Agenda item

Capital Spending and Project Approvals

(Lead Member: Cllr D Jeffery, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(a)      In respect of Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund allocation 2020/21 –

 

(i)       That the expenditure of the DfT Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund grant totalling £3.334 million be approved.

 

(ii)      That the allocations of the DfT Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund grant of £1,075,329 to Bradford, £1,514,155 to Leeds and £744,209 to Wakefield, totalling £3.334 million be approved and that allocations are paid quarterly to partner councils.

 

(b)      In respect of Huddersfield Stations Gateway package - Preparing for Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) at Huddersfield and opening up employment sites –

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)          That the Huddersfield Stations Gateway package proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case).

 

(ii)         That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority contribution of £28 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, with full approval to spend once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case plus finalised costs). Total project costs are £42 million (£28 million TCF, £10 million WY+TF and £4 million from Kirklees Council’s Kirklees Town Centre Capital fund).

 

(iii)       That development costs of £0.1 million are approved, to progress the scheme to decision point 3 (outline business case), taking the total approval to £0.916 million.

 

(iv)       That the Combined Authority issue an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £0.916 million from the Transforming Cities Fund.

 

(v)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(c)       In respect of Halifax, Walking Cycling and Bus Transformation Package - North Halifax Cycle Super Highways, Park Ward Streets for People, Bus Priority –

 

          That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the

Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)     That the Halifax Walking, Cycling, Rail and Bus Transformation

package proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case) for individual schemes.

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority contribution of £53.9 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, with full approval to spend once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case plus finalised costs). Total project costs are £71.805 million (£53.9 million TCF, £16.5 million WY+TF, £0.405 million CMBC and £1 million LTP for Park Ward Streets for People.

 

(iii)   That an indicative approval to the total package value of £53.9

million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

(iv)   That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval

pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(d)       In respect of Active and Sustainable Travel in Wakefield City Centre –

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the  Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)     That the Wakefield City Centre Bus, Cycle and Walking

improvements package proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case).

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the total package value of £13.6

million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

(iii)   That development costs of £0.119 million are approved to progress the scheme to decision point 3 (outline business case) bringing the total development costs approval to £0.525 million.

 

(iv)   That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Wakefield Council for expenditure of up to £0.525 million from the Transforming Cities Fund.

 

(v)    That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(e)      In respect of York Station and City Centre Access Package –

 

          That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the

Combined Authority approves: 

 

(i)     That the York Station and City Centre Access Gateway package proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the total package value of £14.547 million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

            (iii)    That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance

pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Delivery on the progress and funding for the following schemes through the Combined Authority’s assurance process:

 

·       Huddersfield Stations Gateway package – preparing for Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) at Huddersfield and opening up employment sites

·       Halifax Walking, Cycling and Bus Transformation package – North Halifax cycle super highways, park ward streets for people, bus priority

·       Active and Sustainable Travel in Wakefield City Centre

·       York Station and City Centre Access package

 

Members also considered the Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund allocation 2020/21 which was outlined in the submitted report.

 

In addition, it was noted that since the last meeting, decisions and change requests had been approved by the Investment Committee on the following schemes:

 

·       TCF Leeds Rail Station Sustainable Travel Gateway

·       Beech Hill, Halifax

·       Strategic Business Growth

·       A629 Phase 2: Halifax Town Centre

·       Wakefield SE Gateway (Kirkgate)

·       Tranche 2 Emergency Active Travel

·       Wakefield SE Gateway (Rutland Mills)

·       Bradford Heritage Properties (High Point)

·       Rail Park and Ride Phase 1 (Steeton & Silsden, Moorthorpe, Normanton)

 

It was reported that the Investment Committee had considered the Active and Sustainable Travel in Wakefield City Centre and York Station and City Centre Access package projects at their meeting held on 5 November 2020 and recommended them to the Authority for approval.

 

Members discussed the importance of provided transport links from rural areas to the transport hubs and it was noted that the West Yorkshire Connectivity Plan would be brought to a future meeting.  It was noted that the  impact of COVID-19 on travel behaviour into and around towns and cities is assessed as part of scheme appraisal. However, the business cases for some schemes in the submitted report were developed prior to COVID-19 and aim to address issues identified prior to lockdown restrictions. It was acknowledged that whilst public transport patronage is lower than pre COVID-19 levels it remains a priority to invest in public transport infrastructure to both help with economic recovery and to have the required infrastructure in place to respond to increase in demand post COVID-19. As scheme business cases develop further, growth assumptions will be re-tested.

 

Details of all the schemes were provided in the submitted report.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)      In respect of Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund allocation 2020/21 –

 

(i)       That the expenditure of the DfT Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund grant totalling £3.334 million be approved.

 

(ii)      That the allocations of the DfT Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund grant of £1,075,329 to Bradford, £1,514,155 to Leeds and £744,209 to Wakefield, totalling £3.334 million be approved and that allocations are paid quarterly to partner councils.

 

(b)      In respect of Huddersfield Stations Gateway package - Preparing for Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) at Huddersfield and opening up employment sites –

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)          That the Huddersfield Stations Gateway package proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case).

 

(ii)         That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority contribution of £28 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, with full approval to spend once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case plus finalised costs). Total project costs are £42 million (£28 million TCF, £10 million WY+TF and £4 million from Kirklees Council’s Kirklees Town Centre Capital fund).

 

(iii)       That development costs of £0.1 million are approved, to progress the scheme to decision point 3 (outline business case), taking the total approval to £0.916 million.

 

(iv)       That the Combined Authority issue an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Kirklees Council for expenditure of up to £0.916 million from the Transforming Cities Fund.

 

(v)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(c)      In respect of Halifax, Walking Cycling and Bus Transformation Package - North Halifax Cycle Super Highways, Park Ward Streets for People, Bus Priority –

 

          That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the

Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)     That the Halifax Walking, Cycling, Rail and Bus Transformation

package proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case) for individual schemes.

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority contribution of £53.9 million from the Transforming Cities Fund, with full approval to spend once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case plus finalised costs). Total project costs are £71.805 million (£53.9 million TCF, £16.5 million WY+TF, £0.405 million CMBC and £1 million LTP for Park Ward Streets for People.

 

(iii)   That an indicative approval to the total package value of £53.9

million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the scheme has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

(iv)   That future approvals are made in accordance with the approval

pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(d)      In respect of Active and Sustainable Travel in Wakefield City Centre –

 

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the  Combined Authority approves:

 

(i)     That the Wakefield City Centre Bus, Cycle and Walking

improvements package proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on Activity 3 (outline business case).

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the total package value of £13.6

million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

(iii)   That development costs of £0.119 million are approved to progress the scheme to decision point 3 (outline business case) bringing the total development costs approval to £0.525 million.

 

(iv)   That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with Wakefield Council for expenditure of up to £0.525 million from the Transforming Cities Fund.

 

(v)    That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

(e)      In respect of York Station and City Centre Access Package –

 

          That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the

Combined Authority approves: 

 

(i)     That the York Station and City Centre Access Gateway package proceeds through Decision Point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

 

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the total package value of £14.547 million is given from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once the package has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

 

          (iii)    That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance

pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report, which will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

 

Supporting documents: