Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Committee Room A, Wellington House, 40-50 Wellington Street, Leeds

Items
No. Item

55.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Roger Marsh and Councillor Denise Jeffery.

56.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

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

57.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1.         To highlight Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 7 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 4.1 of Agenda Item 7.

 

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 7 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.

Minutes:

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 7 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.

58.

Minutes of the Meeting of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee held on 6 February 2019 pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee held on 6 February 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair.

59.

Capital Programme Update pdf icon PDF 142 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report on the capital programme which:

 

·         Provided an update on progress made on the implementation of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s capital programme.

·         Provided an update on the Growth Deal programme and the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme.

 

The actual expenditure up to the end of quarter 3 - 2018/19 against the outturn forecast in respect of the capital programme was set out in Table 1.  It was noted that all programmes are currently on track to achieve the revised expenditure forecasts.

 

The Growth Deal dashboard which provided details of each of the 128 projects within the programme was attached at Appendix 1. It was noted that 20 projects had been completed, 35 were currently in delivery, 64 in development and 9 were still to start.

 

It was reported that the Department for Transport (DfT) had undertaken an annual review of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) and positive feedback had been received on the progress of the programme which was outlined in the submitted report.  It was noted that the programme was still under considerable pressure to deliver and the DfT had reiterated the funding timescales which require full spend on the programme by March 2021.

 

Resolved:  That the progress made in implementing the Combined Authority Capital Programme including the Growth Deal and Leeds Public Transport Investment Programmes be noted.

60.

Capital Spending and Project Approvals pdf icon PDF 414 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(i)        In respect of Leeds City Region Growth Service, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Leeds City Region Growth Service project proceeds through decision point 2 (case paper) and work commences on activity 5 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project costs of £3,401,756, of which the Combined Authority contribution will be £2,465,413 (which will be funded through £764,535 from the BEIS Growth Hub funding and £1,700,878 from the ESIF funding 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 remaining £936,343 will be funded by Leeds City Region District Partners.

(c)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into a funding agreement with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (ESIF) and BEIS (Growth hub funding) to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(d)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into or amend funding agreements with the local authorities to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(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.

(ii)       In respect of Resource Efficiency Fund 2, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Resource Efficiency Fund 2 project proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs). 

(b)        That indicative approval to the total project value for both regions (Leeds City Region and four North Yorkshire districts) of £6.293m is given as detailed below, with full approval to spend being granted once the project has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(c)        That Leeds City Region element of the project of £4.644 million (subject to a successful ERDF application), of which £2.751 million will be funded by the Combined Authority (£2 million ERDF funding for Leeds City Region and £751,137 from the Leeds City Region Local Growth Fund). The remaining funding will be from £1.893 million SME match.

(d)        That York, North Yorkshire and East Riding element of the project of £1.649 million (subject to a successful ERDF application) of which £1.035 million will be funded by the Combined Authority (from £824,522 ERDF funding and £210,122 from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding region Local Growth Fund, which North Yorkshire County Council as the accountable body for the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP will transfer to the Combined Authority and the Combined Authority will be the accountable body for its expenditure for the purposes of this scheme). The remaining scheme costs of £614,000 will be from SME match funding.

(e)        That the  ...  view the full decision text for item 60.

Minutes:

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:

 

·         Leeds City Region Growth Service

·         Resource Efficiency Fund 2

·         Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme 2

·         A61 (North) Bus Priority Corridor

·         Wakefield South East Gateway

·         Dewsbury Riverside

·         York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements

 

Members were given a presentation on the proposals for the York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements scheme.  Approval was sought for the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund to contribute to the funding of a new access road into York Central, a series of improvements to the front of York station and pedestrian access improvements into the York Central site.  It was noted that delivery of these elements were dependent on City of York Council funding and on securing match funding from the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

 

Copies of the business case summaries for the schemes were attached at Appendices 2-8 of the submitted report. 

 

The Committee also considered a change request in respect of the following scheme, details of which were provided in the submitted report:

 

·         Superfast West Yorkshire and York – Contract 3

 

It was reported that the following decision points and change requests had been approved since the last meeting through the agreed delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director:

 

·         Harrogate Road/New Line Junction Improvement

·         Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE)

·         Natural Flood Management – Upper Aire

 

Details of the change requests and delegated approval for the schemes were outlined in the report.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)        In respect of Leeds City Region Growth Service, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Leeds City Region Growth Service project proceeds through decision point 2 (case paper) and work commences on activity 5 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project costs of £3,401,756, of which the Combined Authority contribution will be £2,465,413 (which will be funded through £764,535 from the BEIS Growth Hub funding and £1,700,878 from the ESIF funding 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 remaining £936,343 will be funded by Leeds City Region District Partners.

(c)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into a funding agreement with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (ESIF) and BEIS (Growth hub funding) to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(d)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into or amend funding agreements with the local authorities to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60.

60a

Dewsbury Riverside

Decision:

Resolved: In respect of Dewsbury Riverside, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)       That the Dewsbury Riverside scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)       That an indicative approval to the total scheme value of £4.612 million is given from 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).

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 4 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.

 

Minutes:

Resolved: In respect of Dewsbury Riverside, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)       That the Dewsbury Riverside scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)       That an indicative approval to the total scheme value of £4.612 million is given from 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).

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 4 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.

 

60b

York Central Access Road and Station Access Improvements

Decision:

Resolved:  In respect of York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)       That the York Central Access Road and Station Access Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case plus costs) subject to the conditions detailed in 2.155 being discharged to the satisfaction of the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team.

(b)       That an indicative approval of £37.32 million is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, an increase of £4.32 million from the previous Gateway 1 approval, towards a total scheme cost of £187.46 million 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 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.

 

Minutes:

 

Resolved:  In respect of York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)       That the York Central Access Road and Station Access Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case plus costs) subject to the conditions detailed in 2.155 being discharged to the satisfaction of the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team.

(b)       That an indicative approval of £37.32 million is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, an increase of £4.32 million from the previous Gateway 1 approval, towards a total scheme cost of £187.46 million 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 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.

 

61.

Growing Places Fund pdf icon PDF 131 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report on the Growing Places Fund (GPF) which:

 

·         Provided an update on progress with the Growing Places Fund programme.

·         Provided a position statement on a Growing Places Fund Loan with changed circumstances.

 

Members noted the report which highlighted some of the achievements of the programme and joint investments with the Leeds City Region Revolving Investment Fund (RIF).  The report also provided an update on the work being undertaken on the principles and parameters in respect of future reinvestment of the returned funds from the GPF programme to support significant ongoing returnable investment and grant funding for inclusive growth projects.

 

It was reported that one of the loan recipients was subject to changed circumstances and further details were provided in Exempt Appendix 1.  The company had entered into administration and it was noted that the Combined Authority would need to impair the GPF loan within its accounts and an appropriate point in the proceedings.

 

Resolved:  That the information provided in the report and Exempt Appendix 1 be noted.

62.

Draft Minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 5 February 2019 pdf icon PDF 111 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 5 February 2019 be noted.