Decisions

Resolved:

(i)         That it be noted that Transport for the North are now liaising directly with each West Yorkshire district council to seek the consent of each individual district to the regulations, in so far as they provide for Transport for the North to exercise concurrent highways functions with those districts, once it is established as a Sub-National Transport Body.

(ii)        That WYCA confirm the consent previously given in principle to the making of regulations, attached at Appendix 1 of the submitted report, by the Secretary of State for Transport to establish Transport for the North as a Sub-National Transport Body under section 102E of the Local Transport Act 2008, and which provide for Transport for the North to exercise concurrent functions with  its constituent authorities, including WYCA.

(x)        In respect of the Portfolio Information Management System (PIMs) WYCA approves:

(a)        That the Portfolio Information Management System (PIMs) project proceeds through Decision Point 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs) and work commences on Activity 6 (Delivery).

(b)        That approval be given to the total project value of £0.240m for the development of the system and £0.050m per annum on-going licence fees (the on-going licence fee will be required from 2018/19 onwards) and is funded as an overhead cost from the overall Portfolio Management Office costs.

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted report 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.

(viii)     In respect of Leeds New Station Street –

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

(a)        That the exception to extend the Leeds New Station Street project timescale to completion on site by December 2018 is approved.

(b)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted 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.

Resolved:  That a member Working Group be formed to progress detailed budget scrutiny and inform reports back to meetings of WYCA.

Resolved:

(i)         That the City Region’s submission to the Autumn Budget be noted and endorsed.

(ii)        That the people-focused approach to an inclusive industrial strategy, based on bold local decision-making, backed up by new powers and resources be noted and endorsed.

(iii)       That existing projects and programmes be refocused more clearly on inclusive growth outcomes.

(ix)       In respect of Wakefield Eastern Relief Road –

            That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA:

(a)        Conditionally approves the up to a £5.574m increase to the estimated final project cost of Wakefield Eastern Relief Road, and the increased total project up to a maximum of £37.593m.

(b)        Delegates the final approval of the exception and the signing of the addendum of the Funding Agreement be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director subject to settlement of the final account by Wakefield Council following endeavours to resolve outstanding contractor issues and seeking to reduce the cost figure payable to Network Rail.

(iii)       In respect of the Strategic Business Growth Programme –

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

(a)        That the Strategic Business Growth Programme proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to WYCA’s contribution of £3.146m (which will be funded through £2.156m from the ESIF Grant and £0.990m from the WYCA Capital Grants 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).

(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 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.

Resolved:  That the positive progress being made through Transport for the North’s Northern Powerhouse Rail programme, including in delivering the Leeds City Region ambition for Northern Powerhouse Rail be noted.

(vi)       In respect of the Energy Accelerator Programme –

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

(a)        That the Energy Accelerator Programme proceeds through Decision Point 4 and work commences on Activity 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

(b)        That approval to spend the £0.640m Local Growth Fund allocation as match to support the development of the Accelerator be confirmed.

(c)        That an indicative approval to the to the £2.997m ELENA funding (exact amount dependent on Euro exchange rate at the date of approval – application pending) 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).  This will bring the total project value to approximately £3.817m (£0.820m LGF, £2.997m ELENA).

(d)        That development costs of up to £0.180m are approved in order to pay the incurred development costs and to progress the scheme to Decision Point 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs) from the Local Growth Fund, taking the total project approval to £0.820m).

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted 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.

(ii)        In respect of the Access Innovation Programme –

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

(a)        That the Access Innovation Programme proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to WYCA’s contribution of £4.750m (which will be funded through £0.485m from the Local Growth Fund Access to Capital Grants programme fund and £4.265m from the ERDF 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).

(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 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)      In respect of Leeds District Heat Network –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, WYCA conditionally approves the following recommendations, with final approval of these recommendations being subject to WYCA’s Managing Director approval of the detailed grant conditions on a clawback mechanism:

(a)        That the Leeds District Heat Network project proceeds through Decision Point 5 and work commences on Activity 6 (Delivery).

(b)        That approval to WYCA’s contribution of £4.000m (which will be funded from the Local Growth Fund) is given.

(c)        That WYCA enter into a Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £4.000m from the Local Growth Fund.

(d)        That the Funding Agreement makes provision for up to £4.000m to be clawed back if the Leeds District Heat Network makes an operating profit over the 25 year asset lifetime.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted report 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 Castleford Rail Station Gateway –

That following a recommendation from Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

(a)        That the Castleford Rail Station Gateway 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 £4.511m 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 £0.317m are approved in order to progress the scheme to Decision Point 5 (Full Business Case with Finalised Costs), taking the total project approval to £0.338m.

(d)        That WYCA enter into a Section 56 grant agreement with Northern Rail for expenditure of up to £0.200m from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund. 

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted report including at Decision Points 4 and 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.

(iv)       In respect of Beech Hill, Halifax –

That following a recommendation from Investment Committee, WYCA approves:

(a)        That the Beech Hill project proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 4 (Full Business Case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to WYCA’s contribution of £1.000m (which will be funded through Growth Deal 3) 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).

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted report including at Decision Points 4 and 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.

(i)         In respect of the A629 Phase 4 Halifax to Huddersfield Corridor Improvements –

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

(a)        That the A629 phase 4 project proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (Outline Business Case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £30.000m 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 (FBC with Finalised Costs).

(c)        That development costs of £0.570m are approved in order to progress the scheme to Decision Point 3 (Outline Business Case), taking the total project approval to £0.645m.

(d)        That WYCA enter into a Funding Agreement with Calderdale Council for expenditure of up to £0.570m from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the Approval Pathway and Approval Route outlined in the submitted report including at Decision Points 4 and 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.

Resolved: 

(i)         That a further decision regarding the method by which WYCA meets its obligations under the Direction with regard to First Group be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director in consultation with the Chair.

(ii)        That the Budget Working Group inputs to this further decision.

(i)         That the principles of the Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy be endorsed and the final drafting of the submission be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director in consultation with the WYCA Chair.

(ii)        That the principles of the response to the HS2 rolling stock depot location consultation be endorsed and the final drafting of the submission be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director in consultation with the LEP Chair and WYCA Chair.