Agenda item

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 seven schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

·         Warm Homes Fund round 2a

·         Calderdale multi-modal transport model

·         Superfast Broadband West Yorkshire and York – Contract 3

·         Corridor Improvement Programme Phase 1 – A62 Smart Corridor

·         Glasshoughton southern link road

·         Leeds New Station Street improvements

·         Skills [re-boot] project

In respect of Warm Homes Fund round 2a, members asked for information to be provided on fuel poverty across the region.

The Committee discussed the Superfast Broadband West Yorkshire and York – Contract 3 scheme.  It was reported that there were some areas on the outskirts of York where the scheme had still not been delivered. Members stressed that superfast broadband should be available in all areas including those hard to reach and this would be brought to the attention of the Programme Board. The provision of free wifi in town and city centres was also discussed and a report would be prepared for a future meeting.

In addition, the progression of the following schemes was noted:

·         The Combined Authority’s Managing Director had approved decision point 5 for the intranet and digital workplace project to enter into activity 6 (delivery).

·         The head office accommodation project had been approved by the Combined Authority on 28 June 2018 to proceed through decision point 3 and work commence on activity 4.

·         The Leeds City Region Employment Hub scheme was approved by the Combined Authority on 2 August 2018 to commence work on activity 5 with full approval to spend granted if the scheme is successful in securing European Social Fund funding, through delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

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

·         Rail Park & Ride Programme phase1 – Hebden Bridge – change request

·         New integrated Combined Authority website (‘Web3’ transformation project)

·         Door to door transport digital hub

·         Energy Accelerator scheme

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

Resolved:

(i)        In respect of Warm Homes Fund round 2a, subject to a successful Warm Homes Fund bid, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Warm Homes Fund phase 2a 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 £4.688 million and the Combined Authority funding contribution of £3.451 million 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).The remainder will be funded by local authority partners, social housing providers and match with private sector match funding on a case by case basis.

(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 submitted report.

(ii)        In respect of Calderdale multi-modal transport model, the Investment          Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Calderdale multi-modal model project proceeds through decision point 2 (case paper) and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs.).

(b)        That an indicative approval is given to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s contribution of £389,000 (which will be funded through £64,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund and £325,000 from the other Transport Fund projects which are already approved) 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). The total project value is £629,000.

(c)        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 West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by West Yorkshire 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 Superfast Broadband West Yorkshire and York – Contract      3, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the superfast broadband contract 3 project proceeds through decision point 2 (case paper) 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 £16.428 million from the funding sources outlined in this report for which the Combined Authority is the accountable body 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 approval is given to reallocate all or part of the BET Refund funding from Contract 2 to Contract 3 as actioned at decision point 5 full business case with costs.

(d)        That development costs of £120,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(iv)      In respect of the Corridor Improvement Programme – A62 Smart       corridor, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the A62 Smart Corridor Phase 1 project proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval is given to the total project value of £8.756 million and the Combined Authority contribution (from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund) of £7.906 million (£406,000 increase from approved expression of interest scheme total) 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). The remainder will be funded by £850,000 of ESIF funding yet to be confirmed.

(c)        That development costs of £605,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs), and that the Combined Authority issue an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £605,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund taking the total approval to £855,000.

(d)        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 submitted report.

(v)       In respect of Glasshoughton southern link road, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Glasshoughton southern link road project proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £7.320 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 £245,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs), taking the total project approval to £978,000.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Wakefield Council for additional expenditure of up to £245,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund. This takes the total funding agreement amount to £978,000.

(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.

(vi)      In respect of Leeds New Station Street improvements the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director:

(a)        That the Leeds Station Gateway - New Station Street improvements proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £2.120 million is given to be funded 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 £563,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund taking the total approval to £729,000.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into a fixed price implementation agreement with Network Rail for future expenditure up to £1.596 million which will release funds of £563,000 to progress to decision point 5, with a break clause which enables the agreement to be terminated if required. 

(e)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route set out in the submitted report, to include at decision point 5 through a delegation 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 the skills and employment [re-boot] project, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, subject to an award of European Social Fund:

(a)        That the [re]boot project proceeds through decision point 5 and work commences on activity 6 (delivery).

(b)        That an approval to the total project value of £3.145 million is given (of this, the Combined Authority’s contribution will be £2.870 million which will be funded from an anticipated ESF grant of £1.573 and £1.297 million from Section 31 reserves). The remainder will be funded by the private sector and Leeds Trinity University.

(c)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 6 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Investment Committee. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the submitted report.