Agenda item

The Committee considered a report on proposals for the progression of, and funding for, a number of West Yorkshire Combined Authority supported projects, including West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (Transport Fund) and Growth Fund at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

Members discussed the proposals for the progression of the following seven schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

·         Investor Readiness Support Programme

·         Transformational – A1620 Leeds Northern Outer Ring Road Improvements

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – A647 Dawsons Corner

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – Dyneley Arms

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – Fink Hill scheme

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – A650 Newton Bar scheme

·         Institute of High Speed Railways and System Integration – Phase 1

The meeting was attended by Professors Lisa Roberts and Peter Woodward from Leeds University who gave a presentation on the Institute of High Speed Railways and System Integration scheme.

All schemes presented to the Investment Committee were recommended for approval by the Combined Authority

In addition to the recommendations made regarding the High Speed Rail Institute, the meeting also wished it to be noted that the Combined Authority’s contribution to the scheme will be capped at £13.047 million regardless of any future increases to the total scheme costs.

The Committee also considered the Business Growth Programme (BGP) which has had a change request report assessed in line with the Combined Authority’s assurance process.  This was for an extension to the expenditure approval of the BGP to capitalise on the on-going successful uptake of the scheme by businesses across the region and further details were provided in the submitted report.

The Committee was also provided with details of the following two decisions made through delegations to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting:

·         Wyke Beck Flood Alleviation scheme

·         Mytholmroyd Station Park & Ride

Summaries of the schemes’ business cases were attached as Appendices 2 – 8 of the submitted report.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of the Investor Readiness Support Programme, the

            Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Investment Readiness project proceeds through

decision point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s

contribution of £1.429 million is given (which will be funded from £714,500 from the Leeds City Region Business Rates Pool and £714,500 from ESIF), with Full Approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the Assurance Process to Decision Point 5. The total project value is £1.429 million with funding already secured.

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 5 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team subject to the scheme remaining within the assurance tolerances outlined within the report.

(ii)       In respect of Transformational – A1620 Leeds Northern Outer Ring Road Improvements, Leeds, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the A6120 Leeds Northern Outer Ring Road Improvements  (A647 to A65) proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on the feasibility study.

(b)        That an expenditure approval is given to the total value of £392,500 to Leeds City Council to fund a feasibility study.

(c)        That the Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £392,500 to be funded from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(d)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(iii)      In respect of Corridor Improvement Programme – Dawsons Corner, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Dawson’s Corner project proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval is given to the total project value of £20.159 million, with the Combined Authority’s contribution of £19 million (which will be funded through £15 million from the CIP Phase 1 fund and £4 million from the LPTIP fund) is given 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). The total project value is £20.159 million.

(c)        That development costs of £1.59 million, (including £499,000 additional development costs and £1.1 million land assembly costs) are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs), taking the approval to £2.598 million

(d)        That the Combined Authority issue an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Leeds Council for additional expenditure of up to £1.59 million from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund taking the total value to £2.598 million.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(iv)      In respect of Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 - Dyneley   Arms, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Dyneley Arms junction project proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case) and 5.

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £2.747 million is given 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 additional development costs of £373,000 (which include £250,000 for land assembly) are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) taking the total approval to £775,000.

(d)        That the Combined Authority issues an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Leeds Council for additional expenditure of up to £373,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (giving a total funding agreement value of £775,000).

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 (v)      In respect of the Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – Fink Hill, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 Fink Hill project proceeds through decision point 3 (outline business case) and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £4.150 million is given 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 additional development costs of £404,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 4 (full business case) taking the total project approval to £519,000.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enter into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Leeds City Council for additional expenditure of up to £404,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund taking the total value to £519,000.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(vi)      In respect of Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – A650 Newton Bar, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 A650 Newton Bar project proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £6.752 million is given 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 development costs of £129,800 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 4 (full business case) taking the total project approval to £204,800.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Wakefield Council for additional expenditure of up to £129,800 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund taking the total value to £204,800.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report (including through delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director at decision points 4 and 5) following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(vii)      In respect of Institute of High Speed Railways and System Integration – Phase 1, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Institute for High Speed Rail and System Integration scheme Phase 1 proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £13.047 million is given, which will be funded through over-programming against the Local Growth 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). The total Phase 1 value is £26.093 million (The University of Leeds will contribute match funding of £13.047 million). The Combined Authority’s contribution is capped at £13.047 million regardless of any future increases to the total scheme costs.

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(viii)    In respect of Business Growth Programme, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the change request to the Business Growth Programme is approved to provide additional £7 million of funding to the Business Growth Programme. This will be funded from over programming against the Local Growth Fund.  This would take the expenditure approval for the total programme to £34 million.

(b)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report.  This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined within the report.