Decision details

1)     Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan – Adopts the final version of the Electric Vehicle Charging Action Plan, as set out in paragraphs 1 - 44 of this report;

2)     Strategic Rail Plan – Delegates to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Strategic Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Unitary Authority Infrastructure Directors, to spend the £470k previously allocated funding for the 10-Year Strategic Rail Plan and £250k for the 25-year Rail Strategic Outline Business Case, as set out in paragraphs 45-69 of this report.  In the event of a consensus not being reached at Director level, decision making will be escalated to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO) in consultation with the Unitary Authority CEOs;

3)     New Rail Stations Study - Approves the drawdown of £100k from the previously allocated £720k to progress a New Stations Study, as set out in paragraphs 51.1 and 51.2 of this report;

4)     Rail Electrification - Approves the award of £200k from Investment Fund (Revenue) to part-fund the Filton Bank (Bristol Parkway to Bristol Temple Meads) Rail Electrification project to Outline Business Case stage. This is subject to the remaining £375k of separate third-party funding being secured to enable the delivery of the proposed scope, as set out in paragraphs 70 - 97 of this report;

5)     MetroWest Phase 1 (Portishead Line) - Approves the award of £9.66m of previously allocated funding from the Investment Fund. This is subject to the Department for Transport approving the project Full Business Case, addressing any remaining project capital funding shortfall and formally committing (in writing) to taking on any future capital cost risk on the project, as set out in paragraphs 98 - 136 of this report;

6)     Zero Emission Buses - approves delegated authority to the West of England Mayoral Combined Authority’s Strategic Director of Infrastructure, in consultation with the Unitary Authority Infrastructure Directors, subject to a successful award from the ZEBRA 2 fund, to enter into a grant agreement with First Bus to deliver the proposal as detailed in paragraphs 136 - 159 of this report.