Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Denise Jeffery.

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

1.         To highlight Appendix 2 to Agenda Item 6, Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 8 and Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 9 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 2.10 of Agenda Item 6, paragraph 4.1 of Agenda Item 8 and paragraph 5.1 of Agenda Item 9.

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 2 to Agenda Item 6, Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 8 and Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 9 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 2 to Agenda Item 6, Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 8 and Appendix 2 to Agenda Item 9 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 5 September 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered a report on progress made on the implementation of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s capital programme.

The report also provided a more detailed update on the Growth Deal programme and the progress of the Corporate Projects and sought endorsement for two existing projects to come forward for additional funding through over-programming of the Growth Deal.

A summary of the capital programme 2018/19 including the outturn forecast was provided in Table 1 and details of expenditure on the Growth Deal programme in quarter 2 of 2018/19 in Table 2.  Expenditure for Growth Deal projects, including the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund was attached at Appendix 1 and it was reported that a further dashboard detailing performance on projects is currently being reviewed with partner councils and will be reported from quarter.  A full update on performance will also be provided at quarter 3 and the current achievement of the programme was outlined in the submitted report.

The report also provided an update on programme expenditure risk and mitigation and it was noted that the total risk to possible underspend had reduced and it is anticipated to drop further as activity progresses.

In respect of over-programming, the Committee considered the following two existing projects which have been identified as able to deliver increased outputs if an increased allocation of funding can be agreed:

·         Business Growth Programme

·         Resource Efficiency Fund

It was noted that main purpose for allowing over-programming on the two projects is not to over-spend against the programme but to compensate for other areas of the programme that are likely to underspend. 

The report also provided an update on the implementation of corporate projects including the Wellington House office accommodation project and the corporate technology programme.

Resolved:

(i)         That the progress made in implementing the Combined Authority Capital Programme be noted.

(ii)        That the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority the approval in principle of additional funding from over-programming for the Business Growth Programme and the Resource Efficiency Fund subject to the appraisal of the additional funding requirements through the assurance process.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the future of the Growing Places Fund (GPF), which had been considered by the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership Board (LEP Board).

At its meeting on 20 September 2018, the LEP Board agreed to use the returned funds from the GPF both to support significant ongoing returnable investment and to provide grant funding in order to drive improved productivity and inclusive growth in the City Region.  This was supported in principle by the Investment Committee.

The financial implications associated with the future of the Growing Places Fund were set out in the report considered by LEP Board which was attached at Appendix 1 and the details would be worked through as part of the next steps for the fund.

Further updates would be prepared for the Business Investment Panel.

Resolved:  That the report and appendix concerning the future of the Growing Places Fund be noted.

Please note – additional information added on 1 November 2018 to paragraph 2.152 in respect of Rail Park & Ride Programme.

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 progress of the following eight schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

·         Project Lapwing

·         A61S Bus Priority Corridor

·         Stourton Park and Ride

·         Elland Road Park and Ride Phase 3

·         Institute of High Speed Railways and System Integration – Phase 1

·         Leeds Enterprise Zone Power Solution

·         A650 Bradford to Keighley Corridor (Hard Ings)

·         York Outer Ring Road Phase 2 (Monks Cross)

The Committee agreed to defer consideration of the Institute of High Speed Railways and System Integration project pending further information.

It was reported that in respect of the Leeds Enterprise Zone Power Solution,  approval to proceed to full business case would be subject to a full quote being received from Northern Power grid.

In respect of the York Outer Ring Road Phase 2 (Monks Cross) project,  Members were advised of an amendment to the figures in paragraph 2.141 which should read £3.585 million.  It was noted that the total project costs remained the same.

The following schemes that have had change request reports assessed in line with the Combined Authority’s assurance process were also considered:

·         Rail Park and Ride Programme Phase 1

·         Outwood Station Park and Ride

·         Access to Capital Grants

In respect of the Rail Park and Ride Programme, Members asked that electric charging points be included as part of the projects.

The Committee was also provided with decisions made through delegations to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting in respect of:

·         Clean Bus Technology Fund scheme

·         West Yorkshire Urban Traffic Management Control project

·         ULEV Taxi scheme

·         Natural Flood Management – Calder and Colne

·         A629 Phase 1a & Monitoring/Evaluation

·         A629 Phase 2 (Halifax bus station)

Summaries of the schemes’ business cases were attached as Appendices 2 -11 of the submitted report. 

In addition, the Committee also noted the decision on the Kirklees College Process Manufacturing Centre which had been delegated to the Combined Authority’s Director of Delivery following a recommendation from the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team.  Details of the project were outlined in the submitted report.

Resolved:

(i)        In respect of Project Lapwing, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

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

(b)        That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £1million (which will be funded through the Local Growth Fund’s Strategic Inward Investment 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 assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point  ...  view the full minutes text for item 28.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on progress and the due diligence undertaken in respect of the Leeds City College, Quarry

Hill project.

Members discussed the update and financial implications, risks and the drawdown and repayment schedule which were provided in exempt Appendix 1.

It was anticipated that the Quarry Hill project will be completed by August 2019 and ready for use in the 2019/20 academic year.

Resolved:

(i)         That the update on progress and the current status of the Leeds City

College Quarry Hill Skills Capital Project be noted.

(ii)        That the Investment Committee recommends delegation to the

Combined Authority’s Managing Director that a loan agreement for £6.5 million to Leeds City College be entered into and for the College to drawdown against the loan facility, subject to the conditions set out in exempt Appendix 1 and with the addition of a further confirmation as agreed at the meeting.

The Committee considered a report on the West & North Chamber of Commerce full application for Sustainable Urban Development (SUD), part of the European Structural and Investment Funds (ESIF) Programme and to provide advice to the Combined Authority, in its role as the Intermediate Body (IB).

The Committee considered the full application provided in the exempt Appendix 1 which had been considered by the Appraisal Team, under the responsibility of the Head of Research and Intelligence from the Combined Authority.  Members discussed the proposals and agreed that they appropriately addressed:

·                     local domestic priorities, development needs/growth conditions and opportunities.

·                     the contribution and value for money proposed in the context of the

Operational Programme and local ESIF Strategy.

·                     any local issues that need to be taken into account in the development and/or delivery of the project.

It was reported that the project is considered to be sufficiently developed to enable the Managing Authority to issue a funding agreement subject to the proposed conditions set out in the assessment being fully met.

Resolved:  That the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority the full application for the project as set out in the exempt Appendix 1.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 31 August 2018 be noted.

Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 5 October 2018 be noted.