single storey extension to form 2 No. one-bedroom apartments and a four-bedroom dwelling (C3A) all for supported living. Redhill Farm Bestwood Lodge Drive Bestwood NG5 8NE Ref. No: 2022/0080
Burton Joyce
Variation of condition 2 of planning permission 2021/1011 to enable use of outside areas. 69 Main Street Burton Joyce Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG14 5ED Ref. No: 2022/0087
Calverton
First floor rear extension 32 Castle Close Calverton NG14 6LX Ref. No: 2022/0083
Carlton
Erection of two bedroomed semi detached properties Adjacent 92 Carlton Hill Carlton Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0086
Change of use of the upper floor from a flat to an office 389 Carlton Hill Carlton Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG4 1HW Ref. No: 2021/1381
Single storey rear extension with double pitched hipped roof 24 Midland Road Carlton Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG4 2HA Ref. No: 2022/0105PN
Two first floor side extensions; alterations to roof, including rear dormer; single storey rear extension and lower ground floor extension with patio above 320 Greenwood Road Carlton NG4 1AR Ref. No: 2022/0026
Replace existing double-sided internally illuminated 6-sheet Bus Shelter advertising displays with double-sided digital advertising displays. Replacement digital displays would portray static advertising images in sequence, changing no more frequently than every 10 seconds, the change via smooth fade. Bus Stop Burton Road Carlton Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0022
Colwick
Approval of details reserved by conditions 3 (materials), 4 (boundary treatment), 12 (contamination) and 15 (CEMP) of planning permission 2020/0969 Former Electricity Sub Station Mile End Road Colwick Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2021/1342
Daybrook
No planning applications this week
Gedling
First floor rear extension 2 Ullswater Close Gedling NG4 4WG Ref. No: 2022/0082
Single storey side and front extension 23 Arnold Lane Gedling NG4 4HA Ref. No: 2022/0063
Lambley
Application to vary condition 2 of planning permission 2015/0918 to allow use of building as Conveyancing Practice (Use Class E(c)(ii) professional services) 70 Main Street Lambley Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0043
Linby
No planning applications this week
Mapperley
Single storey side and front extension 7 Dunsford Drive Mapperley NG3 5SB Ref. No: 2022/0094
Variation of Condition 11 of planning permission 7/2018/1075NCC to allow use of the all-weather pitch between 09:00 and 18:00 on Sundays Carlton Digby School Digby Avenue Mapperley Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG3 6DS Ref. No: 2022/0071NCC
Demolition of existing side extension and rear conservatory; proposed single storey side extension, two storey rear extension and erection of detached garage to rear 47 Marshall Hill Drive Mapperley NG3 6FQ Ref. No: 2022/0066
Variation of Condition 32 of planning permission 7/2011/0268NCC to allow for the use of portable artificial lighting on the all weather pitch. Carlton Digby School Digby Avenue Mapperley Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG3 6DS Ref. No: 2022/0072NCC
Two storey side extensions and raised decking to rear 48 Northcliffe Avenue Mapperley NG3 6DA Ref. No: 2022/0062
Netherfield
NMA in relation to application 2017/0999 – revised brick types Land Off Teal Close Netherfield Nottinghamshire Ref. No: 2022/0054NMA
Newstead
Proposed two storey, rear extension to create kitchen/diner to ground floor and bedroomwith en-suite to first floor. 29 Tilford Road Newstead Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG15 0BU Ref. No: 2022/0117
Papplewick
Two storey side, single storey front and rear extensions 26 Main Street Papplewick NG15 8FD Ref. No: 2022/0037
Ravenshead
Erection of 2 storey side extensions, single storey rear extension and additional floor 31 Church Drive Ravenshead NG15 9FG Ref. No: 2022/0064
Replacement Of Flat Roof With A Pitched Over Existing Attached Garage 91 Longdale Lane Ravenshead NG15 9AG Ref. No: 2022/0023
Two storey side and rear extension and single storey rear extension 43 Main Road Ravenshead NG15 9GP Ref. No: 2022/0015
Redhill
No planning applications this week
Stoke Bardolph
No planning applications this week
Woodborough
Two storey side extension and single storey rear extension. 24 Park Avenue Woodborough Nottingham Nottinghamshire NG14 6EB Ref. No: 2022/0075
Woodthorpe
Side and Rear Extension – Demolition of current garage, car port and conservatory. 4 Woodthorpe Avenue Woodthorpe NG5 4FD Ref. No: 2022/0068
2 storey side extension following demolition of existing garage and stores. Single storey rear extension following demolition of existing sun room. 22 Knighton Road Woodthorpe NG5 4FL Ref. No: 2022/0058
Nottingham and Nottinghamshire will only feel the full benefits of a potential devolution deal if the area creates an elected mayor, government papers have revealed.
Nottinghamshire County Council leader Ben Bradley, also Mansfield’s Conservative MP, admitted councils would be the “a bit daft” not to consider this option but says the decision is not his alone to make.
The Government published its long-awaited ‘Levelling Up’ White Paper on Wednesday, setting out plans for wide-ranging devolution powers to be handed to local leaders.
Supporters of the plan say it will give greater spending power and more decision-making to local areas, while reducing Westminster’s control on some major regional projects.
But local Labour leaders say an elected mayor idea has been rejected in Notts before, and will be too ‘top down’, while an independent council leader said he feared the plan would lead to the scrapping of district and borough councils.
As part of Wednesday’s announcement, the city and county have been selected among nine areas to negotiate what the Conservative-led Government is describing as new ‘county deals’.
Neighbouring Derby and Derbyshire, and Leicestershire, will also be part of the scheme.
The new project could give local councils more ability to shape services like healthcare, public transport, education and skills, strategic planning and public safety.
But papers released on Wednesday confirm the city and county will only be handed the most powers if a directly-elected, political mayor is the “accountable” person to use them.
This set-up, similar to those based in areas like Greater Manchester and the West Midlands, would see the mayor given the ultimate control over local services.
Papers show the mayoral position would need to be accompanied by a combined authority, which would only incorporate county and city councils when making decisions.
District and borough councils would act as “non-constituent members” and would have no power, but the combined authority would be “expected to work closely with their district councils”.
According to the White Paper, a maximum of 23 powers could be devolved from Whitehall as part of devolution. Choosing the option with a directly-elected mayor would secure all 23.
This includes mayoral oversight for the police and crime commissioner role, currently held in Notts by Caroline Henry (Con).
The number of powers would reduce down to 11 without the mayoral post, the report confirms. And Cllr Bradley says this level of devolution is roughly what the new ‘county deals’ represent.
PICTURED: County Hall in West Bridgford
But if local leaders chose not to create a new structure and opted to stay with the current system, which operates with the nine councils and a joint committee, just three new powers would be handed from the Government.
And there would also be “scope to negotiate further powers, on a case-by-case basis”, the report adds.
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service following the paper’s release, Cllr Bradley said there is a major decision to be made.
He said: “The county deal option is in there, we can tick that box because we’ve got it.
“This option would be good just to be able to draw down what is, quite often, tightly ring-fenced money into a local pot for us to decide what to do with it.
“Clearly the document also says though, that if you want significant economic clout, any extra money, you need a combined authority and a mayor.
“I think we’d be a bit daft not to at least have a conversation about the rest, but that’s not a decision I can make.”
When asked whether he would consider running for the mayoral role if it became available, Mr Bradley said the job would be “really exciting for whoever takes it on”.
However, he said there’s “a lot of water to cross” before the post becomes a reality.
But the proposals have led to concerns from opposition leaders, who fear the devolution offer represents a “centralised, top-down imposition”.
Cllr Kate Foale, leader of the Labour group at Nottinghamshire County Council, said: “For years councils have been strung along by this Conservative Government, promising that local voices would be heard on devolution.
“Consistently, representatives from all political views across Nottinghamshire have rejected a mayoral system imposed by Westminster, but that is exactly the type of centralised, top-down imposition we’ve been offered.”
Cllr Jason Zadrozny (Ash Ind), leader of the Independent Alliance and Ashfield District Council, added: “The Levelling Up White Paper contains 12 pledges to address 12 failures in 12 years of a Conservative Government.
“It states its aim is to devolve power but it does the opposite. Make no mistake, this is the first step to abolishing the local councils we all hold so dear.”
The Nottingham and Nottinghamshire economic prosperity committee, which is made up of leaders from all nine local councils, has been leading on devolution.
Leaders will meet in private on Friday (February 4) to discuss Wednesday’s announcement.
Below are the three options the committee can take, including the powers they would be given as outlined by the Levelling Up White Paper.
Option 1 – Stay with the current, nine-council structure and economic prosperity committee:
Host for Government functions best delivered at a strategic level involving more than one local authority e.g. Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
Opportunity to pool services at a strategic level.
Opportunity to adopt innovative local proposals to deliver action on climate change and the UK’s Net Zero targets.
Option 2 – ‘County deal’ with no directly-elected mayor:
Host for Government functions best delivered at a strategic level involving more than one local authority e.g. Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
Opportunity to pool services at a strategic level.
Opportunity to adopt innovative local proposals to deliver action on climate change and the UK’s Net Zero targets.
[Local Enterprise Partnership] functions including hosting strategic business voice.
Control of appropriate local transport functions e.g. local transport plans.
Ability to introduce bus franchising.
UK [Shared Prosperity Fund] planning and delivery at a strategic level.
Devolution of Adult Education functions and the core Adult Education Budget.
Providing input into Local Skills Improvement Plans.
Homes England compulsory purchase powers.
Clear defined role in local resilience.
Option 3 – Create a combined authority and a directly-elected mayor:
Host for Government functions best delivered at a strategic level involving more than one local authority e.g. Local Nature Recovery Strategies.
Opportunity to pool services at a strategic level.
Opportunity to adopt innovative local proposals to deliver action on climate change and the UK’s Net Zero targets.
[Local Enterprise Partnership] functions including hosting strategic business voice.
Control of appropriate local transport functions e.g. local transport plans.
Defined key route network.
Priority for new rail partnerships with Great British Railways – influencing local rail offer, e.g. services and stations.
Consolidation of existing core local transport funding for local road maintenance and smaller upgrades into a multi-year integrated settlement.
Ability to introduce bus franchising.
UK [Shared Prosperity Fund] planning and delivery at a strategic level.
Long-term investment fund, with an agreed annual allocation.
Devolution of Adult Education functions and the core Adult Education Budget.
Providing input into Local Skills Improvement Plans.
Role in designing and delivering future contracted employment programmes.
Ability to establish Mayoral Development Corporations (with consent of host local planning authority).
Devolution of locally-led brownfield funding.
Strategic partnerships with Homes England across the Affordable Housing Programme and brownfield funding.
Homes England compulsory purchase powers.
Mayoral control of Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) functions where boundaries align.
Clear defined role in local resilience.
A duty for improving the public’s health (concurrently with local authorities).
Ability to introduce mayoral precepting on council tax.
Ability to introduce supplements on business rates.
