Minutes:
Leah Millward and Scott Leadbetter from Steer Group gave a presentation regarding the formal signing off for the Business Case.
Steer updated the Group that in the original Leyland Town Investment Plan, the various investments outlined to regenerate Leyland were divided into 3 schemes which identified the development of business cases for each project. However, since then it had been agreed that in order to maximize the strategic alignment, complementarity and value for money and to ensure proportionality in the production of the business cases, Project A & B would be combined. The two business cases being developed were therefore:
Project A: Town Centre Transformation (includes the Market Regeneration); and Project B: Business Advice, Skills and Enterprise Hub (BASE2).
Steer also updated on the business case composition and costs:-
Project A to consist of the Market Regeneration, Quin St, Balfour Court (previously Churchill Way), Church Place, Public Realm and Other Fees (i.e. site acquisitions etc.);
Project B to consist of BASE2, Market Square and Other fees (i.e. site acquisitions etc.)
The update was acknowledged by members of the Town Deal Board.
Rachel Salter, Service Lead (Development and Business) also informed the Board that she was engaging with Runshaw College as a service provider for BASE2.
The Leader of the Council, Councillor Paul Foster stressed that this was significant investment and that the Council as the accountable body would be taking on the risk. The matter would be formally considered by the Council on 23 February 2022.
Questions and key issues highlighted during the discussion were:-
Public Realm – a question was asked as to who will be responsible for ongoing maintenance. Councillor Foster indicated that the Council was looking to create a fund for this purpose. Rachel Salter also said that they were working with Lancashire County Council on specific materials.
Segregated cycleway – it was confirmed that the cycleway would be separate from the road at Chapel Brow.
Cycle investment – are the benefits presented in the Business Case realistic? Steer responded that this would be audited further down the line and would depend on the value of the uplift. It was stressed that the Business Case would be transparent and robust.
Katherine Fletcher MP queried as to the sequence of events leading up to submission. Rachel Salter explained that the next steps will be developing a funding profile aligned with the construction programme. The Business Case will be finalised at the end of this month and then go through an independent review.
Katherine Fletcher MP expressed concerns about the governance arrangements/decision-making process and lateness of the information provided given that the Board were being asked to sign off the Business Case at this stage. The Chair stressed that the Business Case presented for sign off was a refinement of what had previously been considered by the Board. He also sought to clarify that the accountable body for the Town Deal project was not the Town Deal Board, but the local authority i.e. South Ribble Borough Council and hence the Business Case was not being signed off by the Board but rather recommended for approval to the Council.
It was highlighted that the timetable for submission was set by the Government, that development of the business case had been an iterative process and that Board members had been provided with the latest version of the information at each stage.
Councillor Foster stressed that timescales for submission were extremely tight and as the legally accountable body the Business Case must be approved by Council.
It was requested that further information to support the Business Case be shared with the Board. It was agreed that all possible information would be shared, including a summary of the design that is being developed and an outline of the cost and funding of the scheme, however some information would be kept confidential due to the commercial sensitivity in respect of the interests declared by some Board members.
The Chair moved that the Business Case be recommended for approval by the Council. A vote was taken by a show of hands as follows:-
FOR:-
Councillor J Bell – South Ribble Borough Council
Paul Foster – Federation of Small Businesses
Claire Lowe – Uclan
Nik Puttnam – Maple Grove
Tim Cahill – Runshaw College
Jeremy Clay – Bodycare Stores
Liam Fergusson – NW projects
Charles Hadcock (Chair) – Roachbridge Mill
Councillor Foster – South Ribble Borough Council
Councillor Bill Evans – South Ribble Borough Council
AGAINST: – Adrian Walsh – Leyland Trucks
ABSTAIN:- – Katherine Fletcher MP
RESOLVED:-
i)That the Board formally recommends the Business Case for approval to the Council.
ii) that further information that supports the Business Case be provided by email for comment by close of play Friday 11 February 2022.