Agenda item

The Director of Economy and Place and the Head of Transport  to present a report which sets out the proposed approach to the project and seeks approval of the delivery methodology for the development and construction of the seven targeted improvements to junctions on the north York Outer Ring Road over the next 5 years.

Resolved:  That the Executive proposes to Full Council that a budget of £34.2m be approved for the York Outer Ring Road improvements funded from the West Yorkshire Plus Transport Fund grant.

Reason:    To confirm the detailed allocation within the budget for the delivery of the Outer Ring Road Upgrade scheme in accordance with the previous Council Decision taken in December 2016.

[See also Part B Minutes)

Members considered a report which set out the proposed approach to the York Outer Ring Road improvements project and sought approval of the delivery methodology for the development and construction of the seven targeted improvements to junctions on the north York Outer Ring Road over the next 5 years. 

Consideration was given as to how key issues and risks would be managed as well as the most effective way to make decisions over the coming months to develop the proposals.

The report recommended that future decisions on the programme of improvements were taken by the Executive Member for Transport and Planning, for example over matters concerning the purchase of land, consultation and phasing of works.

In response to earlier public questions, it was clarified that there would be detailed consultation carried out on individual roundabouts and that subway access for pedestrians and cyclists would be provided at various locations.

Resolved: 

That the Executive accepts the proposed approach and methodology for future development activity on the YORR Improvement programme, and approves the following scheme of delegation to enable effective management of the project:

a.        To approve the acquisition of land by agreement as required for the upgrade schemes, and to delegate approval of acquisition of land interests by agreement of up to £200,000 for any one interest to the Executive Member for Transport and Planning.

b.        To delegate to the Assistant Director of Transport, Highways and Environment the negotiation of the terms of purchase for individual land interests by private agreement.  By definition, this delegation will also include negotiation of easements and temporary rights where freehold ownership is not required e.g. for drainage purposes, or temporary occupation for the construction works.  This delegation will also include obtaining the release/extinguishment of, or variation of, any third part rights over affected land (for example a third party might have a right of way over land which needs to be acquired).

c.        To authorise the preparation of a draft Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) in parallel to the purchase of land by private agreement in order to reduce the risk of the programme being prolonged if negotiations with some landowners become protracted.  (Any decision to authorise the actual making of that CPO would be referred back to the Executive for determination in a subsequent further report).

d.        To delegate operational and detailed decision making to the Executive Member for Transport and Planning as the programme of design and delivery develops over the next 5 years.  These decisions will include:

                             i.        Approval of proposed consultation with residents, businesses and stakeholders.

                            ii.        Approval of the final layout of each junction upgrade.

                           iii.        Approval of phasing of the scheme.

                          iv.        Approval of land acquisitions up to £200k (in any one interest as above)

                           v.        Acceptance of tenders for construction.

e.        To receive further update reports on progress through the Council’s monitoring regime. Further specific reports will be brought back to the Executive when decisions are needed on major changes to the scope of the project or if there are significant financial implications to be considered.

Reason: The proposals being made to Executive will ensure that the planning, preparation and construction of the York Outer Ring Road Improvements can be undertaken in the most efficient manner to meet the ambitions of the City Council and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.