The meeting was an opportunity for the Cabinet Member for Infrastructure and Development Strategy to make decisions on two transport schemes using delegated powers. Councillors were also invited to submit written questions in advance of the meeting. The meeting was scheduled to confirm the minutes of a previous meeting, which took place on 10 October 2024.

A34 Harwell Layby Works

Councillors were asked to note that Oxfordshire County Council is seeking to use its SCAPE Civil Engineering Framework to appoint Balfour Beatty Group Limited to deliver the A34 Harwell Layby works. The layby is part of the wider A34 Lodge Hill Interchange scheme, for which Balfour Beatty is already the appointed contractor.

The report explains that it is now necessary for OCC to construct / deliver the A34 Harwell Layby on behalf of National Highways and that this is because of concerns that National Highways’ existing panel of contractors would be unable to deliver the scheme on time and on budget.

Based on National Highways’ existing panel of contractors' availability and agreed rates, National Highways have confirmed that they would not be able to deliver the A34 Harwell Layby works in accordance with the prevailing time, programme and cost parameters of this project.

The report explains that the Cabinet Member needs to make a decision by 12 December 2024 in order to keep the scheme on schedule. The report states that failure to do so could lead to Oxfordshire County Council being in default of the GFA [Grant Funding Agreement], which could generate a risk to project funding.

The report also sets out the steps that need to be taken before Balfour Beatty can be awarded the contract, including:

• Finalising requisite amendments to the existing funding agreement between Oxfordshire County Council and National Highways
• Finalising the structure and content of the Section 6 agreement that is to be entered into between Oxfordshire County Council and National Highways
• Finalising the contract price for the A34 Harwell Layby works

Approval to Award Contract in respect of the Construction/Delivery of Abingdon NC5 Missing Link Active Travel Scheme

This item on the agenda was to confirm the minutes of the previous meeting on 10 October 2024, at which the Cabinet Member approved the awarding of a contract to construct a new section of National Cycle Route 5 in Abingdon. The minutes record that a public statement was made about the scheme. No details of this statement are included in the minutes.

The minutes record that officers explained that the scheme was a good example of co-production , and that the Chair noted the benefits the scheme would have in Abingdon, Radley and for cycling routes into Oxford.