Issue - meetings

[To approve recommendations to progress the next stages of the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 & 2 project]

1.      That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services to approve the advertisement and pursuit of Traffic Regulation Orders for the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 & 2 – Willenhall Road project in line with the approvals granted in the Investing In Our Well-Connected Communities Transport Capital Programme 2023-2024 report.

2.      That engagement in Early Contractor Involvement for development of the work programme under the Midlands Highway Alliance Medium Scheme Framework or other alternative appropriate framework up to a value of £100,000 be approved, subject to a signed grant agreement.

3.      That the removal of vegetation and trees be authorised, subject to grant funding being secured.

4.      That a supplementary capital budget of £400,000 for the development of the A454 City East Gateway – Willenhall Road project fully funded by City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) grant be approved and the utilisation, subject to a signed grant agreement be approved.

5.      That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to enter into or execute or seal the Grant Agreement, an agreement pursuant to Section 8 of the Highway Act 1980 together with any other legal agreement in relation to the scheme as deemed necessary in respect of the above-mentioned paragraphs.

6.      That the submission of the draft Outline Business Case to the Department for Transport and expected decision in early 2024 be noted.

7.      That the ongoing development work on the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 & 2 - Willenhall Road Outline Business Case and towards the Full Business Case submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), in line with the approvals granted by the Investing In Our Well-Connected Communities Transport Capital Programme 2023-2024 report be noted.

1.      That it be noted that further approvals would be sought for additional externally provided development funding.

2.      That the submission of the Strategic Outline Business Case to the Single Assurance Framework at West Midlands Combined Authority in December 2022 and approved £400,000 of the project’s CRSTS allocation be noted.

3.      That the engagement in ongoing consultation with impacted parties be noted.

4.      That it be noted that future property acquisitions would be considered in a separate report, A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 and 2 (Willenhall Road) Property Acquisitions Report, which details the property acquisitions required to deliver the project and the approvals needed for the acquisitions.

Councillor Craig Collingswood presented the report on proposals to maintain momentum with delivery of the next stages of the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 and 2 project. The A454 was a key employment, housing and transport corridor. Changing the makeup of the existing highway to create one way operation for strategic movements would release land for prioritising active travel interventions, improving journey time reliability for all road users. The scheme would also improve public transport conditions and reduce the impacts of the high number of existing journeys that that had on air quality and noise for local residents, enabling a safer, greener, healthier and more welcoming environment along this key corridor.

Resolved:

1.    That authority be delegated to the Cabinet Member for Environment and Climate Change in consultation with the Director of Resident Services to approve the advertisement and pursuit of Traffic Regulation Orders for the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 & 2 – Willenhall Road project in line with the approvals granted in the Investing In Our Well-Connected Communities Transport Capital Programme 2023-2024 report.

2.    That engagement in Early Contractor Involvement for development of the work programme under the Midlands Highway Alliance Medium Scheme Framework or other alternative appropriate framework up to a value of £100,000 be approved, subject to a signed grant agreement.

3.    That the removal of vegetation and trees be authorised, subject to grant funding being secured.

4.    That a supplementary capital budget of £400,000 for the development of the A454 City East Gateway – Willenhall Road project fully funded by City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) grant be approved and the utilisation, subject to a signed grant agreement be approved.

5.    That the Chief Operating Officer be authorised to enter into or execute or seal the Grant Agreement, an agreement pursuant to Section 8 of the Highway Act 1980 together with any other legal agreement in relation to the scheme as deemed necessary in respect of the above-mentioned paragraphs.

6.    That the submission of the draft Outline Business Case to the Department for Transport and expected decision in early 2024 be noted.

7.    That the ongoing development work on the A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 & 2 - Willenhall Road Outline Business Case and towards the Full Business Case submission to the Department for Transport (DfT) and West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), in line with the approvals granted by the Investing In Our Well-Connected Communities Transport Capital Programme 2023-2024 report be noted.

8.    That it be noted that further approvals would be sought for additional externally provided development funding.

9.    That the submission of the Strategic Outline Business Case to the Single Assurance Framework at West Midlands Combined Authority in December 2022 and approved £400,000 of the project’s CRSTS allocation be noted.

10. That the engagement in ongoing consultation with impacted parties be noted.

11. That it be noted that future property acquisitions would be considered in a separate report, A454 City East Gateway Phases 1 and 2 (Willenhall Road) Property Acquisitions Report, which  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5