Decision Maker: Director of Economy and Environment
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Is Key decision?: No
Is subject to call in?: No
Quality Streets Active Travel and Digital
Infrastructure – Doncaster Town Centre will link
inspirational design, digital technology infrastructure to provide
cohesive and sustainable connectivity. This scheme continues the
recent Quality Streets programme and will deliver highway
improvements, cycle lanes, improved public realm supporting and
enable investment in urban centre employment and residential
development.
Combining Transforming Cities Fund and Getting Building Fund, the
scheme will improve the connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians
through the urban centre to the station and Civic and Cultural
Quarter. Additionally, it will use this opportunity for the
installation of high-speed digital infrastructure which will
maximise business opportunities in a digital age, going
forward.
The opportunity to combine both funds will deliver the preferred
scheme to St Sepulchre Gate, Duke Street, Cleveland Street and Wood
Street. The works will be carried out in 2 phases commencing with
Phase 1: St Sepulchre Gate and Duke Street. Phase 2 will consist of
Cleveland Street and Wood Street. The benefits include new
segregated cycle lanes, improved and enhanced public realm making
the streetscape more attractive for pedestrians, and works to the
highway.
On 9 March 2021 Cabinet approved the progression to Funding
Agreement stage and the subsequent acceptance of funding (subject
to the negotiation of acceptable terms and conditions with the
grant sponsor).
The Cabinet report agreed to the:
1. Progression to Funding Agreement stage and the subsequent
acceptance of £9m SCR funding (subject to the negotiation of
acceptable terms and conditions with the grant sponsor).
2. Delegated negotiating and agreeing the terms of the funding
agreement to the Director of Economy & Environment, in
consultation with the Mayor and Chief Financial Officer.
3. Delegation in respect of the final design and layout to the
Director of Economy & Environment, in consultation with the
Mayor and the Portfolio Holder.
On 22 March 2021 SCR Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) approved the
Quality Streets Active Travel and Digital Infrastructure Programme
Doncaster Town Centre Full Business Case and agreed to enter into a
Funding Agreement.
The Funding Agreement was received from SCR on 23rd June and is in
the process of agreement of terms. The funding profile is split
into two programmes, Programme 1 is TCF fund with spend to be
achieved by March 2023 and Programme 2 is Getting Building fund
with spend to be achieved by March 2022.
The Funding Agreement specifies the terms and conditions for the
grant funding which are output based. There is 100% grant clawback
if the outputs are not achieved by the clawback review date of 30
April 2023. The project outcomes are not subject to clawback,
however are subject to the terms and conditions of the Funding
Agreement.
Table 1 (as set out in the attached Officer Decision Record)
outlines the Outputs for each Funding Programme: Table 2 below
outlines the Project Outcomes for each Funding Programme:
There is also a retention of 5% which will be released as
follows:
- 2.5% retention will be released upon completion of the project
outputs by the completion date of 31 March 2023.
- The remaining 2.5% will be released upon confirmation the project
outcomes have been delivered by the final review date of 31 March
2030.
Agreement is required to enter into the Funding Agreement and draw
down the grant funding to deliver this capital scheme.
That approval is given to:
- Enter into a Funding Agreement with SCR and draw down the
combined Getting Building Fund (GBF) £5.5m and Transforming
Cities Fund (TCF) £3.5m which gives a total of £9m
grant awarded in respect of the Quality Streets Active Travel and
Digital Infrastructure Programme.
- Accept the funding into Doncaster Council’s capital
programme.
- To award constructions contracts to Eurovia via Midlands Highway
Framework (MHA) framework
ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED AND
REJECTED
Option 1 – Do Nothing:
The option of doing nothing, in terms of not signing the Funding
Agreement is not recommended. Failure to agree the Funding
Agreement with SCR will result in the loss of £9m grant
funding and the programme not commencing. The opportunity to
improve active travel and visitor experience in the town centre
will be lost.
Option 2: Enter into Funding Agreement
If the Council enters into the Funding Agreement with SCR, it will
be in a position to claim grant monies to fund the delivery of the
scheme in full. These works will facilitate the improvements to the
public realm and increase active travel in the area.
The recommended option is Option 2: Enter into Funding Agreement.
Failure to enter into Funding Agreement will not allow Doncaster to
progress the scheme delivery and will result in Doncaster not
benefiting from potential investment.
Publication date: 14/10/2021
Date of decision: 13/09/2021
Accompanying Documents: