Decision details

Purpose of Report: The report will provide an update on York Central work to date. This report will consider an updated funding position and consider the financial and land options to take the project forward.

Members are asked to agree further activity and the release of further funding for a package of early site enabling works ahead of the first phase of infrastructure construction and ongoing project and programme management. The report will also consider land and property proposals to enable site clearance and construction to proceed.

Resolved:  (i)      That further funding of £1.96m be committed to cover City of York Council (CYC) project team and consultancy support costs, undertake further essential survey works, and fund an early enabling infrastructure works contract to April / May 2021.

                   (ii)      That authority be delegated:

a)   to the Interim Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to take such steps as are necessary to deliver the package of early site enabling works and

b)   to the Director of Economy & Place, in consultation with the Director of Goverance, to taken such steps as are necessary to enter into the resulting funding agreement.

                   (iii)     That authority be delegated to the Interim Head of Paid Service, in consultation with the Executive Leader, to take such steps as are necessary to agree the grant terms with MHCLG for £77.1m of infrastructure funding and to enter into the resulting funding agreement.

                   (iv)    That approval be given to procure the further project support consultancy services necessary to for the delivery phase, and that the authority to take such steps as are necessary to procure, award and enter into the resulting contracts be delegated to the Director of Economy & Place, in consultation with the Director of Governance.

Reason:     To ensure that appropriate progress can be made on project development, focusing on delivery readiness for the first phase of the York Central enabling infrastructure.

                   (v)     That approval be given to dispose of the land at Alliance House / Chancery Rise to Network Rail (NR), to facilitate the relocation of rail infrastructure maintenance facilities from the York Central site, with NR to reimburse the council for expenditure incurred by the council in connection with its ownership since 2016, totalling £426,967; the disposal price to be £1 (the same price for which it was purchased by the council from NR in 2016), and to include a restrictive covenant to limit the future use of the land to the purpose agreed in this disposal.

Reason:     To ensure that York Central is cleared of operational rail activity and made available for redevelopment.