Agenda item

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1.    To allocate £2m for Strategic Masterplanning from the Investment Fund Headroom and delegate the approval of Feasibility and Development Funding Applications to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.

2.    To approve the Full Business Case for the Midsomer Norton High Street Market Square Project and award of £770k of additional funding.

3.    To approve the Full Business Case for Common Connections and award of £999k subject to confirmation of the match funding.

4.    To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for the Bath River Line - Bristol Bath Railway Path Extension and award of £75k.

5.    To delegate approval to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils to enter into funding agreements related to the delivery of the Temple Quarter Regeneration Programme, should there be urgency prior to the next Committee meeting.

6.    The committee recognise the need for new public transport across the region and will build on the previous work carried out on mass transit recognising that tunnels may well be needed in places where there are pinch points due to the historic nature of development including for example around Temple Meads and Gloucester Road.

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report which outlined the extension of the current programme to 2025/26 providing £450m of funding overall.  (agenda item 11).

The Chair commented that this provided an opportunity for the Authority to refocus on delivery on current priorities.

The Chair then moved the report recommendations.

This motion was seconded by Councillor Guy.

An amendment to recommendation (1) was proposed by Cllr Guy and seconded by the Chair as follows:

“To allocate £2m for Strategic Masterplanning from the Investment Fund Headroom and delegate the approval of Feasibility and Development Funding Applications to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.”

An additional recommendation was proposed by Metro Mayor Norris and seconded by Mayor Rees as follows:

“The committee recognise the need for new public transport across the region and will build on the previous work carried out on mass transit recognising that tunnels may well be needed in places where there are pinch points due to the historic nature of development including for example around Temple Meads and Gloucester Road.”

Mayor Rees commented that the modal shift to decarbonisation would need to be delivered at a region level and that the detail needed to be available with a planned programme of work, including time, dated and costed proposals to deliver the ambition a new public transport system.  Decarbonisation of buildings and transport were key components of meeting the carbon neutral targets.  He stated that there needed to be substance behind the phrase “in consultation with” in the recommendations.

The Chair stated that those proposals would be brought back to a future meeting.

Councillor Guy commented that it was important to deliver these transport priorities for the region and to move forward on transformational greener wellbeing proposals.

Councillor Savage commented that there were concerns about the Spatial Development Strategy and he asked whether dates could be agreed for discussion on that document.  He welcomed the boost to eco-systems that would occur through agreement of Common Connections enhancing the accessibility of habitats from Lyde Green to Willsbridge in particular.

The following recommendation was not agreed by Committee, with the Chair voting in favour, Councillors Savage and Guy voting against and Mayor Rees abstaining:

“2. To return the £11.7m balance of the previous allocations for the Land Acquisition, Development Infrastructure and Housing and Regeneration Enabling Funds, Love Our High Streets and for Business and Skills to create further headroom”.

The voting arrangements for this item were as follows:

For all the recommendations: Majority vote of the constituent councils including the Metro Mayor

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1.     To allocate £2m for Strategic Masterplanning from the Investment Fund Headroom and delegate the approval of Feasibility and Development Funding Applications to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils;

2.       To approve the Full Business Case for the Midsomer Norton High Street Market Square Project and award of £770k of additional funding;

3.       To approve the Full Business Case for Common Connections and award of £999k subject to confirmation of the match funding;

4.    To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for the Bath River Line - Bristol Bath Railway Path Extension and award of £75k;

5.     To delegate approval to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils to enter into funding agreements related to the delivery of the Temple Quarter Regeneration Programme, should there be urgency prior to the next Committee meeting;

6.    The committee recognise the need for new public transport across the region and will build on the previous work carried out on mass transit recognising that tunnels may well be needed in places where there are pinch points due to the historic nature of development including for example around Temple Meads and Gloucester Road.