Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies were received from Cllr Jeffery, Cllr Scullion and Cllr Swift.

A round of introductions were made for the benefit of those in attendance.

The Mayor expressed gratitude to the leaders, councillors and officers across West Yorkshire who were dealing with the challenges of addressing the safety of school buildings, alongside the existing financial challenges faced by councils across the country.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

The Mayor noted that appendix 2 to agenda item 9, and agenda item 10, had been identified by officers as exempt from the press and public.

Resolved: That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendix 2 to Agenda Item 9, and Agenda item 10, on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Members noted an error within minute 28, which referred to a government ban on the sale of new electric vehicles from 2030. The Mayor clarified the error, and explained the ban was for the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles after 2030.

Resolved: That subject to amendment, the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 27 July 2023 be approved and signed by the Chair.

(Lead Member: Cllr D Jeffery, Director: Liz Hunter)

The Combined Authority considered three schemes recommended for progression through the assurance process. The schemes would contribute to the development of new homes in the region and increase the availability of affordable housing.

The Mayor informed members that she had written to Michael Gove, the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities, to express the need for more flexibility for the region to determine which sites to develop.

Officers provided details of the three recommended schemes: Points Cross Phase 2, Sky Gardens, and Water Lane, which collectively aimed to deliver a total of 864 homes including a mixture of social rent and affordable shared ownership options.

Members queried the demand for apartments in Leeds. Members clarified that the schemes were designed to develop brownfield sites in Leeds city centre, but many other private housing developments were in progress across Leeds. The Mayor acknowledged the importance of rental properties in providing accessible housing options to enable people to get onto the property ladder.

Members questioned the justification of using public money on schemes where developers could make substantial profits. The Mayor responded that the funding aimed to develop areas which would benefit from regeneration. Officers added that development appraisals were conducted for each scheme to assess viability and challenge developer profit margins.

Resolved:

Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) Points Cross Phase 2

The Combined Authority, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved that:

(i) The Points Cross Phase 2 scheme proceed through decision point 4 (full business case), and work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii)  The Combined Authority's contribution of £3,000,000 be approved. The total scheme value is £63,836,839.

(iii) The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with The Guinness Partnership for expenditure of up to £3,000,000.

(iv) Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) - Sky Gardens

The Combined Authority, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved that:

(i) The Sky Gardens BHF scheme proceed through decision point 4 (full business case), and work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii) The Combined Authority's contribution of £2,850,000 be approved. The total scheme value is £72,510,719.

(iii) The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with CityLife Holdings 6 Limited for expenditure of up to £2,850,000.

(iv) Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

Brownfield Housing Fund (BHF) – Water Lane:

The Combined Authority subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved that:

(i) The BHF Water Lane scheme proceed through decision point 4 (full business case), and work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii) The Combined Authority's contribution of £4,600,000 be approved. The total scheme  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35a

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

The Combined Authority considered five schemes recommended for progression through the assurance process:

·       City Region Sustainable Transport (CRSTS) Capacity Funding scheme - a government grant of £830 million over five years, and a further £21.3 million to develop a pipeline of projects.

·       Network Management and Enhancement scheme - which focused on the replacement and enhancement of ageing traffic signals, infrastructure, and equipment.

·       Bus Cycle Priority Corridors - Woodhouse Lane Gateway scheme, which would enhance bus priority routes and promote active travel along a 1.1km stretch of Woodhouse lane by re-routing traffic, widening footpaths, and delivering new pedestrian crossings.

·       A6110 Leeds Outer Ring Road scheme – the scheme would be delivered over two phases and would address junction signals, a bus bypass, and a new cycle route along Elland Road South.

·       A58 Beckett Street scheme - the scheme would deliver improvements to bus lanes, traffic signals, cycle routes, pedestrian crossings, and footpaths. The Mayor asked whether data from the bus safety app would inform the delivery of the scheme and officers agreed to take the suggestion into consideration.

On Bus Cycle Priority Corridors, members raised concerns about the impact on drivers, given the route was among the busiest in and out of Leeds. The Mayor responded that diversion plans would be in place during the works, and officers added that more permanent traffic redirection would be in place following completion of the scheme.

Resolved:

Transport Committee delegation

(i)  That the Combined Authority delegates authority to the Transport Committee at its meeting on 19 September 2023 to approve the Leeds Healthier Streets Spaces and Communities and the LUF2 A639 Park Road schemes in accordance with the Assurance Framework.

CRSTS Capacity Fund

The Combined Authority, subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approved that:

(i) The CRSTS Capacity Fund scheme proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (business justification) and work continue on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii) Approval to £15,586,589 be given, including initial allocations for partner councils as detailed below, bringing the total approval to £21,343,000:

• Bradford Council £888,099

• Calderdale Council £1,043,253

• Kirklees Council £700,559 3

• Leeds City Council £1,350,000

• Wakefield Council £161,854

• Combined Authority and for further allocation £11,442,824

(iii) The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with each of the councils for expenditure as detailed in ii) above.

(iv) Changes to ii) and iii) above be delegated to the SRO for the scheme.

(v) Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

Network Management Renewals and Enhancements

The Combined Authority approved that:

(i) The CRSTS Network Management and Enhancement programme proceed through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and delivery continue for the second, third and fourth quarter of the 2023/24 (year 2) and work commence on the Approval to Proceed for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35b

(Lead member: The Mayor, Lead Director: Felix Kumi-Ampofo)

Members considered a report to update members on the local plans to strengthen private sector engagement and partnerships as a result of national policy changes towards LEPs.

Members sought clarification on the selection process and the rationale for selecting representative organisations such as the Federation of Small Businesses (FSB). The Mayor advised that the selection process was based on expertise across various sectors, and officers added that there had previously been arrangements for representation from the FSB with more being done to increase business group representation under the new arrangements. Officers advised that appointments were made based on the experience and career of an individual over a three-year term of office.

Members suggested representation from Bradford City of Culture 2025. The Mayor acknowledged the contribution of Leeds 2023 to the region's cultural landscape and emphasised the significant job growth in the creative sector in West Yorkshire as a result, and added that the Culture, Heritage and Sport Committee was the appropriate forum to discuss and promote cultural initiatives.

Members highlighted the need for engagement with the voluntary and community sector and added that coordination would be needed to ensure that work was not unnecessarily duplicated.

Resolved:

(i)             The latest Government position on Local Enterprise Partnerships (LEPs) be noted.

(ii)            The steps being taken to facilitate the transition of LEP functions into the Combined Authority and to strengthen the relationship with the private and third sectors be noted.

Members considered a report to request formal approval of the revised logo for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and Mayor of West Yorkshire, and to commence using it from October 2023.

Resolved: That the revised Combined Authority and Mayoral logo and its use from October 2023 be approved.

Corporate Change Members considered a report to provide an update on corporate change activities that have progressed since the previous meeting, including the appointment of Sarah Eaton as the new Strategy, Communications and Intelligence Director, and changes to the role and accountabilities of the role profile of Deputy Director, Legal, Governance and Compliance which includes Monitoring Officer responsibilities.

Resolved:

(i)             That the appointment of Sarah Eaton to the role of Strategy, Communications and Intelligence Director, made by the Chief Executive under delegations previously provided be noted.

(ii)            That the appointment to the role of Deputy Director Legal, Governance and Compliance, and that the previous designation of Monitoring Officer remains be noted.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Alan Reiss)

Members considered a report providing an update on implementing the West Yorkshire UKSPF Local Investment Plans, including Core UKSPF, Multiply and the new Rural England Prosperity Fund.

The Mayor commended officers for their efforts and expressed gratitude to the businesses that had engaged with the Fund, emphasising its importance in delivering on exports, training, skills, and rural development.

Members highlighted the distinction of UKSPF from previous EU Structural Funds and the reduction in both the amount of funding received and the comparatively lower value due to inflation. The Mayor acknowledged the challenges and noted there was potential for greater impact with further devolution.

Members requested to be kept informed of forthcoming Rural Fund workshops to promote the available support more widely.

Resolved:

(i)             That the progress made on implementing the West Yorkshire UKSPF Local Investment Plans be noted.

(ii)            That the recommendations made by the West Yorkshire UKSPF Local Partnership Group on its 31st July 2023 meeting be noted and approved, which were:

• the endorsement of the list of selected projects.

• that remaining funds be held back and pooled with any other uncommitted funds from Pillar 3 and a decision be sought from the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee under the existing delegation to where any remaining funds should be allocated.

(iii)           The recommended list of projects in Exempt Appendix 2 be approved, totalling £11,416,315 of 7 UKSPF (within a 10% tolerance where subject to final contracting figures may vary slightly), in response to the Pillar 2 Supporting Local Business Invitation to Bid to allow Grant Funding Agreements to be issued and delivery to begin.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Alan Reiss)

The meeting entered into a private session to allow members to discuss the contents of the exempt report.

Cllr Silvia Dacre and Nicky Chance-Thompson left the room for the duration of the discussion.

Resolved: Members agreed the recommendation as contained in the exempt report.

Resolved: That the minutes and notes of the Combined Authority’s committees and panels be noted.