Agenda item

C Howard introduced a report which requested the Board’s approval for two schemes with a value of £2.08m Getting Building Fund (GBF) and to give approval for delegated authority. 

On 30th June 2020, the MCA had been awarded £33.6m GBF to invest in ‘shovel-ready’ projects that will provide stimulus to local economies.  The funds needed to be defrayed by 31st March 2022, which allowed an 18-month delivery window.

The Appraisal Panel Summary Table attached at Appendix A to the report asked the Board to take a decision whether to support the proposal of a GBF grant of £0.580m to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver a Goldthorpe Strategic Land Assembly project.  The grant would be utilised for land acquisition and associated costs such as legal fees, site surveys and planning application fees for an employment site at Goldthorpe. 

The project builds on the M1 Junction 36 Phase 2: Goldthorpe scheme which had been funded through Local Growth Fund to make highways improvement works towards the eastern end of the M1 Junction 36 economic growth corridor.

The GBF project would deliver the first stage of a three stage land assembly strategy and would provide a catalyst for securing up to 99.31 acres through stage 2.  Stage 3 for the remaining 77 acres is part of the long term strategy.

The project was considered to have a good strategic fit with the SEP (Strategic Economic Plan) and RAP (Renewal Action Plan).  The proposal aims to accelerate delivery of the wider economic development which is consistent with the aims of GBF. 

The project was estimated to deliver a Benefit Cost Ratio of 30:1 based on the GBF contribution.  On this basis the GBF investment offered good value for money. 

The project was considered able to deliver within the GBF timeframe, with some initial activity already underway.  Planning permission for the new access roundabout to the site is expected to be submitted in June 2021 and acquisition of land expected to be completed in September 2021.

The project was recommended for approval with conditions of planning approval and completed procurement to satisfy before entry into contract. 

The Board considered and approved the project for award of a £0.580m grant from the GBF. 

N.B. At this point in the meeting, the Co-Chair, Councillor Johnson assumed the position as Chair for the Board’s consideration of the ‘Active Travel Bridge’ project. 

G Smith took no part in the discussion or voting thereon. 

The Appraisal Panel Summary Table attached at Appendix B to the report asked the Board to take a decision whether to support the proposal of a GBF grant of £1.5m to Barnsley Metropolitan Borough Council to deliver an active travel bridge over the railway linking Penny Pie Park and Pogmoor Recreation Ground to complement and enhance the delivery of the approved A628 Dodworth Road/Broadway Junction Improvement scheme.

The bridge aimed to open green spaces for local residents, improve a housing sites viability and provide a safe crossing point for school children and other members of the general public.

The grant would cover fees, procurement and construction costs.

The project was considered to provide a good strategic fit with the RAP and SEP. The assessment had accepted that the bridge would positively contribute to marketing of the Barugh Green Road site and assist in unlocking the site for housing and employment.

Overall, the project would represent a Benefit Cost ratio of 16.4 to 1.  On this basis the GBF investment offered good value for money.

The assessment considered the milestones and dependencies to be realistic, with key dependencies of achieving planning permission (expected December 2020) and formal agreement of Network Rail (expected July 2021).

The project was recommended for approval with conditions of planning approval and Network Rail agreement to satisfy before entry into contract. 

The Board considered and approved the project for award of a £1.5m grant from the GBF. 

RESOLVED – That the Housing and Infrastructure Board considered and approved:

1)      The project ‘Goldthorpe Strategic Land Assembly’ for award of £0.580m grant from the Getting Building Fund subject to the conditions set out in the Appraisal Panel Summary Table attached at Appendix A.

2)      The project ‘Active Travel Bridge’ for award of £1.5m grant from the Getting Building Fund subject to the conditions set out in the Appraisal Panel Summary Table attached at Appendix B.

3)      Delegated authority be given to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer to enter into legal agreements for the schemes covered above. 

N.B. At this point in the meeting, the Co-Chair, G Smith re-assumed the position as Chair of the meeting.