Agenda item

(Member lead: Cllr P Box, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Delivery on the progression and funding for the following schemes through WYCA’s Assurance Framework:

 

·                    Bradford Interchange Phase 1

·                    Bradford Interchange Phase 2

·                    Project Beta

·                    Natural Flood Management Programme

·                    Wyke Beck Valley Flood Alleviation

·                    York Outer Ring Road Junction

 

The Authority agreed to withdraw consideration of Project Raven as the situation had changed since publication of the agenda and this would be brought back to a future meeting.

 

The importance of the Natural Flood Management Programme was discussed and members requested further details regarding the individual projects included in the programme.  It was suggested that an overview be provided to a future meeting, taking into account the work also being undertaken by the Yorkshire Flood and Coastal Committee and the Green Economy Panel.

 

It was noted that an exception report for the DfT Cycling and Walking to Work scheme had been assessed in line with WYCA’s Assurance Framework and had progressed directly to WYCA because of timescales relating to its delivery and governance requirements of the funding stream.

 

Members discussed the reporting and transparency in respect of the level of detail provided for the schemes in the submitted report.  The importance of engaging with the public and information being accessible was stressed and consideration would be given to the presentation of future reports.  It was suggested that options such as the inclusion of a summary box, hyperlinks to the business cases, previous papers and other reports as background information for the schemes be included going forward.

 

It was reported that there were rigorous processes in place for assessing schemes.  These were detailed in the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework which was to be considered at agenda item 10.  The process included WYCA’s Programme Appraisal Team (PAT) considering scheme business cases and, subject to their assessment, these are then considered by the Investment Committee who would take a decision on whether to recommend the schemes to WYCA for approval.  It was noted that business cases were published on WYCA’s website.  It was agreed that summary scheme performance information be included in the ‘summary box’.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)         In respect of Bradford Interchange Phase 1 (Decision Point 2 Case Paper) –

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That the Bradford Interchange Phase 1 project proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (Outline Business Case) of the Assurance process.

 

(b)       That an indicative approval to the total project value of up to £5.605m is given to be funded from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, with Full Approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5 (FBC with Finalised Costs).

 

(c)        That further development costs of up to £0.100m are approved in order to progress the scheme to Decision Point 3 (Outline Business Case) taking the total project approval to £0.180m, and that WYCA enter into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for total expenditure of up to £0.180m from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

 

(d)       That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route set out in the Case Paper.  This will be subject to the scheme  remaining within the tolerances outlined in the Case Paper.

 

(ii)        In respect of Bradford Interchange Phase 2 – Pre-feasibility Option Development (Decision Point 2 Case Paper) -

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA approves £0.512m pre-feasibility funding from the WY+TF Transformational Projects Fund to support the selection of a preferred option for progressing Phase 2 of this project and that WYCA enter into a Funding Agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure of up to £0.512m from the WY+TF Transformational Projects Fund.

 

(iii)       In respect of Project Beta (Decision Point 2 Case Paper) -

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That Project Beta proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 4 (Full Business Case).

 

(b)       That an indicative approval to the proposed grant funding award £3m is given, to be funded from the Strategic Inward Investment Fund, with Full Approval to expenditure being granted once the scheme has progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5 (FBC with Finalised Costs).

 

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route set out in this report.  This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

 

(iv)       In respect of Leeds City Region Natural Flood Management Scheme (Decision Point 3 Outline Business Case) -

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee,  WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That the LCR Pilot Natural Flood Management Programme proceeds through Decision Point 3 and work commences on Activity 4 (Full Business Case).

 

(b)       That an indicative approval to WYCA’s contribution of £1.700m (which will be funded through from the Local Growth Deal 3 fund) is given with Full Approval to spend being granted once the scheme has  progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5 (FBC with Finalised Costs).  The total project value is £3.801m.

 

(c)        That development costs of £0.045m are approved in order to progress the scheme to Decision Point 4 and then WYCA enter into a Funding Agreement for expenditure of up to £0.045m from the Local Growth Deal Fund.

 

(d)       That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route set out in this report, including at Decision Point 5 through a delegation to WYCA’s Managing Director following a recommendation by WYCA’s Programme Appraisal Team.  This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report. 

 

(v)        In respect of Wyke Beck Valley Flood Alleviation (Decision Point 4 Full Business Case) -

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That the Wyke Beck Valley Flood Alleviation Project proceeds through Decision Point 4 and work commences on Activity 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

 

(b)       That an indicative approval to WYCA’s contribution of £2.600m (which will be funded through from the Local Growth Deal 3 fund) is given with Full Approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5 (FBC with Finalised Costs).

 

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route set out in this report, including at Decision Point 5 through a delegation to WYCA’s Managing Director following a recommendation by WYCA’s Programme Appraisal Team.  This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

 

(vi)       In respect of York Outer Ring Road – Phase 1 (Full Business Case Decision Point 4) -

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That the York Outer Ring Road Phase 1 project proceeds through Decision Point 4 and work commences on Activity 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

 

(b)       That an indicative approval to York Outer Ring Road Phase 1 total forecast costs of up to £3.600m is given (to be funded from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund) with Full Approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

 

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in this report including at Decision Point 5 through a delegation to WYCA’s Managing Director following a recommendation by WYCA’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

 

(vii)      That in respect of Project Raven (Decision Point 2 Case Paper) -  it was agreed to withdraw consideration of the item as the situation had changed following publication of the agenda and this would be brought back to a future meeting.

           

(viii)     In respect of DfT Cycling and Walking to Work Fund (Activity 6 Delivery Change Request) -

           

That WYCA approves:

 

(a)       That the additional funding of £6.40k offered by DfT to extend the programme is accepted by the Director of Resources as Chief Finance Officer by the deadline of 31 March 2018

 

(b)       The Request for Change to programme funding and timescales as outlined in the submitted report

 

(c)        That the spending of up to £2.14m to be funded from the West Yorkshire Cycling and Walking to Work DfT grant