Agenda and draft minutes

The Committee appointed Councillor J McElroy of Gateshead Council as Chair of the Committee.

The Committee appointed Councillor A Hay of Newcastle City Council as Vice Chair of the Committee.

The Committee is asked to declare any personal interest where appropriate.

There were no interests declared by Committee Members.

Membership of the Committee for the 2024/25 Municipal Year is as follows:

Gateshead Council

Councillor B Clelland

Councillor J Eagle

Councillor J McElroy

Councillor A Wintcher

Newcastle City Council

Councillor A Hay

Councillor J Sathian

Councillor P Allen

Councillor PJ Morrissey

The Membership of the Committee was agreed as follows:

Gateshead Council

Newcastle City Council

·         Councillor A Hay

·         Councillor J Sathian

·         Councillor P Allen

·         Councillor PJ Morrissey

The Committee is asked to approve the minutes of the previous meeting, held on 14 December 2023, as an accurate record (attached).

The minutes of the previous meeting were approved as an accurate record with no matters arising.

The Committee queried whether the Port of Tyne have indicated when the swing bridge will be functional. It was noted that this is currently under discussion with no updates to give.

RESOLVED

The Committee:

i.              Requested a formal response on the status of the swing bridge from the Port of Tyne.

Report of Assistant Director of Transport, Newcastle and Engineering Service Manager, Gateshead

The Committee received a report outlining the progress made on the planned 2024/25 capital works programme, details any unplanned capital works which were required during the year and recommends a capital budget for expenditure on the Joint Tyne Bridges in 2025/26.

It was noted that an allocation for the Tyne Bridge Restoration works was not set as the Department for Transport (DfT) approval for the project had not been given at the time of the Committee.

Works are currently being procured with the intention to undertake inspection of the Redheugh Bridge in 2024/25. A budget provision of £100,000 has been allowed for in 2024/25 for the proposed works.

A special inspection was carried out in 2023/24 of Pier N8 of the Newcastle Approach Viaduct which is within the Network Rail/LNER car park. This inspection has identified essential concrete repairs are required and a design for this has been developed.

The long-term strategy for addressing the concrete spalling issues, drainage, and any other items identified during the principal inspection, is to undertake these works under a single contract. The capital budget required for these works could be in excess of £1,000,000.

Works are currently being procured with the intention to undertake inspection of the Scotswood Bridge in 2024/25. A budget provision of £100,000 has been allowed for in 2024/25 for the proposed works. If the principal inspection identifies any urgent or significant maintenance works required in 2025/26 a capital budget may need to be allocated.

It was proposed to undertake a principal inspection of Newburn Bridge in 2023/24. These works have been delayed and are now programmed for February/March 2025. A budget provision of £25,000 was identified for the proposed works.

RESOLVED

i.              The Committee noted the progress made on the planned capital works programme funded by the Department for Transport’s Highway Maintenance Block (HMB) for 2024/25.

ii.             The Committee the programme of planned capital works to be carried out in 2025/26 to the appropriate committee or delegated decision processes of each authority.

iii.            The Committee recommended a budget provision of £2,029,000 for 2025/26 to the appropriate committee or delegated decision processes of each authority for inclusion in budgets for 2025/26.

Report of Assistant Director of Transport, Newcastle and Engineering Service Manager, Gateshead

The Committee received an update on updates the outturn revenue expenditure for 2023/24, reviews the revenue expenditure for 2024/25, and recommends a revenue budget for expenditure on the Joint Tyne Bridges for 2025/26.

The year-end expenditure in 2023/2024 was £34,992 compared with a budget provision of £44,250 (Tyne £15,200, Swing £12,000, Redheugh £13,050, Scotswood £3,000, Newburn £1,000).

At the meeting of 14 December 2023, the proposed budget provision for 2024/25 was £38,050. The current estimated outturn is £59,898.

Tyne Bridge

The estimated outturn for the Tyne Bridge is £200, in line with the budget figure of £200. This covers utility charges.

Swing Bridge

The estimated outturn for the Swing Bridge is £2,200, below the budget figure of £12,000. Expenditure was moved to Capital repairs. The revenue works to the Swing Bridge were restricted to minor safety repairs to the footways and signage.

Redheugh Bridge

The estimated outturn for the Redheugh Bridge is £46,155 compared to a budget figure of £38,100. Works to the Redheugh Bridge include regular maintenance of the bridge drainage system and additional maintenance of the drainage to the internal cells, planned repairs to the coping units, reactive maintenance to repair the pedestrian guardrail from vehicle impact, removal of incipient concrete spalls to the Newcastle Approach Viaduct.

Scotswood Bridge

The estimated outturn for the Scotswood Bridge is £10,255 compared to a budget allocation of £10,255.

Proposed Budget Provision for 2025/26 Tyne Bridge

No revenue works are planned for the Tyne Bridge in 2025/26, however an allowance of £200 has been included for utility payments.

Swing Bridge

An allowance of £12,000 has been identified for minor maintenance repairs and routine maintenance on the bridge.

Redheugh Bridge

An allowance of £46,155 has been identified for regular maintenance of the bridge drainage system, reactive repairs to the pedestrian guardrail, utility payments, and provision of the security system.

Scotswood Bridge

An allowance of £3,000 has been identified for the reactive repairs due to impact damage to the parapets.

Newburn Bridge

An allowance of £1,000 has been identified for minor routine maintenance works on the bridge.

RESOLVED

i.              The Committee noted the outturn expenditure for 2023/24 is £34,992 compared with a budget provision of £44,250.

ii.             The Committee recommended the programme of maintenance and repair works to be carried out in 2025/26, as detailed in paragraph 6, to the appropriate committee or delegated decision making of each authority.

iii.            The Committee recommended a budget provision of £74,495 for 2025/26, as detailed in paragraph 6 and Appendix A of this report, to the appropriate committee or delegated decision making of each authority for inclusion in that committee’s budget for 2025/26.

Report of Assistant Director of Transport, Newcastle and Engineering Service Manager, Gateshead

An update was given to the Committee on progress with the Tyne Bridge restoration project. It reviewed the project funding, detailed progress on the works and outlined the future delivery programme.

Discussions are ongoing with the Department for Transport and Ministers to release further funding agreed in October 2023 with Network North.

Following the approval of funding the main restoration works commenced in April 2024, the works have concentrated on structural repairs and painting within the eastern footway and structural repairs and painting of steelwork to and below the bridge deck adjacent to the Gateshead tower.

Planned works will continue with the original funding in place and liaison will continue with the Department for Transport to secure the additional Network North Funding to allow the original programme of works to be completed.

To allow the works on the bridge to be carried out safely the main deck has been reduced to one lane in each direction.

The programme of restoration works will last for 4 years with an anticipated completion date of summer 2028, in advance of the centenary of the official bridge opening in October of that year.

The Committee praised those working on the restoration and noted that the planned visit for the Committee was informative. It was recommended that this would be worthwhile for other Councillors in Newcastle City Council and Gateshead Council.

The Committee discussed the necessary funding for the project, the restoration’s Information Hub, and the liaison with Central Government officers and Members of Parliament.

The Secretary of State has been invited to view the extent of work being carried out and needs to be prioritised, as well as the Minister for Transport, and funding needs are being consistently raised with Members of Parliament.

It was noted that a change to lane closures is expected at the end of February.

The impact of the closure of the Gateshead Highway was also considered by the Committee. Feedback has indicated that in and around the Tyne Bridge isn’t severe but that alternative routes have become congested, particularly on the A1.

The Information Hub is due to open in January and will be available to members of the public, including VR tours of the bridge’s restoration progress.

The Committee thanked the efforts of commuters to use alternative routes and work from home where possible to ease expected congestion.

RESOLVED

i.              The Committee noted the contents of the report.