Agenda item

Shotley Papermill Footbridge - Joint Report of Corporate Director, Neighbourhood Services and Corporate Director, Resources

Minutes:

The Council considered a report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood Services which sought approval to compulsory purchase an area of land for the Shotley Papermill Footbridge scheme (for copy see file of Minutes).

 

The Corporate Director, Neighbourhood Services informed the Council that maintenance work to strengthen, paint and re-deck the existing footbridge had been planned to take place in 2008 but had been interrupted due to unprecedented flooding of the River Derwent. This had destroyed the existing footbridge which provided an important public rights of way crossing between County Durham and Northumberland.

 

In moving the recommendation contained in the report Councillor B Young placed on record his thanks to Sir Tom Cowie who had been instrumental in assisting the Council to move forward with progress and had assisted the Council in reaching agreement with local landowners.

 

Moved by Councillor B Young, Seconded by Councillor Napier and

 

Resolved

 

(i)                 That the Council agree the use of compulsory purchase powers to acquire the land indicated in Appendix 3 of the report for Shotley Papermill Footbridge under the provisions of Section 239 of the Highways Act 1980 and other enabling powers; and

 

That the Corporate Director, Resources be authorised to:

 

(ii)               secure the making, confirmation and implementation of the compulsory purchase order (including the publication and service of all notices) and the presentation of the Council’s case at any public inquiry;

(iii)             acquire interests in the land and new rights within the compulsory purchase order either by agreement or compulsorily;

 

(iv)              approve agreements with the landowners which set out the terms for the withdrawal of objections to the order (including where appropriate seeking exclusion of land or new rights from the order);

(v)                confirm the order (if unopposed), when referred to the authority by the Government Office for the North East, or its successor.

 

Supporting documents: