Mains Drain Extension Scheme - Thistle Grove, St. Lawrence and St. John (P.141-2002) - report

MAINS DRAIN EXTENSION SCHEME: THISTLE GROVE, ST.  LAWRENCE AND ST.  JOHN (P.141/2002)- REPORT

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Presented to the States on 24th September 2002 by the Public Services Committee

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STATES OF JERSEY

STATES GREFFE

150 2002 P.141 Rpt.

Price code: B

REPORT

Introduction

This report is in response to the Report and Proposition lodged au Greffe on 27th August 2002, by the Deputy of St John (P.141/2002). The Proposition asks the States to decide whether to request the Public Services Committee to reconsider its decision to phase the extension of the main drainage scheme at Thistle Grove, St Lawrence and St. John and incorporate additional units of accommodation on or near La Rue de la Mare Ballam, into the scheme currently under construction.

Background

A scheme to extend the foul sewer network to serve the Thistle Grove area was included in the Committee's 2001 foul sewer extension programme. Originally, in 1998 the scheme included the properties along the section of La Rue de la Mare Ballam, but in 2000 the scheme was split into two phases as a consequence of the reduction in capital funds granted for the foul sewer extension programme for 2000 to 2002.

The first phase of the scheme is currently under construction, but the second phase of the scheme is not included in the Public Services Committee's current five year programme of foul sewer extension schemes.

Discussion

The inclusion of a foul sewer extension scheme to serve the Thistle Grove area in the 2001 programme was determined by the Sewer Working Party during 1997/8. The main area of concern was identified as the Thistle Grove Trading Area, and those properties on La Rue de la Mare Ballam between its junction with La Rue de la Scelletterie and the Bon Air Riding Stables.

The extent of the Thistle Grove scheme was investigated, and it was determined that the best location for the pumping station was on La Rue de la Scelletterie adjacent to Handois Reservoir. This location would enable several other future schemes in the northern area of the Handois catchment to be served by the Thistle Grove pumping station, as shown on the attached copy of Drawing No. 767/302.

The review of the extent of the scheme also concluded that, in order to include as many of the properties in the area that had not previously been connected to the main drainage system as part of the adjacent earlier schemes, the extent of the Thistle Grove scheme should include as many of the properties on La Rue de la Mare Ballam and La Rue de la Scelletterie as possible. The extent of the scheme was thus determined as including all of the properties within foul sewer extension (FSE) areas Nos. 58 and 58A, as shown on the attached copy of Drawing No.  767/302.

The cost of this scheme, along with the other 2001 foul sewer extension schemes, was included in the Public Services Committee's request for capital funding for 2001. The total sum requested for the 2001 foul sewer extension programme was £4,128,000.

In the event, the funds granted for 2000 to 2002 were reduced, the sum granted for 2001 for example was £3,500,000, compared with the £4,128,000 requested.

As a result, the originally proposed programme of foul sewer extensions for 2000 to 2002 had to be altered. This required a reorganisation of the schemes for each of those years, and meant that the extent of the schemes had to be altered to fit the available budgets. In order to avoid complete schemes slipping further down the programme, the scope of all of the schemes was reduced slightly.

In the case of the Thistle Grove scheme, this meant removing some of the most northerly properties on La Rue de la Mare Ballam, and making these a second phase of the scheme. The first phase of the scheme is shown as FSE No. 58, and the second phase as FSE No. 58A, on the attached copy of Drawing No. 767/302.

The extent of the Thistle Grove scheme, FSE No. 58 as shown on the attached copy of Drawing No. 767/302, was approved by the Public Services Committee at the meeting of 15th October 2001. Tenders were accepted at the Public Services Committee meeting on 8th July 2002, and construction commenced on 15th July 2002.

At the present time there are a number of programmed schemes, to be funded from Vote C0452 - Foul Sewer Extensions, for which tenders have yet to be awarded. When the estimated costs of these schemes are taken into account, the Public Services Committee has only a small contingency sum remaining to cover the eventuality of the tender figures being in excess of the estimated values of the schemes. This contingency represents less than 3% of the estimated cost of the remaining projects.

It is the Public Services Committee's intention to defer a decision as to whether the additional properties in La Rue de la Mare Ballam, FSE 58A, should be connected to the Thistle Grove scheme until the late summer of 2003, when the tender values of the remaining projects will be known. At that time, the Public Services Committee will review the financial position on the Foul Sewer Extension Vote to determine whether sufficient funds are available to enable the additional properties in La Rue de la Mare Ballam to be connected.

This course of action will maintain the Public Services Committee's contingency sum in the foul sewer extension vote until tenders have been received for all the other programmed foul sewer extension schemes, and will enable the Public Services Committee to make an informed decision when the situation regarding the remaining available funds will be much more certain than at present.

The Public Services Committee is firmly of the view that the foul sewer extension schemes should be constructed in accordance with the five year programme of sewer extensions, as determined by the Sewer Working Party and endorsed by the Public Services Committee. This programme is determined by prioritising the need for the individual schemes, and additional schemes should not be introduced to the detriment of the existing schemes.

Conclusion

The Public Services Committee considers that the scheme at Thistle Grove, which is currently under construction, should not be extended to include the additional properties referred to in the Report and Proposition. However, the Public Services Committee will agree to review the financial position on Vote C0452, Foul Sewer Extensions, in the late summer of 2003, when tenders have been received for the remaining schemes for which funds have been voted, to establish whether sufficient funding is available to let a contract for the extension of the foul sewers to serve the properties referred to in the Report and Proposition during the last quarter of 2003.