Decision details

Executive Board are requested to endorse proposals to create a joint urban traffic management and control service for West Yorkshire.

The Director of City Development submitted a report outlining proposals for the establishment of a West Yorkshire Urban Traffic Management and Control (West Yorkshire UTMC) Service. The report set out the background to the development of the proposal, arrangements for its funding and which also requested endorsement to the principle of Leeds City Council hosting the proposed service and which sought authority to progress arrangements for its establishment.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the establishment of a joint West Yorkshire UTMC service be approved in principle, subject to the outcome of the consideration of the Outline Business Case by the Combined Authority;

(b)  That should a joint West Yorkshire UTMC service be established, in principle approval be given to Leeds City Council becoming the host authority for service delivery;

(c)  That approval be given to the development of a combined joint service operational resource budget (less traffic signal energy costs) for 2019/20 with the West Yorkshire Councils; and that the contribution from the Leeds City Council annual budget for this service be agreed in the annual budget round; with it being noted that arrangements for an annual review will be captured in the proposed Service Level Agreement between the West Yorkshire Councils and the City Council as the Host Authority;

(d)  That the proposed creation of an organisational unit within the City Development directorate of the Council be approved, which will host the West Yorkshire UTMC service and undertake the development, operation and maintenance of the traffic signal systems in West Yorkshire;

(e)  That the commencement of formal processes, including informing and consulting with Trade Union representatives leading up to the transfer of identified staff via TUPE from Bradford, Kirklees and Wakefield Councils into the employment of Leeds City Council to form the new functional West Yorkshire UTMC service, be noted;

(f)  That the proposal that any potential West Yorkshire UTMC service may be based at the Joint Services building in Morley be noted, with it also being noted that the capital costs for the establishment of the combined service will be met by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, subject to approval of the Business Case and completion of all necessary legal agreements;

(g)  That the actions as described within the submitted report to progress the establishment of the West Yorkshire UTMC service be noted, and that once final agreement has been reached in relation to the operational and revenue financial arrangements for this service, a further report will be presented to the Executive Board for consideration;

(h)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation will be responsible for the further progression of this proposal in consultation with counterparts in the four West Yorkshire Councils involved.

The Leaders and Chief Executives of the West Yorkshire Authorities and the Chair and Managing Director of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have endorsed the principle of the proposals subject to formal ratification.  Staff and trade unions within the affected have been consulted and support the proposals subject to the satisfactory conclusion of  formal consultation and the statutory TUPE process.

West Yorkshire Councils, portfolio holders, service leads for UTMC and staff.  The establishment of this service will not have a direct impact on the public where the benefits will be indirect through improved efficiency and operational collaboration.