Decision details

i)  To approve the scheme as described within the report to Executive Board;

ii)  To agree the two step phased approach as the most pragmatic way forward at this time;

iii)  To approve an injection of funding into the Capital Programme of £65 million from the Defra Booster Fund;

iv)  Subject to the affordability of tendered prices, to authorise the expenditure of consultant and contractor costs to progress the recommendations of the report.

Further to Minute No. 114, 13^th December 2017, the Director of City Development submitted a report providing a further update on the development of Phase 2 of the Leeds Flood Alleviation Scheme (LFAS2). In addition, the report also sought approval of the remaining elements of the scheme required to deliver the proposals.

Members welcomed the proposals detailed within the submitted report and briefly discussed the location of the proposed attenuation area.

In addition, the Board acknowledged that the two step approach being recommended was the most pragmatic way forward, given the Government’s current position of being unable to provide any more than £65million of funding at this stage, prior to the next Comprehensive Spending Review.

Regarding the Council making representations to Government with the aim of securing further Government funding for the scheme, Members discussed the actions which had been taken to date to make such representations, with the Chief Executive also providing an update in which he advised that liaison with senior civil servants and the Environment Agency continued, and that the city’s MPs were also being kept informed.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the scheme, as described within the submitted report, be approved;

(b)  That approval be given that the two step phased approach is the most pragmatic way forward at this time;

(c)  That the injection of the remaining confirmed funding, as listed within section 4.4.1 of the submitted report, be approved;

(d)  That subject to the affordability of tendered prices, the necessary authority required to spend consultant and contractor costs to progress the resolutions arising from the submitted report be delegated to the Director of City Development, subject to agreement with both the Executive Member for ‘Regeneration, Transport and Planning’ and the Leader of the Council;

(e)  That approval be given for Leeds City Council to take responsibility for the maintenance and operation of all assets constructed as part of the LFAS2;

(f)  That it be noted that the Chief Officer Highways and Transportation will be responsible for the implementation of such matters.

Members of Wards listed will be consulted on the contents of the report. A stakeholder Communication & Engagement Plan was established in 2017 and in the process of being reviewed. Quarterly newsletters regarding FAS2 are distributed and a scheme twitter account is well established, issuing weekly tweets alongside the schemes website which is updated on a regular basis. The project team also held a large exhibition about FAS2 at the Kirkstall Festival on 14th July 2018.  Engagement with key stakeholders, affected businesses, landowners and the local community throughout 2018 has taken place and will continue as the scheme progresses.

Members of Wards listed will be consulted on the contents of the report. A stakeholder Communication & Engagement Plan was established in 2017 and in the process of being reviewed. Quarterly newsletters regarding FAS2 are distributed and a scheme twitter account is well established, issuing weekly tweets alongside the schemes website which is updated on a regular basis. The project team also held a large exhibition about FAS2 at the Kirkstall Festival on 14th July. We have positively engaged with key stakeholders, affected businesses, landowners and the local community throughout 2018 and we will continue to do so as the scheme progresses.