Agenda item

Report enclosed.

The committee considered the latest Investment Fund report (agenda item 15).

The Chair highlighted that at the previous meeting in June, the committee had agreed an overall funding envelope of £350m for the period up to March 2023, reflecting the strong ambitions to drive forward projects which would bring very significant, positive improvements and impacts for residents right across the region.  The report being considered today sought approval to progress a significant number of projects to the next delivery stage.

The Chair then advised that following discussion with all the authorities, there was an amendment to add an additional recommendation 19 to the report (reflecting the proposal set out in para. 47 of the report), as follows:

That an additional recommendation 19 be added as follows

“19. To note the submission of the Full Business Case for Invest Bristol and Bath with sustainable funding options to be considered further by the West of England s151 officers and delegate the funding award to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.”

The report recommendations, as amended above, were then moved by the Chair and seconded by Cllr Savage.

Cllr Savage welcomed the report in general, also drawing attention to the importance of endorsing the submission of the Western Gateway Major Road Network bids in South Gloucestershire; in time, this could potentially unlock further benefits for the region.  He also welcomed the recommendation that the Combined Authority would assume responsibility for the promotion and delivery of MetroWest Phase 2, subject to the update of the Development Services Agreement with Network Rail.

Cllr Romero welcomed the report.  She also suggested, particularly in light of the motion agreed earlier at the meeting, that climate emergency considerations/implications should be reflected in future reporting on the investment fund/programme.

The Chair then moved to the voting on the recommendations, as amended above.

The committee RESOLVED:

1. To endorse the submission of the Western Gateway Major Road Network (MRN) bids in South Gloucestershire.

2. To approve the outline business case for MetroWest Phase 1 subject to the supply of a detailed cost breakdown and an updated programme.

3. To award an additional £1.3m to progress Mass Transit development as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Application.

4. To award £212,500 to the Winterbourne/Frampton Cotterell bypass and Coalpit Heath/Westerleigh bypass study as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Application.

5. To award £100,000 to develop a Full Business Case for Local Walking and Cycling Infrastructure as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Application.

6. To award £300,000 to develop an Outline Business Case for Yate Park and Ride and £500,000 to develop Outline Business Cases for other sites as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Applications.

7. To approve the change request for the Cribbs Patchway MetroBus Extension project and the award of an additional £300,000.

8. To approve the Full Business Case for the On Bus Contactless Bank Card Payment project and award of £418,000.

9. To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application and the award of £150,000 for Modern Methods of Construction Pilots/Trials.

10. To approve the allocation of £2.275m for Strategic Masterplanning and the award of £275,000 of this funding to WECA to support the development of business cases, and £500,000 for the Yate Urban Living Opportunity Area, as set out in the Feasibility and Development Funding Applications.

11. To reserve £34.3m of the £50m approved Land Acquisition Fund to risk manage financial commitments within the overall funding available up to March 2023.

12. To make an indicative allocation of £23m as match funding in support of the Housing Infrastructure Fund bid subject to successfully obtaining government funding, confirmation of local contributions and submission of business case.

13. To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for Energy Strategy Action Planning / Climate Change Planning and the award of £250,000 to produce an Option Assessment Report.

14. To approve the Full Business Case for the Research and Innovation Challenge Fund and award of £242,000 subject to securing ERDF funding.

15. To approve the Full Business Case for Workforce for the Future and award £4m of Investment Fund subject to securing ESF and finalising the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.

16. To set aside £20m within the £350m Investment Programme (up to March 2023) to respond to future opportunities and challenges.

17. To approve the establishment of a WECA Programme Management Office for the delivery, and management, of a regional capital programme with the creation of three core posts to be funded initially through WECA Treasury Management surpluses.

18. To agree that WECA assume responsibility for the promotion and delivery of MetroWest Phase 2 from South Gloucestershire Council, subject to review and appropriate update of the Development Services Agreement with Network Rail.

19. To note the submission of the Full Business Case for Invest Bristol and Bath with sustainable funding options to be considered further by the West of England s151 officers and delegate the funding award to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.