Decision details

Purpose of Report: Executive are asked to decide whether to formally join the West Yorkshire Transport Fund in order to fund the major investment required to deliver Transport infrastructure at York Central and improvements to the Outer Ring Road.

The report will conclude whether negotiations with the West Yorkshire Combined Authority have resulted in the Fund providing cost benefits to the City Council.

Executive will be asked to consider whether to formally join the fund or not.

Recommended:           That Council agree to:

(i)           Formally join the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.

(ii)          Accept the financial liability that arises from joining the fund and to note that future increases in the levy would represent as unavoidable additional cost in future budgets. Although the precise figures could not be determined at this stage it would be within the parameters identified in the report which estimated an increase from the budgeted contribution of £500k per annum to £1m to £1.5m per annum in 2025.

(iii)        Delegate to the Deputy Chief Executive/Director of Customer and Corporate Services the finalisation of the legal agreement in consultation with the Leader of the Council, the Deputy Leader of the Council and the Finance Portfolio holder

Reason:      (i)      To ensure the delivery of the York Outer Ring Road improvements and York Central Access Road and Station Gateway schemes.

(ii)      To ensure proper financial planning within the authority.

(iii)     To ensure that York’s position is fully protected in line with the principles set out in the report.