Agenda item

(Member lead: Cllr K Groves, Director: Alan Reiss)

Resolved:

(a)       That the progression of the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund bid to the stage 2 co-development phase be noted.

(b)       That the setting up of further on-going member working groups to support the development of the Leeds City Region stage 2 Transforming Cities Fund bids be endorsed.

(c)       That the Combined Authority’s Managing Director in consultation with the Chairs of the Combined Authority and Transport Committee submit the ‘small bid’ in consultation with the Chairs of the Combined Authority and Transport Committee.

(d)       That the Combined Authority delegates authority to the Transport Committee to oversee and submit both the ‘big bid’ and the ‘Future Mobility bid’.

(e)       That the Combined Authority grants approval to spend the £50,000 contribution made available by the Department for Transport to support the development of the Stage 2 bids.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications on the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) which

·         Provided an update on Transforming Cities Fund.

·         Sought endorsement to the continuation of the Transforming Cities Fund member working group sessions to oversee the development of the Transforming Cities Fund stage 2 submission.

·         Sought agreement for the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Combined Authority and Chair of the Transport Committee, to submit the ‘small bid’.

·         Sought delegated authority for the Transport Committee to oversee and submit the ‘big bid’ and the Future Mobility bid.

·         Sought approval to spend the £50,000 grant funded by the Department for Transport to support the development of the Stage 2 bid.

It was reported that the Transforming Cities Fund had been updated in the recent Budget announcement and the Government had now made a total of £1.28 billion available and extended the period to 2022-23. The key points arising from the announcement were outlined in the submitted report which had included confirmation that West Yorkshire had been successful in reaching stage two of the application process. 

The Combined Authority’s bid on behalf of the Leeds City Region for stage 1 had focussed around 3 themes and detailed proposals would be developed for the stage 2 submission. The Department for Transport (DfT) had made a contribution of £50,000 which would support the development of three bids, a ‘small’, ‘big’ and ‘future mobility’ bids, as part of the stage 2 submission.  The DfT had released guidance for the ‘small bid’ which would have a value of up to £10m.  This has to be submitted by 4 January 2019 and it is expected that a decision will be made by February 2019.  In view of the timescales, it was proposed that a Member working group be convened at the earliest opportunity to consider the scope of the small bid.  Information would be circulated to all Members of the Combined Authority and the transport Portfolio Holders.  It was agreed that the submission of the ‘small bid’ be delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director in consultation with the Chairs of the Combined Authority and Transport Committee.

In welcoming the opportunities the Transforming Cities Fund provided, it was requested that it be made clear to Government that a longer timeframe should be sought for such transformational programmes. Assurances should also be sought for year on year investment to provide more certainty.  In respect of long term investment, it was reported that the City of York had submitted a bid for retrofitting buses which will be an issue affecting all parts of the City Region and was important for air quality and the economy through the jobs created. 

A ‘task and finish’ working group had been set up to shape the stage 1 submission and it was proposed to continue with this approach for the development of stage 2 with representation widened to include North Yorkshire authorities.

Resolved:

(a)       That the progression of the Leeds City Region Transforming Cities Fund bid to the stage 2 co-development phase be noted.

(b)       That the setting up of further on-going member working groups to support the development of the Leeds City Region stage 2 Transforming Cities Fund bids be endorsed.

(c)       That the Combined Authority’s Managing Director in consultation with the Chairs of the Combined Authority and Transport Committee submit the ‘small bid’ in consultation with the Chairs of the Combined Authority and Transport Committee.

(d)       That the Combined Authority delegates authority to the Transport Committee to oversee and submit both the ‘big bid’ and the ‘Future Mobility bid’.

(e)       That the Combined Authority grants approval to spend the £50,000 contribution made available by the Department for Transport to support the development of the Stage 2 bids.