Decisions

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Transforming Cities Fund and the Leeds City Region Connectivity Strategy.

The Committee was updated on the progress of the four applications from the Transforming Cities Fund as part of tranche 1. Members welcomed the news that bids for Kirklees Cycling and Walking Early Gateway Transformation package and the York Station Gateway Cycle Route enhancements were successful. However, they were disappointed that bids for Leeds City Region Clean Bus Corridors and Bradford Forster Square had been unsuccessful.

Members expressed their dissatisfaction at the way Local Authorities and the Combined Authority had to constantly bid for funding, knowing that some bids would be unsuccessful, which prevented them thinking about transport plans in a holistic and strategic manner. In this respect reference was made to the bid for clean air corridors which had been turned down. This was disappointing given that it would address air pollution which was one of Government’s key targets.   

Resolved: That the Committee notes the updates on the Transforming Cities Fund and Connectivity Strategy.  

Resolved:

(i)        That Transport Committee notes the contents of this report.

(ii)       That Transport Committee agrees to the Combined Authority working with partner councils. Transport for the North and the Department for Transport to develop funding proposals for the National Road Fund for improvements to the Major Road Networks and for Large Local Major schemes.

(iii)      That Transport Committee agrees that the Combined Authority continues to seek to influence the Department for Transport in respect of roads contained within the Major Road Network and funding opportunities for other roads that are excluded from the Major Road Network.

Resolved:

(i)        That the Committee endorses the key objectives within the Bus Information Strategy as summarised in paragraph 2.8 of this report.

(ii)       That the Committee endorses the next steps set out in Section 2.13 of this report.

(iii)      That the Committee approves the issue for wider stakeholder engagement of the draft Bus Information Strategy.

(iv)      That the wider engagement on the communications strategy include consultation with young people through schools, universities and colleges.

Resolved:

(i)        That the Committee notes that the performance of the railway in West Yorkshire up to and including the end of period 11 (2 February 2019) has shown an improvements since the December timetable change but has still not reached a satisfactory level.

(ii)       That the Committee notes the progress being made on other rail matters affecting West Yorkshire as presented in the report.

(iii)      That the Committee endorses the positions adopted in progressing the Combined Authority’s ambitions for the railway, and that further communications work be undertaken in pursuit of them. 

Resolved:

(i)        That the Transport Committee welcomes Transport for the North’s recommendations and notes the implications for the region.

(ii)       That a working group be established to consider the contribution of transport to achieving the regional low carbon ambitions.

(iii)        That a letter be sent from the Chair to Transport for the North seeking greater transparency and strengthening communication with the Transport Committee and District Council Portfolio Holders.

Resolved:

(i)        That the Transport Committee endorses the draft integrated Transport Block-funded programme for the next three years (2019 to 2022) and that the ITB programme is reported to the next available meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority for approval.

(ii)       That Transport Committee endorse the proposed programme set out in paragraphs 2.20 and 2.21 for Healthy Streets Demonstration projects as part of the ITB programme delivery.

(iii)      That Transport Committee agrees to hold a workshop in year one of the programme (2019-20) with West Yorkshire District Portfolio Holders, Members of the Inclusive Growth and Public Policy Panel, Place Panel and Green Economy Panel to help set ambition, scope, timetable and key milestones for the Healthy Streets Demonstration Projects.

Resolved:  In respect of York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)       That the York Central Access Road and Station Access Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case plus costs) subject to the conditions detailed in 2.155 being discharged to the satisfaction of the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team.

(b)       That an indicative approval of £37.32 million is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, an increase of £4.32 million from the previous Gateway 1 approval, towards a total scheme cost of £187.46 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).

(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 report.

Resolved:

(i)        In respect of Leeds City Region Growth Service, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Leeds City Region Growth Service project proceeds through decision point 2 (case paper) and work commences on activity 5 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project costs of £3,401,756, of which the Combined Authority contribution will be £2,465,413 (which will be funded through £764,535 from the BEIS Growth Hub funding and £1,700,878 from the ESIF funding 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 remaining £936,343 will be funded by Leeds City Region District Partners.

(c)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into a funding agreement with Ministry for Housing, Communities and Local Government (ESIF) and BEIS (Growth hub funding) to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(d)        That the Combined Authority delegates the authority to enter into or amend funding agreements with the local authorities to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(e)        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 report.

(ii)       In respect of Resource Efficiency Fund 2, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Resource Efficiency Fund 2 project proceeds through decision point 2 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs). 

(b)        That indicative approval to the total project value for both regions (Leeds City Region and four North Yorkshire districts) of £6.293m is given as detailed below, with full approval to spend being granted once the project has progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(c)        That Leeds City Region element of the project of £4.644 million (subject to a successful ERDF application), of which £2.751 million will be funded by the Combined Authority (£2 million ERDF funding for Leeds City Region and £751,137 from the Leeds City Region Local Growth Fund). The remaining funding will be from £1.893 million SME match.

(d)        That York, North Yorkshire and East Riding element of the project of £1.649 million (subject to a successful ERDF application) of which £1.035 million will be funded by the Combined Authority (from £824,522 ERDF funding and £210,122 from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding region Local Growth Fund, which North Yorkshire County Council as the accountable body for the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding LEP will transfer to the Combined Authority and the Combined Authority will be the accountable body for its expenditure for the purposes of this scheme). The remaining scheme costs of £614,000 will be from SME match funding.

(e)        That the Combined Authority delegates authority to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director to enter into an agreement with North Yorkshire County Council as the accountable body for the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Enterprise Partnership (at decision point 5), for the Combined Authority to receive and manage the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding match funding contribution of £210,122 from the York, North Yorkshire and East Riding Local Growth Fund.

(f)         That the Combined Authority delegates authority to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director to enter into a contract for the provision of the ERDF funding with Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) at decision point 5.

(g)        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 report.

(iii)      In respect of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme 2, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme Phase 2 proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of up to £3.9 million, which will be funded through Growth Deal 3 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 £112 million.

(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 report.

(iv)      In respect of A61 (North) Bus Priority Corridor, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme: A61 (North) Bus Priority corridor project proceeds through decision point 3 (outline business case) and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £16.1 million is given from Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme funding 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 future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 4 (full business case) and decision point 5 (full business case with finalised costs) through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director.

(v)       In respect of Wakefield South East Gateway, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Wakefield City Centre, South East Gateway scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That the individual elements of the Wakefield City Centre, South East Gateway scheme progress as separate full business cases for Kirkgate and the Waterfront through activity 4 (full business case) and activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(c)        That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s capped contribution of £4.9 million to the Waterfront scheme and capped contribution of £1.6 million to the Kirkgate scheme (a total contribution of £6.5 million) to be funded from the Local Growth Fund programme is given towards a total scheme cost of £32.62 million (Waterfront (Rutland Mills) £21.52 million, Kirkgate £11.1 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).

(d)        That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report 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.?

(vi)       In respect of Dewsbury Riverside, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the Dewsbury Riverside scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 4 (full business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total scheme value of £4.612 million is given from the Local Growth 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 future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision point 4 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.

(vii)     In respect of York Central: Access Road and Station Access Improvements, the Investment Committee approves:

(a)        That the York Central Access Road and Station Access Improvement scheme proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case plus costs) subject to the conditions detailed in 2.155 being discharged to the satisfaction of the Combined Authority’s Programme Appraisal Team.

(b)        That an indicative approval of £37.32 million is given from the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund, an increase of £4.32 million from the previous Gateway 1 approval, towards a total scheme cost of £187.46 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).

(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 report.

(viii)    In respect of Superfast West Yorkshire and York - Contract 3, the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the change request to the Superfast West Yorkshire and York – Contract Three project to reduce the total project value to £10.828 million due to changes in funding from Gainshare, DEFRA, BDUK and ESIF / ERDF is approved.

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £10.828 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 future approvals are made in accordance with the approval pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report including at decision 5 (full business case with finalised costs) 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.