Issue - decisions

Acceptance of National Productivity Investment Fund Grant for the A61 London Road / Broadfield Road Junction Improvement Project

27/03/2018 - Acceptance of National Productivity Investment Fund Grant for the A61 London Road / Broadfield Road Junction Improvement Project

8.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report requesting approval for the acceptance of the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) capital grant of £3,356,000 for the years 2018/19 and 2019/20.

 

 

8.2

RESOLVED: That Cabinet:-

 

 

 

(a)

accepts the Department for Transport’s National Productivity Investment Fund (NPIF) capital grant of £3,356,000 and authorises match funding of £1,459,000; and that the Council will be the Accountable Body; 

 

 

 

 

(b)

delegates authority to the Director of Financial and Commercial Servcies, in consultation with the Chief Property Officer and the Director of Legal and Governance, to enter into such grant agreement with the Department for Transport (DfT);

 

 

 

 

(c)

authorises the Council to act as a delivery partner for projects totalling £4,815,000 (DfT grant of up to £3,356,000+ £1,459,000 of match funding) as set out within the report;

 

 

 

 

(d)

delegates authority to the Director of Finance and Commercial Services, in consultation with the Director of Legal and Governance, to take such steps as they deem appropriate to achieve the outcomes set out in the report;

 

 

 

 

(e)

delegates authority to the Chief Property Officer, in consultation with the Director of Finance and Commercial Services and the Director of Legal and Governance, to enter into negotiations and if possible acquire by agreement the land and property required for the Highway Improvement; and

 

 

 

 

(f)

confirms in principle that the Council will be prepared to use Compulsory Purchase Powers as a last resort if terms cannot be reached by agreement to acquire the land and/or property required to complete the Highway Improvement. The use of such powers if needed will be subject to a further detailed report to Cabinet or if appropriate to the Leader.

 

 

 

8.3

Reasons for Decision

 

 

8.3.1

Acceptance of the grant would enable the construction of the junction improvement scheme to widen the narrowest section of the A61 corridor and improve traffic flows significantly.  Also the scheme takes advantage of the opportunity presented by programmed adjacent Streets Ahead highways maintenance works and links in with local “Better Bus” improvement schemes nearby.  In addition, the proposals will unlock a mixed use development site. The implementation of this scheme will reduce congestion and delays around this busy section of the network, improving service reliability for buses, conditions for economic inward investment and contributing to reduced vehicle emissions.

 

 

8.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

 

 

8.4.1

The Council employed the Arup Consultancy to test six options for an improved highway layout at this location using the AIMSUN microsimulation tool to model journey time savings along the broader corridor.  From this analysis, the preferred option identified shows best value for money.

 

 

8.4.2

An alternative option would be to reject the National Productivity Investment Fund grant.  If this was the case, the scheme would have to be deferred until other funding options were identified.  Also the opportunity would be lost to combine with a major Streets Ahead highway maintenance project to be undertaken in the vicinity and programmed for construction within the next 18 months.

 

 

8.4.3

Where it is known that the City Council requires land for the delivery of a scheme, an owner or occupier may be prepared to sell their interest, and consequently the Council can, in some cases, pursue an acquisition by agreement, without the requirement for a CPO.

 

 

8.4.4

An attempt to acquire, by agreement, the land and rights affected by the proposed scheme, prior to making a CPO has been considered as an alternative option. Negotiations continue and are encouraging. 

 

 

8.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

 

 

 

None

 

 

8.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

 

 

 

Laraine Manley, Executive Director, Place.

 

 

8.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

 

 

 

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing