WYCA - Modern Gov

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Resolved:

a) That in respect of future approvals, the Combined Authority approves that the schemes in the funding programmes shown in paragraph 4.3 of the submitted report are allocated to the indicated thematic committee also shown in paragraph 4.3 of the submitted report.

b) That in respect of the York Northern Outer Ring Road, the Combined Authority approves:

i) The change request to the York Northern Outer Ring Road project to bring together the roundabout junction upgrade scheme and the dualling scheme and their associated funding allocations, into one combined scheme, with total scheme costs of £65,193,000, and for development costs of £3,438,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund to progress the combined scheme to full business case, bringing the total development costs to £9,019,000 from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund.

ii) That the Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing funding agreement with City of York Council for expenditure of up to £9,019,000 from the West Yorkshire + Transport Fund.

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

c) That in respect of the Department for Transport Capability Fund (Revenue), the Combined Authority approves that:

i) The Department for Transport Capability Fund (revenue) scheme proceeds through decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

ii) Approval of £1,351,341 which will be funded through Department for Transport Capability Fund (revenue).

iii) Approval is delegated to the Director of Delivery to enter into small grant agreements with community organisations and businesses for expenditure up to £50,000 from the DfT’s Capability Fund, as agreed by the scheme’s Programme Board.

iv) Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance 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.

d) That in respect of the EZ Langthwaite Extension Phase 1, the Combined Authority approves that, subject to the conditions set by PAT stated in the submitted report:

i) The Enterprise Zone Langthwaite Business Park Extension Phase 1 scheme proceeds through decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

ii) Approval is given to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £2,217,000 of which £417,000 is from the Local Growth Fund and £1,800,000 is from the Getting Building Fund.

iii) The Combined Authority enters into an addendum to the existing Funding Agreement with Wakefield Council for expenditure up to £1,246,000 from the Getting Building Fund.

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

e) That in respect of the Wellington House Accommodation Project, the Combined Authority approves the recommendations set out in the exempt appendix 5 of the submitted report.

The Combined Authority considered a report on proposals for the progression of, and funding for, a number of West Yorkshire Combined Authority supported projects that had been considered at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

After the changes to committee arrangements approved at the Annual General Meeting, these schemes had come directly to the Combined Authority due to expediency of delivery. These included projects relating to:

· York Northern Outer Ring Road

· Department for Transport Capability Fund (Revenue)

· Enterprise Zone 1 Langthwaite Business Park Extension Phase 1

· Wellington House Accommodation Project

In addition, it was noted that the following decision points and change requests had been assessed and approved through the agreed delegation process:

· Safety, Accessibility and Efficiency Programme

· TCF Kirklees Early Walking and Cycling Gateways – Dewsbury Rail Station Access and Huddersfield Better Connected Stations

· Land Release Fund

· CIP A58-A672 Corridor, Calderdale

· CIP A646-A6033 Corridor, Calderdale

· Integrated Corporate Systems

· LTP-ITB Rail Accessibility Package

· Leeds City Centre Grey to Green

Details of all the schemes were provided in the submitted report. Approval was also requested that after the changes to committee arrangements at the 24 June Combined Authority meeting, future schemes seeking approval be allocated to the appropriate thematic committees.

Members welcomed the York Northern Outer Ring Road, which would provide much-needed improvement for orbital cycle routes and connect communities among the ring road. The need to prioritise removing carbon, as well as the importance of protecting York’s heritage sites, was highlighted.

In regards to the Department for Transport Capability Fund (Revenue), Members questioned the criteria for applications for the £1.35 million in funding that had been secured. These could be shared with the committee after the meeting.

Members questioned why the Leeds City Centre Grey to Green scheme appeared to have tripled in cost. It was advised that the overall cost of the package had not increased, but that funds had been moved between the four elements comprising it in order to meet the March 2022 deadline for delivery, as the grant funding was time-limited. This allowed the Combined Authority to maximise the benefit of the funding it had received without an increase in cost.

Members discussed the Wellington House Accommodation project and the exempt appendix of the submitted report, and members of the press and public left the meeting.