Agenda item

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of the Headrow City Centre Gateway, Leeds, the Investment

Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)       That the Headrow Gateway 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 £20.7 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment 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 £500,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) taking the total project approval to £1.1 million.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £1.1 million from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Fund.

(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 Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(ii)        In respect of Bradford Interchange Station Gateway – Phase 1, the             Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Interchange Phase 1 project to increase development funds by £113,000 from £180,000 to give a total of £293,000 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for additional expenditure of up to £293,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(c)        That the project delivery completion date timeframe extension from September 2020 to October 2021 (thirteen months) is approved.

(d)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report to include delegation to Investment Committee at decision point 3, and delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director at decision points 4 and 5. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report. 

(iii)      In respect of Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway project to increase delivery timeframe from March 2021 to December 2021 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council amending the programme dates as detailed.

(c)        That 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 report.

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 and welcomed the proposals for the progression of the Headrow City Centre Gateway scheme through decision point 3 and for work to commence on activity 4 full business case. It was considered that the scheme was a key part of the transformation for the city centre which would support economic growth, reduce carbon emissions, and provide transport interventions to encourage the use of public transport.  A copy of the business case summary for the scheme was attached at Appendix 2.  The possibility of improving access to Leeds Bradford Airport from the city centre was also raised and this would be considered at a future meeting.

It was noted that following the changes to its terms of reference, the Investment Committee were now able to make decisions using their delegated authority.  In this respect the Committee considered change requests for the following two schemes:

·         Bradford Interchange Station Gateway – Phase 1

·         Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway

The Committee was advised that both schemes have had change request reports assessed in line with the Combined Authority’s assurance process and Members discussed the details which were provided in the submitted report.  The importance and benefits of both schemes was acknowledged and the need to provide additional, specialist expertise to progress complex schemes was recognised. 

The Committee was also advised of the following two decisions made through delegations to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director since the last meeting:

·         Kirklees College – Dewsbury Learning Quarter

·         Bradford Odeon

Details of both the schemes were outlined in the submitted report.

It was suggested that future reports should, where possible, include information about the social and economic benefits the schemes would provide.

Resolved:

(i)         In respect of the Headrow City Centre Gateway, Leeds, the Investment

Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)       That the Headrow Gateway 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 £20.7 million is given from the Leeds Public Transport Investment 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 £500,000 are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) taking the total project approval to £1.1 million.

(d)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Leeds City Council for expenditure of up to £1.1 million from the Leeds Public Transport Investment Fund.

(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 Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(ii)        In respect of Bradford Interchange Station Gateway – Phase 1, the             Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Interchange Phase 1 project to increase development funds by £113,000 from £180,000 to give a total of £293,000 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council for additional expenditure of up to £293,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

(c)        That the project delivery completion date timeframe extension from September 2020 to October 2021 (thirteen months) is approved.

(d)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report to include delegation to Investment Committee at decision point 3, and delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director at decision points 4 and 5. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report. 

(iii)      In respect of Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the change request to the Bradford Forster Square Station Gateway project to increase delivery timeframe from March 2021 to December 2021 is approved.

(b)        That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of Bradford Metropolitan District Council amending the programme dates as detailed.

(c)        That 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 report.