Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Aspden, Golton, Hall, Jeffery and Pandor.

There were no pecuniary interests declared by members at the meeting.

1.         To highlight Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 5 and Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to Agenda Item 8 which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.         To consider whether or not to accept the officers’ recommendation in respect of the above information as set out in paragraph 8.1 of Agenda Item 5 and paragraph 6.1 of Agenda Item 8.

3.         If the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

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 1 to Agenda Item 5 and Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to Agenda Item 8 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.

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 1 to Agenda Item 5 and Appendices 1, 2, 3 and 4 to Agenda Item 8 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.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 10 October 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair.

(Member lead: Roger Marsh, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Resolved:

(a)       In respect of Leeds Transport Model Update 2020 -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)        That the Leeds Transport Model Update 2020 project proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(ii)       That an indicative approval of £600,000 is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund towards a total scheme cost of £1.2 million with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to Decision Point 5.

(iii)      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. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

(b)       In respect of Leeds City Region Skills for Growth –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)      That the Leeds City Region Skills for Growth programme proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs)

(ii)     That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £2.429 million (which will be funded through £1.464 million from the ESIF fund and £964,925 from the Local Skills Fund is given with full approval to spend being granted once the outcome of the ESIF bid is known and the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5. The total project value is £2.929 million with the remaining £500,000 to be raised from business sponsorship. 

(iii)    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. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report. 

(c)        In respect of Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)      That the Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 4 (full business case)

(ii)     That an indicative approval to the total project value of £2 million is given from the Local Transport Plan - Integrated Transport Block with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

(iii)    That development costs of £461,400 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5.

(iv)      That the Combined Authority enter into a Funding Agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure up to £300,000.

(v)       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  ...  view the full decision text for item 55.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Delivery on the progress and funding for the following schemes through the Combined Authority’s assurance process:

·         Leeds Transport Model

·         Leeds City Region Skills for Growth

·         Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works

·         Connecting Innovation

·         White Rose Station

·         Leeds Bus Station Gateway

·         A58 Beckett Street & York Street

·         Infirmary Street Gateway

·         A660 Holt Lane

It was noted that since the last meeting, decisions on the following schemes have been made by the Investment Committee:

·         LTP – Integrated Transport Block – Districts’ Programmes

·         Bradford Shipley Route Improvement

·         Wakefield South East Gateway – Rutland Mills

·         Leeds PIPES District Heating Network

Details of all the schemes were provided in the submitted report.

Members noted the update on the current status of the Leeds City College Quarry Hill project which were attached as Exempt Appendix 1.  The appendix set out consideration for the completion of the Quarry Hill project and subsequent repayment of the Combined Authority loan and outlined the recommendations of the Investment Committee held on 4 December 2019.

Resolved:

(a)       In respect of Leeds Transport Model Update 2020 -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)        That the Leeds Transport Model Update 2020 project proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(ii)       That an indicative approval of £600,000 is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund towards a total scheme cost of £1.2 million with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to Decision Point 5.

(iii)      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. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

(b)       In respect of Leeds City Region Skills for Growth –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)      That the Leeds City Region Skills for Growth programme proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(ii)     That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £2.429 million (which will be funded through £1.464 million from the ESIF fund and £964,925 from the Local Skills Fund is given with full approval to spend being granted once the outcome of the ESIF bid is known and the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5. The total project value is £2.929 million with the remaining £500,000 to be raised from business sponsorship. 

(iii)    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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55.

Resolved:  In respect of Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)       That the Bradford Interchange Carriageway Works proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 4 (full business case)

(b)       That an indicative approval to the total project value of £2 million is given from the Local Transport Plan - Integrated Transport Block with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

(c)        That development costs of £461,400 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5.

(d)      That the Combined Authority enter into a Funding Agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure up to £300,000.

(e)      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 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.

Resolved:  In respect of ERDF – Connecting Innovation -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)       That the ERDF Connecting Innovation project proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case plus).

(b)       That an indicative approval of £2,779,846, comprised of £750,961 from the Access to Capital Grants element of the Local Growth Fund and £2,028,885 from the European Regional Development Fund. The total project costs are £4,057,771 million, with Small Medium Enterprise match funding of £1,277,925 million.

(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 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.

Resolved:  In respect of White Rose Station -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)      That the White Rose Station project proceeds through decision point (outline business case) and work commences on activity 4 (full business case). 

(b)       That indicative approval to the total project value of £5 million has been given from the LPTIP 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 £2.611 million are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs), taking the total project approval to £3.111 million.

(d)      That the Combined Authority enters into a Funding Agreement with the developer for expenditure of up to £1.9 million from the LPTIP Fund.

(e)      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. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

Resolved:  In respect of Leeds Bus Station Gateway -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)       That the Leeds Public Transport Improvement Programme Leeds Bus Station Gateway project proceeds through decision point 3 (outline business case) and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs)

(b)       That an indicative approval to the total project value of £4.984 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme 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 £350,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5.

(d)       That the Combined Authority enters into a variation to the Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for release of expenditure of £350,000 from the LPTIP Fund for further project development.

(e)       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. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

Resolved:  In respect of A58 Beckett Street & York Street -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)      That the A58 Beckett Street and York Street 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 £14.536 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme 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 future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance   pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision points 4 and 5 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.

Resolved:  In respect of LCCP Infirmary Street -

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(a)      That the Infirmary Street Gateway scheme proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)      That an indicative approval to the total project value of £8.90 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 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 Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(Member lead: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Angela Taylor)

Resolved:

(a)        That the draft business plan and revenue budget proposals for 2020/21 and draft capital budget be noted.

(b)        That the amended corporate priority of ‘Tackling the Climate Emergency’ be agreed.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Corporate Services which provided outline directorate business plans and the proposed draft revenue and capital budget for 2020/21.

The draft business plans for each directorate, which were attached at Appendix 1, were noted.  These set out the priorities and focus for the coming year, aligned with the four corporate objectives.  In respect of the ‘supporting clean growth’ objective, Members agreed the proposal for this to be renamed ‘tackling the climate emergency’.

Members discussed the proposed draft revenue budget for 2020/21 attached at Appendix 2 which had been produced following scrutiny and input from the Authority, with the detail being overseen by the Budget Working Group.  It was noted that work was continuing and external engagement through the YourVoice portal on the Authority’s website was being carried out.  It was suggested that a link to the portal be provided in the Members’ newsletter.  Reports would also be considered by the Overview and Scrutiny and Governance and Audit Committees. 

The draft capital budget was attached at Appendix 3 and set out the latest draft forecast budget for capital expenditure and funding by programme up to 2022/23.

The final business plan and budget for 2020/21 including the reserves policy and treasury management statement will be brought to the next meeting on 6 February 2020.

Resolved:

(a)        That the draft business plan and revenue budget proposals for 2020/21 and draft capital budget be noted.

(b)        That the amended corporate priority of ‘Tackling the Climate Emergency’ be agreed.

(Member lead: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Angela Taylor)

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Corporate Services on the following governance issues:

·         Changes to Wakefield Council’s Combined Authority member, substitute member and West Yorkshire & York Investment Committee member.

·         To appoint the Chair of the West Yorkshire & York Investment Committee.

·         To appoint a Combined Authority member to the Transport Committee.

·         To approve the appointment of 3 additional non-voting members to the Employment & Skills Panel to represent education and training providers.

Resolved:

(a)       That the changes in Wakefield Council’s appointments to the Combined Authority and the West Yorkshire & York Investment Committee as detailed in paragraph 2.1 of the submitted report be noted.

(b)       That Councillor Denise Jeffery be appointed as Chair of the West Yorkshire & York Investment Committee.

(c)        That Councillor Denise Jeffery be appointed as the Combined Authority’s member to the Transport Committee.

(d)       That a further two additional non-voting members be appointed to the Employment & Skills Panel to represent education and training providers as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

(Member lead: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Angela Taylor)

Resolved:

(a)       That the advice included in the outline assessment form and any respective conditions at Part 3 of Exempt Appendix 2 be approved by the Combined Authority, in its role as the Intermediate Body for the SUD part of the ESIF programme.

(b)       That a decision on Exempt Appendix 3 be delegated to the Investment Committee pending further information being provided to them for consideration at a future meeting.

(c)        That the advice included in the full assessment form at Part 2 of Exempt Appendix 4 be approved by the Combined Authority, in its role as the Intermediate Body for the SUD part of the ESIF programme to allow the Managing Authority to issue a funding agreement subject to the proposed conditions set out in the full assessments being fully met.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Corporate Services on the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) – Sustainable Urban Development (SUD).

It was reported that the Investment Committee had considered the detail of the projects and endorsed the advice and selection decisions which included the assessment of one full application and two outline applications which were attached as Exempt Appendices 2-4 of the submitted report. 

In its role as the Intermediate Body (IB), the Combined Authority discussed the advice and recommendations provided in the exempt appendices.  In respect of Exempt Appendix 3, it was agreed that a decision be delegated to the Investment Committee pending further information being provided to them for consideration. 

Resolved:

(a)       That the advice included in the outline assessment form and any respective conditions at Part 3 of Exempt Appendix 2 be approved by the Combined Authority, in its role as the Intermediate Body for the SUD part of the ESIF programme.

(b)       That a decision on Exempt Appendix 3 be delegated to the Investment Committee pending further information being provided to them for consideration at a future meeting.

(c)        That the advice included in the full assessment form at Part 2 of Exempt Appendix 4 be approved by the Combined Authority, in its role as the Intermediate Body for the SUD part of the ESIF programme to allow the Managing Authority to issue a funding agreement subject to the proposed conditions set out in the full assessments being fully met.