Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Committee thanked Councillors Lewis, Firth, Collins and Gillies for their contribution and welcomed Councillors Scullion and Pryor to the meeting.

There were no apologies for absence.

Councillor Jonathan Pryor declared an interest in respect of agenda item 7, Leeds City College Group Proposed Acquisition of Harrogate College and did not take part in the discussion as he is on the Board of Leeds City College as an executive member for skills and employment.

1.         To highlight Appendices 1 and 2 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 Appendices 1 and 2 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.

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 Appendices 1 and 2 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.

Resolved: That the minutes of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee held on 12 April 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Growth Deal programme as well as the progress made on the City Connect programme.

The latest outturn forecast and actual spend at quarter 3 were set out in table 3. The Committee was informed that quarter 4 claims were being processed and that it was expected that final outturn figures would achieve around 90% of the spend target.

The Committee was updated on the progress of projects and a full breakdown was included at Appendix 1.The Committee was also updated on the CityConnect programme.

Resolved: That the progress made in implementing the Combined Authority Capital Programme, including the Growth Deal, and City Connect be noted.

Resolved:

(i)        That in respect of the Transport Hubs Improvement and Public Transport Access scheme the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  That the Transport Hubs and Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)  That an indicative approval to the total project value of £8.905 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme 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 this 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 this report.

(ii)       That in respect of Garforth Rail Station the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  The Garforth Rail car park extension scheme proceeds though decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) and work commences on activity 6 (delivery).

(b)  That approval to the total project value of £1,129,278 is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, with approval of £1,059,278 through this report.

(c)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 56 Rail Funding Agreement with Arriva Rail North for spend of up to £1,029,278 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(d)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 278 Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for spend up to £30,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(e)  That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at decision point 6 and 7 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Director of Delivery following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

(iii)      That in respect of the Strategic Inward Investment Fund and Digital Inward Investment Fund Change Request the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  That £1.5 million of funding from the Strategic Inward Investment Fund be reallocated to the Digital Inward Investment Fund, resulting in the revised expenditure approvals of £10.95 million for Strategic Inward Investment Fund and £2.5 million for Digital Inward Investment Fund.

(b)  That the scope of the Digital Inward Investment Fund be amended by expanding the eligibility criteria to enable businesses already located in the Leeds City Region to receive grant support from the programme.

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

The Committee considered a report which presented a number of West Yorkshire Combined Authority supported projects, including West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund (Transport Fund) and Growth Fund, for consideration by the Investment Committee at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

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

·         Transport Hubs and Connecting Communities

·         Garforth Rail Station and Car Park Extension

·         Digital Inward Investment Fund and Strategic Inward Investment Fund Change Request

Members discussed the change request and the way in which it would enable better support for indigenous businesses in the region. The Committee requested an update on the activity in the digital sector in 6 months.

The Committee was also advised of the following three decisions made through delegations to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting:

·         Elland Station and Access Package, Calderdale

·         Raising Aspirations, Leeds City Region

Resolved:

(i)        That in respect of the Transport Hubs Improvement and Public Transport Access scheme the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  That the Transport Hubs and Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)  That an indicative approval to the total project value of £8.905 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme 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 this 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 this report.

(ii)       That in respect of Garforth Rail Station the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  The Garforth Rail car park extension scheme proceeds though decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) and work commences on activity 6 (delivery).

(b)  That approval to the total project value of £1,129,278 is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, with approval of £1,059,278 through this report.

(c)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 56 Rail Funding Agreement with Arriva Rail North for spend of up to £1,029,278 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(d)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 278 Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for spend up to £30,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(e)  That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at decision point 6 and 7 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Director of Delivery following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

(i)        That in respect of Garforth Rail Station the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)  The Garforth Rail car park extension scheme proceeds though decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) and work commences on activity 6 (delivery).

(b)  That approval to the total project value of £1,129,278 is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, with approval of £1,059,278 through this report.

(c)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 56 Rail Funding Agreement with Arriva Rail North for spend of up to £1,029,278 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(d)  That the Combined Authority enters into a Section 278 Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for spend up to £30,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(e)  That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at decision point 6 and 7 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Director of Delivery following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

Resolved: That the recommendations as set out in section 6 of exempt appendix 1 be agreed.

Councillor Pryor took no part in the discussion concerning this item.

Members considered a report which sought approval for the Combined Authority’s consent to the transfer of Harrogate College group from the Hull College Group into the Leeds City College Group.

The Committee considered an update on the acquisition which was outlined in exempt Appendix 1.

Resolved: That the recommendations as set out in section 6 of exempt appendix 1 be agreed.