Decision details

9.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report seeking approval to accept Department for Transport (DfT) funding (via Sheffield City Region) which has been awarded from the government’s Large Local Major Schemes Fund. Sheffield City Council will receive the funding.

9.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

(a)

approves acceptance of up to £1.4m of grant funding from Sheffield City Region who are expected to be the Accountable Body for the grant which they will receive from the Department for Transport (DfT) and then pass on to Sheffield City Council. The grant will be utilised to develop an Outline Business Case (OBC) for a DfT major transport scheme in accordance with DfT process;

(b)

approves procurement of external support to deliver the OBC in accordance with advice from Commercial Services in the Procurement Strategy;

(c)

approves delegation of authority to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services in conjunction with the Head of Strategic Transport & Infrastructure to award contracts to secure the necessary external support to develop the OBC; and

(d)

delegates to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services in consultation with Director of Legal and Governance and Executive Director of Place the power to finalise the grant funding agreement in accordance with council procedures.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The DfT’s Large Local Major Schemes Fund presents a unique opportunity to develop the significant transport infrastructure improvements required in the SCR Innovation Corridor and promote a bid for hundreds of millions of pounds in government funding at minimal risk to the Council.

9.3.2

DfT major scheme outline business cases have normally to be developed at risk, by the scheme promoter. OBC development costs can be substantial and these are only refunded by the DfT if a scheme is accepted into their funding programmes. The Large Local Major Schemes Fund offers a lower risk approach, in that it provides advance DfT funding to develop the OBC.

9.3.3

The SCR Innovation Corridor suffers from heavy traffic congestion, particularly around junctions 33 and 34 of the M1. These problems are exacerbated by the limited number of access points for cross traffic between Sheffield and Rotherham, much of which uses the motorway junctions. The project will aim to deliver a highway scheme which will relieve the area from traffic congestion and provide better cross linkages between Sheffield and Rotherham.

9.3.4

The area suffers from poor air quality, to which transport emissions are a major contributor. Poor air quality is known to have detrimental effects on health, resulting in premature deaths. The project will aim to produce a scheme which lowers congestion levels, producing beneficial effects on air quality. It will also facilitate better public transport links, reducing the reliance on car trips.

9.3.5

The area suffers from poor public transport connectivity, which limits access to jobs and opportunities and increases reliance on car based trips due to the lack of viable alternatives. The project will aim to produce a scheme which facilitates the provision of improved public transport links to and from this area.

9.3.6

The output of the project will be a DfT compliant outline business case, which will be used to potentially secure very significant funding for the strategic transport infrastructure improvements needed to ensure that the area fulfils its potential as a nationally and globally significant location for advanced manufacturing. Such a transport project, potentially involving hundreds of millions of pounds of construction work, would itself have a beneficial impact on the local economy, but the transport infrastructure built would provide the best possible transport linkages to facilitate development and economic growth, providing access to jobs and opportunities for the citizens of Sheffield City Region.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

Do nothing – do not accept the offered funding and do not develop the SCR innovation Corridor Scheme or any other intervention. This would mean that the issues of traffic congestion, poor public transport links and poor air quality would not be addressed and would in fact worsen due to ongoing traffic growth. These issues would therefore become even greater constraints to development and prevent the area achieving its full economic potential.

9.4.2

Do minimum – do not accept the offered funding but continue to develop and implement local improvements. Local improvements would not have significant impacts on the heavy traffic congestion and consequent air quality issues and public transport connectivity would continue to be an issue. Minor improvements gained would be offset by ongoing traffic growth. These issues would therefore continue to be major impediments to development and prevent the area achieving its full economic potential.

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

9.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Acting Executive Director, Place

9.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

(NOTE: This decision is not subject to call-in, in accordance with the Fast Track process set out in Scrutiny Procedure Rule 17 of the Constitution.)