Issue - meetings

The Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment to present a report which seeks approval to merge the remaining Junction Scheme and Dualling Scheme for the York Outer Ring Road (YORR) into a single programme of planning and delivery, following the news that YORR has received Programme Entry for the first phase of dualling, from A19 Rawcliffe to A64 Malton Road.

Resolved:  (i)      That the positive news that YORR has Programme Entry for the first phase of dualling, from A19 Rawcliffe to A64 Malton Road, be noted.

Reason:     Successive administrations have for many years sought funding to upgrade the YORR, and many residents and employers in the city will welcome and support the news of this proposal.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to merge the remaining Junction Scheme and the Dualling Scheme into a single programme of planning and delivery.

                   (iii)     That officers be requested to work with the funders of the two schemes to detail the impact of the two separate approvals and bring a single programme and revised timetable to a future meeting of Executive.

                   (iv)    That officers ensure that any positive impact on the city’s transport system of dualling the YORR is incorporated into the review of the Local Transport Plan so that policies can look at capturing any benefit.

Reason:     To develop a single project approach, providing benefits that will aid the management and co-ordination of the overall scheme, minimise the impact on the city of delivering such a significant infrastructure project and avoid abortive works, thus delivering the benefits and purchasing power of a single programme.

                   (v)     That approval be given to use the City of York match funding which has already been approved for the overall development specifically for the acquisition of land for the Dualling Scheme up to a value of £1m.

Reason:     To enable the match funding to be used for land purchase, where appropriate, at the earliest opportunity.

                   (vi)    That it be noted that the Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment has delegated authority to purchase land by private agreement / private treaty up to and including a value of £250k in any one land interest in respect of the Junction Scheme and that such authority also be delegated to the Assistant Director in relation to the purchase of land by private agreement / private treaty in respect of the Dualling Scheme.

Reasons:   a)      To ensure that land purchases for both schemes can be administered and acquired in an efficient manner.

                   b)      To ensure that the council can demonstrate it has attempted to avoid a future Compulsory Purchase Order by acquiring land through private agreement.

The Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment and the Major Projects Manager presented a report which proposed to merge the remaining Junction and Dualling schemes for the York Outer Ring Road (YORR) into a single programme of planning and delivery.

The proposal followed YORR’s receipt of Programme Entry for the first phase of dualling, from A19 Rawcliffe to A64 Malton Road, providing further significant investment in the transport network.  Due to the increased funding, the project would now require a single Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) process, with both schemes being dealt with as one.  This meant that a full planning application was required, creating a pause that would enable a number of longer term advantages to be captured, as detailed in paragraph 19 of the report. 

It was proposed to build on the work done so far and co-ordinate the design, consultation, planning and EIA, land acquisition, utility diversions and procurement of both schemes into one.  Merging the schemes would result in more efficiency and cost effectiveness, thus enabling a quicker overall delivery despite the initial pause.

In response to Members’ questions, officers indicated that a further update report would be brought to Executive in April.  Members welcomed the news of Programme Entry and the aspirations for the project and

Resolved:  (i)      That the positive news that YORR had Programme Entry for the first phase of dualling, from A19 Rawcliffe to A64 Malton Road, be noted.

Reason:     Successive administrations have for many years sought funding to upgrade the YORR, and many residents and employers in the city will welcome and support the news of this proposal.

                   (ii)      That approval be given to merge the remaining Junction Scheme and the Dualling Scheme into a single programme of planning and delivery.

                   (iii)     That officers be requested to work with the funders of the two schemes to detail the impact of the two separate approvals and bring a single programme and revised timetable to a future meeting of Executive.

                   (iv)    That officers ensure that any positive impact on the city’s transport system of dualling the YORR is incorporated into the review of the Local Transport Plan so that policies can look at capturing any benefit.

Reason:     To develop a single project approach, providing benefits that will aid the management and co-ordination of the overall scheme, minimise the impact on the city of delivering such a significant infrastructure project and avoid abortive works, thus delivering the benefits and purchasing power of a single programme.

                   (v)     That approval be given to use the City of York match funding which has already been approved for the overall development specifically for the acquisition of land for the Dualling Scheme up to a value of £1m.

Reason:     To enable the match funding to be used for land purchase, where appropriate, at the earliest opportunity.

                   (vi)    That it be noted that the Assistant Director of Transport, Highways & Environment has delegated authority to purchase land by private agreement / private treaty up to and including a  ...  view the full minutes text for item 94