Agenda item

To consider the report of the Director of City Development providing an update on the progress of the ‘Grey to Green’ infrastructure projects following the successful Getting Building Fund submission in September 2020 and the subsequent Full Business Case approval at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee in February 2021. The report also seeks approval of the designs developed to date for each scheme and their progression into the detailed design and planning submission phase, together with the necessary ‘Authority to Spend’ of the allocated funding identified for each scheme.

Further to Minute No. 125, 10^th February 2021, the Director of City Development submitted a report providing an update on the progress of the ‘Grey to Green’ infrastructure projects following the successful ‘Getting Building Fund’ submission in September 2020 and the subsequent Full Business Case approval at the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Investment Committee in February 2021. The report also sought approval of the designs developed to date for each scheme and their progression into the detailed design and planning submission phase, together with the necessary ‘Authority to Spend’ of the allocated funding identified for each scheme.

Responding to a Member’s enquiry, the Board was provided with information on how the principles of the proposed schemes remained appropriate when taking account of the current economic position and the evolving ways of working and living as a result of the pandemic.

Members also discussed the decision making processes by which the final business case for the projects had been approved by the Combined Authority and given the advanced stage at which these projects were at, it was felt that any risk of further intervention by the Combined Authority or Mayoral Authority was minimal.   

The Board discussed the associated timeframes for this funding process, whilst a Member reiterated his earlier comment about the need for communities outside of the city centre to have an opportunity to access appropriate funding streams moving forward.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the progress which has been made to date regarding the development of the ‘Grey to Green’ programme following the successful bid to the ‘Getting Building Fund’, be noted, with the development of the three projects, namely: Meadow Lane Greenspace; Sovereign Street Bridge and Crown Point Road calming and greening, also being noted;

(b)  That the design proposals developed for the creation of Meadow Lane Green Space as part of the Council’s ongoing commitment to the development of green infrastructure in the city centre to support the implementation of the ‘Our Spaces’ Strategy and the South Bank Regeneration Framework Supplementary Planning Document, be approved, and that approval also be given to the progression of the scheme, as presented, into the next phase of detailed and technical design;

(c)  That the design proposals developed to date for Sovereign Street Bridge, be approved, and that approval also be given for the submission of a planning application for the bridge, in order to enable the continued progression of the scheme;

(d)  That the indicative layout proposals developed to date for the Crown Point Road calming and greening scheme, be approved, and that approval also be given for the progression of the scheme into the next phase of design;

(e)  That it be noted that the Director of City Development will be responsible for the implementation of such matters, as detailed within the submitted report, and the resolutions, as above.