Agenda item

John Smith, Interim Executive Director Growth and Regeneration introduced the item to Members.  BCC officers and WECA representatives in attendance then provided some examples of how projects are managed and delivered and then provided some examples of the positive regional transport work that was taking place.

David Gibson said overall this was a billion-pound portfolio and Bristol City Council (BCC) was at the heart of a lot of that delivery.  It was emphasised how important it was for BCC and WECA to work closely, so they could Deliver the full scope of all the programmes as they have been bid for and funded, largely by the Department for Transport (DfT).

Malcolm Parsons highlighted some key examples of joint working between BCC and the Combined Authority (CA) such as local Park and Ride projects and railway stations. The current and positive collaboration was the only way to effectively deliver projects such as these and he wanted that to continue.

Adam Crowther, Head of City Transport,  took Members through the published slide deck.  Some key points from the presentation and discussion were as follows:

• The slides only show some examples of projects and do not reflect all the projects currently being undertaken. 
• Officers provided an overview of the complex processes and phases required to establish a Park and Ride service along the M32 such as re-classification which was critical to enable the work to go ahead.  Other options were either extremely expensive and/or unachievable.
• The planned M32 Park and Ride will include a mobility hub, require land purchases and a number of planning applications.  National Highways have confirmed that to delivering the whole vision will require de-trunking of the M32.
• There is still a need to identify some important areas for bus connections.  The wider economic needs of region, such as access to jobs will be considered when decisions are made.  Officers emphasised the importance of coordinating the project with WECA and having a ‘regional voice’,  especially when having an influence on National Highways.
• The A4 Portway corridor and hub is a BCC led project and WECA are overseeing it. BCC was currently working on the design of the route into the City.  The relationship with WECA  on this scheme was one where BCC set out the proposals and WECA perform a consensual assurance role.
• CRSTS – the DfT offered the opportunity of re-baselining the programme, funding and delivery. Officers have gone through the process of revising delivery and other scope changes but it is still subject to DfT approval. It had also been suggested by the DfT that there was scope for over-programming in CRSTS 1. 
• The proposals for CRSTS 2 would be submitted next year. Although it was noted that the £8billion CRSTS 2 funding was not confirmed yet or if it would be bidding process or an allocation of funding.

Further Member Questions and discussion points were as follows:

• A Member asked if ‘over-programming’ was a list of everything that we want to do and was it an ‘off the shelf’ list?  Officers said over programming allows some projects to be brought forward whilst there are delays in others. This allows the programme of work to continue and reduces overall delays. 

• The requirement to spend all CRSTS funding by March 2027 was confirmed. If all the funding had not been spent the Council would negotiate for an extension and the intention was to avoid having to pay back any funding.
• Would all of the projects be delivered or were some projects potentially at risk? Officers said they completed a re-programming exercise and it showed all projects are online for 2027 completion.  However, the City Centre was the biggest project and the had the most significant amount of match funding attached to it.  Inflationary pressures could cause changes but was why there was a programme management office who could make changes if necessary and they would be watching that very closely.  David Gibson added that the impact of inflation was part of the reason they had re-baselined and had subjected the entire programme to some very detailed and rigorous examination and were not putting forward something that they did not think they could deliver as a region  They were confident that the entire programme would be fully delivered by March 2027. 
• Clarification was provided on the difference between the reclassification and de-trunking of the M32.  Reclassifying did not mean that National Highways relinquished responsibility.  But de-trunking meant the local authority would now take now take responsibility for it.

• The M32 crosses local authority boundaries, had WECA been able to help progress this work or would it have happened now anyway? Officers said they been looking to implement a Park and Ride on the M32 for several years.  But the current situation was now different because the relevant local authorities were all pulling in same direction and there’s an understanding this was a regional project that they needed to engage with.  But WECA had likely helped the process yes.

• Given the high volume of traffic on the M32, had this ever been considered for a route for mass transit? Officers said yes, as this was a very straight road it could potentially be used for trams etc but there was very little housing there to serve until Eastville.  That was a possibility in future, but it was currently seen more suited to a bus route that could come right into city centre as well.

The Chair thanked all the officers for their time.