Issue - meetings

The Cabinet Member for Regeneration and Economic Development presented a report on an application from Barking Riverside Limited (BRL) for funding via the Council’s Strategic Community Infrastructure Levy (SCIL) to support extended Thames Clipper Uber Boat services at Barking Riverside.

By Minute 51 (17 October 2023), the Cabinet had approved revised arrangements for the allocation of SCIL and other planning-related funding aimed at supporting the delivery of new infrastructure as part of the Council’s growth agenda.  The Cabinet Member confirmed that the application from BRL fully met that criteria and would extend the current peak-time only weekday and all-day weekend service to also provide an all-day weekday service.  The extended service would provide an improved service for Borough residents, help to boost visitor numbers and enhance local business trading conditions, while the proposed three-year funding arrangement, which would be matched by BRL and other parties, would enable an all-day service at Barking Riverside to become commercially viable, without subsidy, going forward.

Cabinet resolved to:

(i)  Support the proposal for £450,000 to be allocated over three years to part-fund extended services for Uber Boat by Thames Clipper (UBTC) services at Barking Riverside;

(ii)  Note the proposed draft letter of support to BRL setting out the in-principle allocation of the funding, conditional on remaining funding being found by BRL;

(iii)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth to take any steps necessary to ensure compliance with the Subsidy Control Act 2022; and

(iv)  Delegate authority to the Strategic Director, Inclusive Growth, in consultation with the Head of Legal, to execute all agreements, contracts and other documents on behalf of the Council in order to implement the allocation of SCIL funding.