Decisions

To approve bus service contracts in the Huddersfield area.

Resolved:

(a)       That the capital strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report

            be approved.

(b)       That the procurement strategy attached at Appendix 2 to the submitted

            report be approved.

Resolved:

(a)       That the Combined Authority adopt the phase one Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) produced for Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, and that proposals included in the plans be used as inputs into the development of a transport investment pipeline.

(b)       That a decision on the final appearance of the phase one LCWIP documents for publication is delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Transport Committee.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorse the principle of a new relationship with Northern based on openness, honesty and working in partnership, which recognises elected members’ role as passenger champion, and which secures delivery of strategic objectives for clean and inclusive growth, recognising the important role for rail in West Yorkshire in achieving these.

(ii)             That the Committee note the issues facing Northern as OLR takes over the operation from Arriva.

(iii)           That the Committee approve the principle that Combined Authority officers should work with Northern, TfN and others to identify potential interventions for the short-to-medium term period after the industry emerges from COVID 19 restrictions but while OLR continues.  These interventions should be directed towards the key principles of:

·       Improving reliability and punctuality

·       Providing train capacity where it is most needed

·       Improving staff morale and the image of the rail operator

·       Making small-scale but noticeable improvements to the passenger experience at trains and on stations, including better information

·       Setting the agenda for the longer-term investment that rail in our region requires

The broad types of intervention, to address the issues identified above and summarised below and form the basis of further discussion for Combined Authority officers with Northern and TfN, include:

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorses the progress made on a Fare Deal and the revised timescales set out in this report.

(ii)             That a further report be presented to the July 2020 meeting of the Transport Committee recommending the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme.

(iii)           That, in the event that the Covid 19 situation necessitates a change in the programme set out in this report or in the meeting schedule for the Committee, that the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme be considered under the delegated arrangements approved by the 13 March Committee. 

Resolved:

(i)              That the update on progress of the Transforming Cities Programme is noted.

(ii)             That the approach to Governance of the programme is noted and the suggested reporting arrangements to Transport Committee and its sub-groups is endorsed.

Resolved: That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report and endorses the next steps set out in paragraph 2.36.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report.

(ii)             That the Committee endorses the approach to funding bus services during the March to June period as set out in paragraph 2.6

(iii)           That the Committee endorses the approach to Government to ensure that the Combined Authority co-ordinates public sector funding for bus services during the continuation of the COVID -19 emergency.

(iv)           That the delegated decision making arrangement approved by the Committee on 13 March be maintained for use on urgent matters relating to the COVID-19 emergency and reviewed at the next meeting.

Resolved:

(i)          That the Investment Committee notes this progress update in the context of TCF funded projects that are also being brought for consideration of Approval at this meeting and subsequent meetings.

(ii)         The Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that:

(a)  £11.851m of TCF funding is approved to repay development costs incurred by partners and enable further development work on the projects within the programme as per Appendix A to enable progression to their next Decision Points of the Assurance Framework.

(b)  Up to £3m TCF funding is approved, to re-pay spend incurred to date on early development work, previously approved from the Transport Fund Transformational Pot.

(c)   The Combined Authority enters into Funding Agreements with partners for expenditure as detailed in Appendix A plus the spend incurred to date on early development work, previously approved from the Transport Fund Transformational Pot from the Transforming Cities Fund.

(iii)       The Investment Committee Recommends to the Combined Authority that:

(a)    The £4.930m TCF Programme Management allocation is approved to enable the Combined Authority to effectively undertake Programme Management functions for the lifetime of the TCF funded programme.

(b)    The £1.00m TCF Benefits Realisation allocation is approved, to enable the Combined Authority to provide monitoring and evaluation of the overall programme in line with DfT expectations

Resolved:

(i)          That in respect of Active & Sustainable Travel in Leeds City Centre (Bishopgate) Active Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the Active & Sustainable Travel in Leeds City Centre (Bishopgate) package of schemes proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and work commences on bringing individual schemes through at activity 3 (outline business case).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total package value of £39.5 million of which £39.5 million is being funded from the Transforming Cities Fund with full approval to spend being granted once individual schemes have progressed through the assurance process to decision point 5.

(c)         That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report including at decision point 5 through a delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director following a recommendation by the Combined Authority’s Portfolio Appraisal Team. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

(ii)         That in respect of the East Leeds Demand Responsive Transport scheme the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the East Leeds Demand Responsive Transport scheme proceeds through decision point 3 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £2.234 million, is given with the Combined Authority’s funding contribution of £1.466 million (Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP) – £763,000, Local Transport Plan – Integrated Transport Block Programme - £703,000) 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 this 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 this report.

(iii)       The in respect of The City Connect Phase 3: Castleford Greenway Phase 4 project the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority:

(a)        That the City Connect Phase 3: Castleford Greenway Phase 4 project proceeds through decision point 4 and work commences on activity 5 (full business case with finalised costs).

(b)        That an indicative approval to the total project value of £371,686 is given from the West Yorkshire Plus Transport 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 this 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 this report.