Issue - meetings

The Corporate Director of Economy & Place to present a report which provides an update on progress to deliver the scheme, and sets out proposals for proceeding with further development activity to maintain the positive momentum and ensure readiness for delivery whilst we await the confirmation of the conditions of the grant funding.

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.

The Assistant Director of Regeneration & Asset Management presented a report which provided an update on progress to deliver the York Central scheme, and set out proposals to proceed with further development activity while awaiting confirmation of the conditions of grant funding.

Progress to date was demonstrated by the key milestones set out in paragraph 14 of the report; in particular, the announcement in March 2020 of a £77.1m grant award from the Ministry of Housing Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to fund enabling infrastructure for the site.  The West Yorkshire Transport Fund (WYTF) Full Business Case (FBC) was conditional upon confirmation of the MHCLG grant conditions, which was still pending.  A proposal to maintain project momentum by drawing down funds from the previously approval York Central budget was set out in paragraphs 23-24.  The project programme had been updated to reflect a delay in determination of the Reserved Matters Application (RMA) due to the impact of Covid-19; however, the start of enabling works in late 2020 would allow the main infrastructure works to begin in early 2021.  Land at Alliance House / Chancery Rise was no longer required for access to York Central and it was proposed to dispose of this to Network Rail, as detailed in paragraphs 33-35.

In response to matters raised under Public Participation and by the Opposition Group Leader, officers stated that an up to date risk register, including Covid-19 risk, was maintained for the project and that delaying development would increase the risk of failure.

Members welcomed the report, emphasising the importance of the project to the long term economy of the city, and the Chair confirmed that conversations with local communities and the York Civic Trust would continue to be encouraged as the project progressed.

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  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11