Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denise Jeffery and Richard Lewis.

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

There were no items on the agenda requiring exclusion of the press and public.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee held on 9 January 2019 be approved and signed by the Chair.

Resolved:

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

(ii)        That the prepayment of grant through the Growth Deal programme detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the submitted report be supported.

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 and the annual review of the Growth Deal.

·         Provided an update on the progress made on the West Yorkshire Broadband Programme.

The latest outturn budget for each programme and actual spend figures as reported at quarter 2 were set out in Table 1.  The Committee was advised that the Quarter 3 monitoring had now been finalised and the actual Growth Deal expenditure was £47 million.

The Growth Deal Annual Conversation had taken place on 13 December 2018.  This had involved a full review of the LEP (including the progress on Growth Deal and programmes of funding awarded to the LEP).  This included delivery, strategy and governance and a formal response is expected in February 2019.  It was noted that the position regarding achieving the required expenditure target had been clarified and this was outlined in the submitted report.

It was recognised that there were specific project risks, particularly in respect of the Transport Fund and these would be closely monitored in the final quarter.  Work was ongoing with partners and project sponsors to ensure accurate forecasts are in place and that projects can be accelerated where possible. 

It was reported that advanced payments were being explored for 2018/19 against the schemes that are or will be in contract by the year end.  The Committee supported the prepayment of grant through the Growth Deal programme for the schemes which were listed in Table 2 of the submitted report. 

Resolved:

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

(ii)        That the prepayment of grant through the Growth Deal programme detailed in paragraph 2.5 of the submitted report be supported.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of Raising Aspirations, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

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

(b)       That an indicative approval is given to the total project value of £400,000 to be funded by the Combined Authority from the secured business rates pool funding 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.

(ii)        In respect of the A647 Bus Priority Corridor, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)       That the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme: A647 Corridor project 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 £9.68 million is given from Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme funding 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 (full business case) and decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) 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.

(iii)       In respect of the Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 - Huddersfield Southern Corridors, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)       That the Huddersfield Southern Corridors 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 £8.199 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 development costs of £2.234 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 £2.534 million. This includes land acquisition costs of £1.6 million.

(d)       That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £2.534 million from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(e)       That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted  ...  view the full decision text for item 53.

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 five schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

·         Raising Aspirations

·         A647 Bus Priority Corridor

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – Huddersfield Southern Corridors

·         Halifax Town Centre – Northgate House

·         Rochdale Canal – Cycle Safety Fund

Copies of the business case summaries were attached at Appendices 2-6 of the submitted report.  It was requested that the summary in future reports should include an impact assessment column to provide information showing how the schemes will meet targets in respect of social and economic benefits.

Members asked for a discussion item on skills to be brought to a future meeting to ensure Members continue to make informed decision on skills related schemes.

The Committee was also provided with details of the following project decisions delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting:

·         York Outer Ring Road Phase 2 (Monks Cross)

·         Urban Traffic Management Control (UTMC) scheme – Element A

·         Calderdale multi-modal studies

·         Glasshoughton Southern Link Road

·         Leeds City Region Employment Hub

Copies of the business case summaries were attached at Appendix 7 and details of the schemes outlined in the report.

In respect of Garnett’s Wharf, Otley – Growing Places Fund loan 104, it was noted that the Combined Authority’s Director of Delivery had approved the decision point 7 project closure report and details were outlined in the report.

It was reported that the WY+TF (Transport Fund) A629 Halifax Road Phase 5 project was approved by the Combined Authority on 10 May 2018 to proceed through decision point 3 and work commence on activity 4 (full business case).  However there was a £3,000 error in the figures reported and approval was now sought to amend the development costs figure from £4.113 million to £4.116 million.  It was agreed that an addendum to the funding agreement be entered into with Kirklees Council.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of Raising Aspirations, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

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

(b)       That an indicative approval is given to the total project value of £400,000 to be funded by the Combined Authority from the secured business rates pool funding 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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 53.

Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the Business Investment Panel held on 10 January 2019 be noted.