Agenda item

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Delivery on proposals for the progression of, and funding for, a number of West Yorkshire Combined Authority supported projects, including Transport Fund and Growth Deal at Stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

 

Members considered the following six schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

 

·         Rail Park & Ride Programme – Garforth Rail Station Car Park project

·         Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE) extension

·         North East Calderdale Transformational Programme

·         Inclusive Growth Corridors and the Transformational Programme

·         LEP Loan 319

·         The West Yorkshire Urban Traffic Management Control (UTMC) scheme

 

Members were advised that following feedback from the Combined Authority, a summary of associated risks for each scheme would be included in future reports.

 

The report also provided further details and outlined proposed recommendations for the following schemes which have had change request reports assessed in line with the Combined Authority’s assurance process:

 

·         Bradford to Shipley Corridor Improvement Programme

·         A629 Phase 1b

·         York Central Access

·         Hard Ings Road Improvement, Keighley

·         LEP Loan 209

·         West Yorkshire and York Broadband Infrastructure Programme

·         Halifax Town Centre – Northgate House

 

In respect of the West Yorkshire and York Broadband Programme, it was agreed that the Committee would recommend the approvals to be made by the Combined Authority and not delegated to the Managing Director.

 

The Committee was also provided with details of decisions made through delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting for the following schemes:

 

·         Rail Park & Ride Phase 1 – Mytholmroyd

·         GPF 113

·         A6177 Outer Ring Road, Great Horton Road/Horton Grange Road Junction

 

Summaries of the schemes’ business cases were attached as Appendices 1-6 of the submitted report.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)        In respect of Rail Park and Ride Programme – Garforth Rail Station Car Park Project Decision Point 2 (Case Paper), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The Garforth Rail Station Car Park project proceeds through Decision

Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

 

(b)  An indicative approval to the total project value of £0.825 million is given from the 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)  Development costs of £0.045 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 £0.059 million.

 

(d)  The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement (Section 56) with Arriva Rail North for expenditure of up to £0.045 million from the Transport Fund.

 

(e)  Future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at 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 submitted report.

 

(ii)     In respect of Apprenticeship Grants for Employers (AGE) Extension Decision Point 2 (Case Paper), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The AGE Extension Programme proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

 

(b)  An indicative approval to the total grant fund value of £1.2 million is given to be funded from the unallocatedAGE Programme 2015-2017 funds 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)  Future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at 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 submitted report.

 

(iii)    In respect of North East Calderdale Transformational Programme     Decision Point 2 (Case Paper), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The North East Calderdale Transformational Programme Study proceeds through Decision Point 2 (case paper) and work commences on the Strategic Case for the Programme.

 

(b)  Full approval is given to the total study costs of £0.4 million.

 

(c)  The Combined Authority enter into a funding agreement with Calderdale Council for expenditure of up to £0.4 million to be funded from the Transport Fund.

 

(d)  Any change requests relating to the study 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 submitted report.

 

(iv)      In respect of Inclusive Growth Corridors and the Transformational Programme Decision Point 2 (Case Paper), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The Inclusive Growth Corridors and the Transformational Fund Phase 1 proceeds through Decision Point 2 (case paper) and work commences on the completion of the Corridor Plans and Connectivity Strategy.

 

(b)  Indicative approval to the total programme value of £7 million is given and full approval of £2.395 million for Phase 1 is approved.

 

(c)  Any change requests relating to Phase 1 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 submitted report.

 

(v)       In respect of LEP Loan 319 Decision Point 3 (Outline Business Case), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The project proceeds through Decision Point 3 and work commences on Activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

 

(b)  An indicative approval to the total project value of £1.5 million, and the Combined Authority contribution of a £1 million (to be funded from the Growing Places 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)  Future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at 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 submitted report.

 

(vi)   In respect of West Yorkshire Urban Traffic Management Control UTMC) Decision Point 3 (Outline Business Case), the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The UTMC project proceeds through Decision Point 3 (outline business case) and work commences on Activity 4 (full business case).

 

(b)  The project includes the re-organisation of the 4 existing district UTC services into a combined West Yorkshire UTC service.

 

(c)  This new combined service will be based at the West Yorkshire Joint Services building in Morley, with Leeds City Council being the accountable body for the new service.

 

(d)  An indicative approval to the total project value of £7.49 million is given from the West Yorkshire 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).

 

(e)  Development costs of £0.170 million from the Transport Fund are approved in order to progress the scheme to Decision Point 4 (full business case), taking the total project approval to £0.450 million.

 

(f)   The Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £0.450 million from the Transport Fund.

 

(g)  Future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report to include approval at Decision Point 4 and Decision Point 5 to be delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.

 

 

 

(vii)   In respect of Bradford to Shipley Corridor Improvement Programme (Activity 3 Outline Business Case) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The change request to the Bradford to Shipley Corridor project is approved to increase the timescale for Decision Point 3 (outline business case) submission from 2015/16 to March 2019.

 

(b)  The change request to the Bradford to Shipley Corridor project is approved to increase the development costs from £0.341millon to £1.597 million (additional £1.257 million) to be funded from the Transport Fund.

 

(c)  An addendum to the existing funding agreement between the Combined Authority and Bradford be entered into for the additional expenditure of up to £1.257 million from the Transport Fund, taking the total funding agreement value up to £1.597 million.

 

(d)  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 submitted report.

 

(viii)    In respect of A629 Phase 1b (Activity 3 Outline Business Case) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The change request to A629 phase 1b be approved to allow for additional funding to develop the full business case and progress to Activity 4 full business case and Activity 5 full business case with finalised costs on the revised programme as identified.

 

(b)  The additional development costs of £4.545 million be approved in order to continue progressing the scheme to Decision Point 4 (full business case), and that the Combined Authority issue an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Calderdale MBC for this additional expenditure.

 

(ix)    In respect of York Central Access (Activity 4 Full Business Case) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The change request to the York Central Access project be approved to progress the western access (off Water End Bridge) to the York Central Development site as outlined in the submitted report.

 

(b)  If required, an addendum to the existing funding agreement between City of York Council and the Combined Authority is signed to reflect the relocation of the highway access to the west of the site.

 

(x)       In respect of Hard Ings Road Improvement, Keighley (Activity 4 Full Business Case) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The forecast date for Decision Point 4 (full business case) approval is extended from May 2018 to December 2018.

 

(b)  Additional development costs of £0.378 million are approved, to be funded by the Transport Fund. This will take the total approved development costs to £1.142 million.

 

(c)  The Combined Authority enters into an addendum for £0.378 million to the existing funding agreement with Bradford Council for total development cost expenditure of up to £1.142 million to be funded from the Transport Fund. 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 submitted report.

 

(xi)      In respect of LEP Loan 209 (Activity 6 Delivery) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The GPF loan 209 is converted to maturity terms with a final repayment date of 31 December 2021 with a modest increase in interest rate.

 

(b)  That the Combined Authority enters into a variation to change the remaining loan sum to £0.248 million and adjust the repayment schedule in accordance with the recommendations above. 

 

(xii)    In respect of West Yorkshire and York Broadband Infrastructure Programme (Activity 6 Delivery) Change Request the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

 

(a)  The change request to the West Yorkshire and York Broadband Infrastructure Programme as set out in this report is approved.

 

(b)  Expenditure of the increase in external funding from £7.25 million to £17.6797 million to be funded from BDUK, ERDF, BET and BT Contract 1 and Districts as detailed this report, in order to fund Contract 2 deployment of the West Yorkshire and York Broadband programme.

 

(c)  That the Combined Authority enter into the Variation to Funding Agreement between the Combined Authority and the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) covering funding from ERDF (current award is £7,299,918 million) for the Broadband Programme.

(d)  That any future grant variation agreements which are the result  of financial re-profiling and are within the total ERDF funding envelope of £7,229,918 million can be approved by the Combined Authority’s Head of Legal Services.

 

(xiii)      In respect of Halifax Town Centre – Northgate House (Activity 6 Delivery) Change Request, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director that:

 

(a)  The change request to the Northgate House project be approved to allow for the remaining balance (£0.095 million) of the advance funds paid to Calderdale Council via an interest free loan (£0.300 million) to be used for pre-feasibility works to develop a strategic case for the project.

 

(b)  Future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.