Issue details

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.