Solent LEP could get huge refund if Floatie scrapped

The funding for FB6 was given to the council through the Solent Local Enterprise Partnership (SLEP) as part of the Solent gateway project, to open up the area.

A number of commitments and obligations of the service outcomes were promised however when the council got the funding, including: performance of the vessel; improvement of the local economy and numbers carried.

At last night's (Tuesday) corporate scrutiny committee however, discussing a report into the procurement of FB6, councillors asked why the vessel could not just be scrapped and if the council could get more money for a new floating bridge, what would happen to the original funding?

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Cllr Dave Stewart, council leader, said if the council was to not complete the contract agreed with the SLEP by not meeting the targets and not being able to maintain the service, the body would be able to ask for the money to be refunded, and in an already very challenging budget, the council would have to find the large sum of money.

Cllr Stewart said the SLEP is closely monitoring the situation and has asked the council what it intends to do to meet that commitment and will independently review what is happening.

He said, however, the SLEP was keen to work with the council because the reason the Floating Bridge is there is 'not about money' but about a service to the community.

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The Floating Bridge pictured today (March 10)

Responding to critics though Cllr Stewart said the people who suggest getting another vessel do not explain how they would do it, how it would be paid for or how the SLEP would be given its money.

Cllr Stewart also ruled out the option of bringing Floating Bridge 5 back, saying it was home to 'rust and seagulls' after he undertook a visit with other councillors to the old bridge.

The current vessel was not and still is not fit for purpose, according to Cllr Stewart, and the legal action the council is taking is based on the premised FB6 can be fixed to a standard that ensures a good and reliable service.

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It is hoped through mediation the council will be able to recover some of its losses as a 'substantial claim' has been put forward.