Agenda item

9.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director, City Futures that provided information to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee (TRCPC) on the proposals for £135m for schemes in Sheffield, outlined as part of the £570m allocated to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) following the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) submission.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-

1.    Approves the continuation of CRSTS scheme development detail in consultation with internal and external stakeholders;

2.    Approves the current scheme allocations in section 1.9 in the programme (including £10.1m to enable the Chesterfield Road corridor to progress immediately through the SCC capital approval process);

3.    Notes that the £50,847,458 allocation for the tram renewal project will be delivered by SYMCA, with the value of the contribution having been agreed through the SYMCA governance process as part of the bid submission);

4.    Notes that SYMCA have been working with the DfT to see how to help manage CRSTS at a programme level, however, mechanisms for managing allocations between schemes are yet to be determined, including any local flexibility for this. It is proposed that any amendments to the CRSTS programme will be made through updates to this committee and SYMCA as appropriate;

5.    Delegates the finalisation and submission of internal and external Business Cases for future schemes to the Head of Strategic Transport, Sustainability and Infrastructure in consultation with S151 officer and Chair(s) of Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee;

6.    Notes that relevant projects will be submitted through the Council’s Capital approval process, managed through Strategy and Resources Policy committee;

7.     Approves the utilisation of £5.044m of CRSTS funding allocated for the completion of TCF projects, to support increased costs on the Transforming Cities Fund, Housing Zone North Scheme. This will be accommodated within the CRSTS programme.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The City council’s City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement identified the wider strategic benefit in delivering a package of sustainable travel improvements to key routes in the City. This would improve connections between the city centre and local centres by public transport, cycling and walking, along with a key contribution to the renewal of the Supertram network. This was line with the City councils transport strategy too.

9.3.2

Recognising the strategic importance of sustainable travel, the City council also submitted the programme through the SYMCAs CRSTS programme in line with the DfTs ask. The recommendations in the report are the next step in the project delivery process.

9.3.3

Entry to the CRSTS programme required rigorous assessment and compliance with established SYMCA processes and procedures in the assessment of options. The requirements were understood and were well known to the Council, with previous schemes having been subject to SYMCA requirements and progressing successfully.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

‘Do nothing’ has been considered, but is not considered appropriate as this is likely to result in:

·       Increased congestion and negative impact on journey times and journey time reliability, as take-up of sustainable travel choices would be considerably slower than with the project;

·       Failure to promote the sustainability to the Supertram network;

·       Reduced facilities for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, failing to encourage more active and sustainable travel choices;

·       No identified funding to cover the increased costs of the Transforming Cities Fund: Housing Zone North project;

·       Increased carbon emissions on key routes as traffic levels continue to grow;

·       Wider social and environmental benefits not being realised.

9.1

The committee considered a report of the Executive Director, City Futures that provided information to the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Change Policy Committee (TRCPC) on the proposals for £135m for schemes in Sheffield, outlined as part of the £570m allocated to South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority (SYMCA) following the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) submission.

9.2

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That the Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee:-

1.    Approves the continuation of CRSTS scheme development detail in consultation with internal and external stakeholders;

2.    Approves the current scheme allocations in section 1.9 in the programme (including £10.1m to enable the Chesterfield Road corridor to progress immediately through the SCC capital approval process);

3.    Notes that the £50,847,458 allocation for the tram renewal project will be delivered by SYMCA, with the value of the contribution having been agreed through the SYMCA governance process as part of the bid submission);

4.    Notes that SYMCA have been working with the DfT to see how to help manage CRSTS at a programme level, however, mechanisms for managing allocations between schemes are yet to be determined, including any local flexibility for this. It is proposed that any amendments to the CRSTS programme will be made through updates to this committee and SYMCA as appropriate;

5.    Delegates the finalisation and submission of internal and external Business Cases for future schemes to the Head of Strategic Transport, Sustainability and Infrastructure in consultation with S151 officer and Chair(s) of Transport, Regeneration and Climate Policy Committee;

6.    Notes that relevant projects will be submitted through the Council’s Capital approval process, managed through Strategy and Resources Policy committee;

7.     Approves the utilisation of £5.044m of CRSTS funding allocated for the completion of TCF projects, to support increased costs on the Transforming Cities Fund, Housing Zone North Scheme. This will be accommodated within the CRSTS programme.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

The City council’s City Region Sustainable Travel Settlement identified the wider strategic benefit in delivering a package of sustainable travel improvements to key routes in the City. This would improve connections between the city centre and local centres by public transport, cycling and walking, along with a key contribution to the renewal of the Supertram network. This was line with the City councils transport strategy too.

9.3.2

Recognising the strategic importance of sustainable travel, the City council also submitted the programme through the SYMCAs CRSTS programme in line with the DfTs ask. The recommendations in the report are the next step in the project delivery process.

9.3.3

Entry to the CRSTS programme required rigorous assessment and compliance with established SYMCA processes and procedures in the assessment of options. The requirements were understood and were well known to the Council, with previous schemes having been subject to SYMCA requirements and progressing successfully.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

‘Do nothing’ has been considered, but is not considered appropriate as this is likely to result in:

·       Increased congestion and negative impact on journey times and journey time reliability, as take-up of sustainable travel choices would be considerably slower than with the project;

·       Failure to promote the sustainability to the Supertram network;

·       Reduced facilities for public transport, pedestrians and cyclists, failing to encourage more active and sustainable travel choices;

·       No identified funding to cover the increased costs of the Transforming Cities Fund: Housing Zone North project;

·       Increased carbon emissions on key routes as traffic levels continue to grow;

·       Wider social and environmental benefits not being realised.