Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D Jeffery and R Lewis.

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

1.         To highlight Appendices 1 and 2 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 4.1 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 Appendices1 and 2 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 Appendices 1 and 2 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 West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee held on 5 December 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair.

The Committee considered a report on changes to the terms of reference for the Investment Committee, which authorise the Committee to make specified decisions to progress schemes under the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework.

Members noted the revised terms of reference which had been approved by the Combined Authority and a copy was attached at Appendix 1.  The changes in the Committee’s role would streamline decision-making and help the delivery of schemes within funding programme timescales. Details of the decisions the Committee would now be allowed to take were outlined in the submitted report. It was noted that the Combined Authority had also revised the existing approval routes for specific schemes and changes to the bespoke assurance pathways and approval routes for the schemes were set out in Appendix 2.

The Committee was advised that any decisions made by them will be eligible for call-in and therefore the Committee may need to respond to reports or recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee

Resolved:

(i)         That the revised terms of reference for the West Yorkshire and York

Investment Committee be noted.

(ii)        That the changes to the bespoke assurance pathways and approval

routes for the schemes be noted.

The Committee considered a report on the capital programme three year budget and update.

The report provided the Committee with the draft indicative three year capital programme and a summary of the expected outturn for 2018/19 and three year forecast capital programme to 2021/22 was attached at Appendix 1.  It was noted that further work would be undertaken to finalise the figures before they are considered by the Combined Authority in February 2019.

Members also noted an update on actions to be undertaken to achieve the Growth Deal target spend, the review of the Growth Deal that is currently being undertaken and the independent evaluation of the Transport Fund. 

It was reported that the Growth Deal Annual Conversation had taken place in December 2018.  This had involved a full review of the progress of the programme including its delivery, strategy and governance.  A formal response is expected in February 2019.

Resolved:  That the indicative three year capital programme to be considered by the Combined Authority in February 2019 be noted.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of the Headrow City Centre Gateway, Leeds, the Investment

Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

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

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £20.7 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment 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 £500,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) taking the total project approval to £1.1 million.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £1.1 million from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Fund.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval 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 Bradford Interchange Station Gateway – Phase 1, the             Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Interchange Phase 1 project to increase development funds by £113,000 from £180,000 to give a total of £293,000 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for additional expenditure of up to £293,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(c)        That the project delivery completion date timeframe extension from September 2020 to October 2021 (thirteen months) is approved.

(d)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report to include delegation to Investment Committee at decision point 3, and delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director at decision points 4 and 5. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report. 

(iii)      In respect of Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway project to increase delivery timeframe from March 2021 to December 2021 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council amending the programme dates as detailed.

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

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 and welcomed the proposals for the progression of the Headrow City Centre Gateway scheme through decision point 3 and for work to commence on activity 4 full business case. It was considered that the scheme was a key part of the transformation for the city centre which would support economic growth, reduce carbon emissions, and provide transport interventions to encourage the use of public transport.  A copy of the business case summary for the scheme was attached at Appendix 2.  The possibility of improving access to Leeds Bradford Airport from the city centre was also raised and this would be considered at a future meeting.

It was noted that following the changes to its terms of reference, the Investment Committee were now able to make decisions using their delegated authority.  In this respect the Committee considered change requests for the following two schemes:

·         Bradford Interchange Station Gateway – Phase 1

·         Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway

The Committee was advised that both schemes have had change request reports assessed in line with the Combined Authority’s assurance process and Members discussed the details which were provided in the submitted report.  The importance and benefits of both schemes was acknowledged and the need to provide additional, specialist expertise to progress complex schemes was recognised. 

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

·         Kirklees College – Dewsbury Learning Quarter

·         Bradford Odeon

Details of both the schemes were outlined in the submitted report.

It was suggested that future reports should, where possible, include information about the social and economic benefits the schemes would provide.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of the Headrow City Centre Gateway, Leeds, the Investment

Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

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

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £20.7 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment 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 £500,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) taking the total project approval to £1.1 million.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £1.1 million from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Fund.

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point  ...  view the full minutes text for item 45.

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

The Committee considered a report which provided a position statement on a Growing Places Fund loan with changed circumstances.

It was reported that a recipient of a Growing Places Fund loan, GPF Project 315, was subject to changed circumstances.  Members discussed the further details including the financial implications associated with the changes which were provided in the exempt Appendices 1 and 2 and asked that they be kept informed of further developments.

Resolved:  That the position statement and information provided in exempt Appendices 1 and 2 be noted.