Agenda item - Investment Priority 5: Delivering Sustainable, Inclusive and Affordable Transport

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Resolved:

With respect to Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Programme the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Programme proceed through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and work commence on individual project business cases as outlined in the submitted report.

ii. An indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £17,142,000. The total programme value is between £20,642,000 and £32,642,000, dependent on leveraged private sector contributions.

iii. Subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approval to funding of £1,316,000 to progress the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capability Fund scheme to Activity 5 (Delivery). The total scheme costs are £1,316,000.

iv. Indicative approval to funding of £1,500,000 for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Phase 1 Pilot scheme be given and work commence on Activity 4 (full business case). The total scheme costs are £3,000,000.

v. Indicative approval to funding of £14,326,000 for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Phase 2 scheme be given and work commence on Activity 3 (outline business case). The total scheme costs are £16,326,000.

vi. The following development costs be approved:

• £354,953 for the Combined Authority for the LEVI Capability scheme

• £ 961,047 for the five West Yorkshire partner local authorities for the LEVI Capability scheme

• £120,000 for the Combined Authority for the Phase 1 LEVI Pilot scheme and the Phase 2 LEVI scheme

vii. The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement for the amounts set out below with each of the five partner councils for the capability fund:

• City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure of up to £184,480.

• Calderdale Council for expenditure of up to £195,000.

• Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £188,631.

• Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £197,936.

• Wakefield Council for expenditure of up to £195,000.

viii. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report and where required, any change requests be delegated to the transport committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

With respect to CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement Programme and Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement Programme for the 2023/24 financial year (year 2) proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (strategic outline case) and delivery continue to end of 2023/24, and work commence on the strategic outline case for future years.

ii. The CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network Programme for the 2023/24 financial year (year 2) proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (strategic outline case) and delivery continue to end of 2023/24, and work commence on the strategic outline case for future years.

iii. The Department for Transport’s Pothole Fund proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (strategic outline case) and into delivery.

iv. An indicative approval be given to the total £248,000,000 for CRSTS Highways Asset Management CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement programme and £3,440,000 for the Off Highway Walking and Cycling network programme.

v. Approval to an additional £35,768,466 of development and delivery costs for quarters 2, 3 and 4 of the CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement programme (year 2) be given to provide a total allocation of £48,168,466 for the 2023/24 financial year.

vi. Approval to an additional £516,000 of development and delivery costs for quarters 2,3 and 4 of the CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling network programme (year 2) be given to provide a total allocation of £688,000 for the 2023/24 financial year.

vii. Approval to the £6,484,800 additional funding awarded from the Department for Transport’s Pothole Fund to fund interventions to maintain the highway network prioritised through the CRSTS programme.

viii. The Combined Authority enter into addendums to the existing funding agreement(s) with partner councils for expenditure of the apportioned £35,768,466 for CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement programme (year 2), £516,000 for the CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network programme (year 2) for the 2023/24 financial year, and £6,484,800 for the Pothole Fund up to the amounts below:

• Expenditure of up to £20,297,416 with Bradford Council

• Expenditure of up to £13,810,080 with Calderdale Council

• Expenditure of up to £21,839,627 with Kirklees Council

• Expenditure of up to £33,203,445 with Leeds Council

• Expenditure of up to £16,478,698 with Wakefield Council

ix. Delegations to the Director of Transport Policy and Delivery to amend allocated funding amounts released as part of this decision as required.

x. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report and where required, any change requests be delegated to the Transport Committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

The Combined Authority approved that subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team that:

i. The CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement Programme for the 2024/25 financial year (year 3) proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (strategic outline case) and delivery continue to end of 2024/25.

ii. The CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network Programme for the 2024/25 financial year (year 3) proceed through decision point 2 to 4 (strategic outline case) and delivery continue to end of 2024/25.

iii. Approval to an additional £52,736,931 for development and delivery costs for the CRSTS Asset Management and Enhancement programme (year 3) be given to provide a total allocation of £52,736,931 for the 2024/25 financial year.

iv. Approval to an additional £688,000 for development and delivery costs for the CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling network programme (year 3) be given to provide a total allocation of £688,000 for the 2024/25 financial year.

v. The Combined Authority enter into addendums to the existing funding agreement(s) with partner councils for expenditure of the apportioned £52,736,931 for CRSTS Asset Management and Enhancement programme (year 3) and £688,000 for CRSTS Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network programme for the 2024/25 financial year (year 3), up to the amounts below:

• Expenditure of up to £32,607,832 with Bradford Council

• Expenditure of up to £19,954,032 with Calderdale Council

• Expenditure of up to £31,866,203 with Kirklees Council

• Expenditure of up to £50,036,552 with Leeds Council

• Expenditure of up to £24,589,578 with Wakefield Council

vi. Delegations to the Director of Transport Policy and Delivery to amend allocated funding amounts released as part of this decision as required.

vii. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report and where required, any change requests be delegated to the Transport Committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

With respect to CRSTS Safer Roads Programme the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The CRSTS Safer Roads Programme proceed through Decision Point 2 and 4, and delivery continues until the end of 2023/24, and work commence on the development of the strategic outline case for Year 3.

ii. An indicative approval to the total CRSTS Safer Roads programme value of £25,000,000 be given.

iii. Approval to an additional £4,397,000 of development and delivery costs for quarters 2, 3 and 4 for the CRSTS Safer Roads programme (Year 2) be given to provide a total allocation of £5,647,000 for the 2023/24 financial year. The total allocation up to the end of Year 2 is £10,647,000.

iv. The Combined Authority enter into addendums to the existing funding agreements with the five partner councils for expenditure of the apportioned £5,647,000 for the 2023/24 financial year, up to the amounts shown below:

• City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure of up to £1,155,000

• Calderdale Council for expenditure of up to £440,000

• Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £925,000

• Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £2,377,000

• Wakefield Council for expenditure of up to £750,000

v. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report and where required, any change requests be delegated to the Transport Committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

With respect to Active Travel Fund 3 - A660 Otley Road the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The Active Travel Fund - Tranche 3: A660 Otley Road scheme proceed through FBC (Decision Point 4) to Activity 5 (Delivery).

ii. Approval to the delivery costs of up to £10,005,000 be given, taking the total approval to £10,475,000. The total scheme cost is £10,475,000, which is to be fully funded by the Combined Authority.

iii. The Combined Authority enter into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £10,475,000.

iv. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route and tolerances outlined in the submitted report. Where required, any future committee level approvals be delegated to the Transport Committee.

With respect to Zero Emission Bus Regional Area the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The change request for the Zero Emission Bus Regional Area scheme to increase the funding approval by £5,744,069, taking the total contribution to £30,309,240, be approved. The total scheme value is £69,978,646.

ii. The Combined Authority enter into an Addendum to the existing Grant Funding Agreement with First Bus for expenditure of up to £12,635,472 from the DfT Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) fund.

iii. Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report and where required, any change requests be delegated to the transport committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

Members considered five schemes for progression through the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Assurance Framework.

Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure Scheme (LEVI)

Officers explained that the Combined Authority had been awarded a total of £17 million of government funding from three different funding pots, for a pilot scheme, a second phase, and additional capacity funding. The scheme would deliver publicly accessible electric vehicle charging points for homes without access to off-street parking. Officers noted that additional private sector funding was being sought to increase the total available funding, which would be distributed between the Combined Authority and the partner councils for local delivery. The Mayor noted that there were additional opportunities to set up training and new jobs regarding the installation and maintenance of charging points which would deliver further value from the scheme.

Members queried what metrics would be measured to identify success and noted that many households could not afford an electric vehicle even with access to new charging points. The Mayor noted that car clubs were considered within the plans to encourage more electric vehicle usage. Officers added that the relative affluence of

communities was taken into consideration, but the object of the scheme was not to incentivise the purchase of a vehicle, but to deliver where chargers were not currently available. The Mayor added that the government had introduced a ban on the sale of new petrol and diesel vehicles from 2030 and the scheme would help to support communities towards that eventuality.

Members questioned if there was an estimate of the number of homes with no off-street parking, and if a range of solutions would be considered. The Mayor noted the delivery would be led by the available data to ensure value from the scheme, officers added that the local authority partners would have input into the locations of delivery and the funding would contribute towards the identification of solutions.

Members questioned how the scheme would fit with the published strategies of the Combined Authority. Officers responded that the Local Transport Plan was under revision, and further guidance would be released by the government regarding electric vehicles and parking. Officers added the scheme was at the strategic outline business case stage and further detail would be available once more individual schemes began development.

Members suggested the private sector would favour installation in areas with more potential customers, and faster delivery in higher demand areas would drive down the cost of future installations. Officers noted that the number of required charging points had not yet been calculated, but more information could be circulated to members.

CRSTS Highways Asset Management and Enhancement Programme

and Off Highway Walking and Cycling Network

Officers explained that the scheme would deliver the second and third year of a five-year programme of highway and carriageway improvements. Officers noted it was proposed to enter into agreements with each partner authority to deliver the improvements. Members questioned if pavement parking was taken into consideration and if the Combined Authority had a position on the outlaw of pavement parking. Officers responded that the interventions would be to create a better environment along targeted corridors and would not directly address the issue, however the issue would be targeted in new scheme designs. Officers added that the government had recently run a consultation on pavement parking and the outcome was being awaited.

Members suggested that local authorities were already behind in the delivery of highway improvements and questioned if there was enough capacity to deliver new improvements. Officers responded that they understood there were no issues with delivery, and maintenance and delivery of new schemes were delivered by separate teams.

Safer Roads

Officers noted the scheme would provide a range of road safety interventions in line with the ‘Vision Zero’ action plan to reduce injury and death on the roads. The scheme would initially identify locations for delivery and develop in the second and third years.

Members questioned if preventative measures could be taken in other areas as well as those that had been identified as dangerous. Members noted that the most dangerous areas should be targeted as a priority, and officers added that local officers would help to identify such areas.

Active Travel Fund 3 – A660 Otley Road

Officers explained the scheme would deliver interventions along the A660 to provide a sustainable travel corridor, including 2.5 kilometres of segregated cycleway on each side of the carriageway. The scheme would seek to halve the number of injuries over a five-year period and encourage active travel and bus use.

Members questioned the methodology used to identify the improvements and raised concerns about the mingling of cycles and pedestrians, especially if e-bikes became more common. Officers responded there were strict appraisal criteria used to make the case, the model used was pre-pandemic and the situation had changed in the meantime, however it would be preferable to act rather than waiting for updated guidance by which time inflation or other factors may affect delivery. Officers noted the impact of the changes on bus travel were not considered to be significant. Officers added that Active Travel England had provided engineering standards and advice, the scheme had met their criteria but there was still much to learn regarding the appraisal of schemes.

Members asked if a consultation had been undertaken, officers noted there had been one conducted by Leeds City Council, members offered to provide the outcome.

Zero Emissions Bus Regional Area

Officers noted the scheme would introduce 111 zero-emission buses, and the change request would add 25 more up to a total of 136 from March 2024. Officers explained the scheme would remove 50 tonnes of nitrogen oxides and reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 7,000 tonnes per year. Older diesel buses would be replaced, and the government would pay the operator for the difference in cost. The Combined Authority would work with First Group to introduce the buses via the Bramley depot.

Resolved:

With respect to Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Programme the Combined Authority approved that:

i. The Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Programme proceed through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and work commence on individual project business cases as outlined in the submitted report.

ii. An indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £17,142,000. The total programme value is between £20,642,000 and £32,642,000, dependent on leveraged private sector contributions.

iii. Subject to the conditions set by the Programme Appraisal Team, approval to funding of £1,316,000 to progress the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Capability Fund scheme to Activity 5 (Delivery). The total scheme costs are £1,316,000.

iv. Indicative approval to funding of £1,500,000 for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Phase 1 Pilot scheme be given and work commence on Activity 4 (full business case). The total scheme costs are £3,000,000.

v. Indicative approval to funding of £14,326,000 for the Local Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (LEVI) Phase 2 scheme be given and work commence on Activity 3 (outline business case). The total scheme costs are £16,326,000.

vi. The following development costs be approved:

a. £354,953 for the Combined Authority for the LEVI Capability scheme

b. £ 961,047 for the five West Yorkshire partner local authorities for the LEVI Capability scheme

c. £120,000 for the Combined Authority for the Phase 1 LEVI Pilot scheme and the Phase 2 LEVI scheme

vii. The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement for the amounts set out below with each of the five partner councils for the capability fund:

· City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for expenditure of up to £184,480.

· Calderdale Council for expenditure of up to £195,000.

· Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £188,631.

· Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £197,936.

· Wakefield Council for expenditure of up to £195,000.