Agenda item

Perry Wardle presented a report and gave a PowerPoint presentation on the UK Central Infrastructure Package Strategic Outline Business Case. The report advised the Board that as part of the WMCA Devolution Agreement £288 million had been secured for a UK Central Infrastructure Package. The report outlined the first Strategic Outline Case which identified the initial funding being sought for detailed work on Phase 1 of the package, consisting of early priority schemes in line with UK Central and WMCA objectives. The PowerPoint presentation provided greater clarification of the geography and anticipated impact of the proposals.

Councillor Robert Hulland advised that the triangle of land in question was owned by Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council, Birmingham City Council and two private estates. He questioned the risks involved with the scheme and whether the costs were realistic. Perry Wardle explained that the Strategic Outline Business Case would allow the studies to progress towards the preparation of the Outline Business Case and the Full Business Case. He identified two elements with regard to risks on expenditure in 2017/18:

i)             The strategic acquisition of the land at Simon Digby housing which was currently in the ownership of Solihull MBC and Solihull College. An agreement in principle was in place with the College for Solihull MBC to acquire the land but the legal process had yet to be completed;

ii)            The accessibility enhancements around the Solihull Rail Station and Town Centre. A consultation exercise had yet to be completed.

Councillor Robert Hulland enquired whether there was confidence that the proposed expenditure target would be met. Perry Wardle advised that he was confident that it would.

Councillor Majid Mahmood enquired whether the necessary funds to be provided by other partners was ringfenced for this scheme. He also enquired when the North Solihull area, as an area of deprivation, would benefit from the scheme. Perry Wardle advised that the funds to be expended in 2017/18 were secure and future funding would be the subject of further reports and discussions. With regard to North Solihull he referred to the previous investments in that area and the additional benefits which would accrue to that area from this scheme.

Linda Horne advised that the WMCA was working closely with Solihull MBC on this scheme and that the monies were available with contractual arrangements in place.

Councillor Robert Hulland enquired whether the Board had delegated powers to approve the requests. Carl Craney confirmed that with the sums involved it did.

Resolved:

1.    That the Solihull MBC Strategic Outline Case (SOC) Phase 1 and the allocation of £3.4 million of WMCA funding from the £288 million UK Central infrastructure package to enable projects within the SOC to progress be approved;

2.    That the decision of Solihull MBC’s Cabinet on 20 July 2017 to endorse the Growth and Development Investment Plan along with the approval of the submission of the SOC Phase 1 to the WMCA be noted;

3.    That the SOC Phase 1 identified indicative total project costs of £112.6 million of which £63.6 million was proposed to be set against the £288 million UK Central Infrastructure Package be noted. The balance being met from other sources of funding including Solihull MBC, Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership, Central Government and the European Union. Requests to commit further funding would be brought forward as projects progressed;

4.    That the SOC Phase 1 identified a funding requirement in 2017/18 of £4.33 million being sought from the UK Central Infrastructure package with the balance being met from Solihull MBC’s resources which have already be approved be noted;

5.    That the demonstrated and urgent need to progress the projects within the SOC to ensure key intervention measures informed or delivered prior to the commencement of works by Transport for West Midlands (TfWM), HS2 and Highways England be noted;

6.    That in 2016/17 UK Central Infrastructure Package resources of £1.83 million had been committed to support work on the UK Central Package be noted.