BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC REPORT Report To
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BIRMINGHAM CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC REPORT Report to: CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT AND ROADS AND CABINET MEMBER FOR COMMERCIALISM, COMMISSIONING AND CONTRACT MANAGEMENT JOINTLY WITH THE CORPORATE DIRECTOR ECONOMY Report of: ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF TRANSPORTATION AND CONNECTIVITY Date of Decision: 20 March 2018 SUBJECT: BIRMINGHAM CYCLE REVOLUTION: PHASE 2 & 3 GREEN ROUTES – FULL BUSINESS CASE Key Decision: No Relevant Forward Plan Ref: N/A If not in the Forward Plan: Chief Executive approved (please "X" box) O&S Chair approved Relevant Cabinet Member(s) Councillor Stewart Stacey – Transport and Roads or Relevant Executive Councillor Majid Mahmood – Commercialism, Member: Commissioning and Contract Management Relevant O&S Chair: Councillor Zafar Iqbal – Economy, Skills and Transport Councillor Mohammed Aikhlaq – Corporate Resources and Governance Wards affected: Selly Oak, Hodge Hill, Shard End, South Yardley, Sheldon (also areas within Solihull MBC) 1. Purpose of report: 1.1 To seek approval to the Full Business Case (FBC) for the remaining ‘Green Route’ schemes as part of the Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR) programme, including associated on-road ‘Local Link’ measures to maintain continuity of the routes. Details of the individual schemes are given in Section 5. 1.2 The schemes are funded through the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF), Section 106 developer funding (S106), and the City Council’s Integrated Transport Block (ITB) capital allocation as a local contribution. Further details are given in Section 4.2 and Appendix A. 1.3 The accompanying private report contains confidential market information and seeks approval to the Full Business Case and to place orders for the works. 1.4 The delivery of certain sections of the schemes are subject to planning consent being approved by Historic England and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (Solihull MBC). 2. Decision(s) recommended: That the Cabinet Member for Transport and Roads and the Cabinet Member for Commercialism, Commissioning and Contract Management, jointly with the Corporate Director Economy: 2.1 Pursuant to the specific delegation by Cabinet dated December 2016, approve the Full Business Case for BCR Phase 2 and 3 Green Route schemes shown in Appendix A, at an estimated total capital cost of £1.650m, subject to obtaining planning consent for the proposals where appropriate. 2.2 Approves the acceptance of £0.423m of grant funding through the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership Local Growth Fund (GBSLEP-LGF). 2.3 Approves the use of £0.099 from Section 106 funding from ‘Bournbrook Account, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston Ward, S/04585/03/OUT’. 2.4 Authorise the City Solicitor to negotiate, execute, seal and complete all necessary documentation to give effect to the above recommendations. Lead Contact Officer(s): Andy Chidgey – Infrastructure Delivery Manager Telephone No: 0121 675 6519 E-mail address: [email protected] 3. Consultation 3.1 Internal 3.1.1 The Cabinet Member for Clean Streets, Recycling and the Environment has been consulted on the contents of this report and is supportive of the proposals. The Leader has been informed of the implications for Council-owned land. 3.1.2 Ward Councillors and the Ward Forums for the affected areas have been consulted by e- mail on the proposals, including one reminder e-mail before the consultation closing date. Further details and responses are provided in Appendix A. 3.1.3 The Corporate Director of Place has also been consulted on the proposals as the Place Directorate is responsible for maintenance of the paths within Birmingham City Council parks. The District Parks Manager has been involved in the development of the scheme and is in support of the improvements. The Traffic Manager will be consulted on the details of the on-highway ‘Local Links’ work. 3.1.4 Officers from City Finance, Procurement and Legal and Governance have been involved in the preparation of this report. 3.2 External 3.2.1 Groups representing people with disabilities and visual impairments have been consulted on the Green Route proposals; no responses or adverse comments have been received. These organisations will be specifically consulted on the proposed ‘shared use’ footways as part of the statutory Highway Notice process. 3.2.2 Other organisations, including cycling and walking groups have been consulted on the proposal and will continue to be consulted through the design and delivery process. 3.2.3 The Green Route schemes are located in areas managed by Parks and Nature Conservation within the Place Directorate. The schemes will be developed and managed by the City Council’s Landscape Practice Group, and part of their remit will be to consult and liaise with users throughout the works, particularly where temporary closures or diversions are required. 3.2.4 The proposals for Newport Road and the ramp leading to Chester Road have been discussed and agreed with Highways England. Highways England has acquired the ramp connecting Newport Road and Chester Road for a side road order and forms a side road. The side road is the responsibility of the Local Authority which is split between Birmingham City Council (BCC) and Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council (SMBC). As long as the side road is used as a Highway, the local Authority do not require permission from Highways England to carry out any works or make any changes. The BCC and SMBC boundary runs through the ramp, however SMBC have agreed for BCC Contractors to complete the works on their section of the ramp. Once completed the ramp will be maintained by BCC. 3.2.5 The green space between Hernefield Road and Bradford Road is Grade II* Listed Historic Park and Garden associated with Castle Bromwich Hall. A Planning Application will be submitted to Birmingham City Council, who will then gain approval/comments from Historic England to proceed with the proposals. 3.2.6 Planning permission will be required from Solihull MBC to carry out the proposed works through the Lyndon Playing Fields. Although the playing fields are under the ownership of Birmingham City Council, they still fall into the boundary of Solihull MBC. 3.2.7 Regular meetings and communication has been maintained between Birmingham City Council and Solihull MBC to agree the schemes within their area. Solihull MBC are also aware of the required planning permissions and are working with Birmingham City Council officers to move these forward. 4. Compliance Issues: 4.1 Are the recommended decisions consistent with the Council’s policies, plans and strategies? 4.1.1 The Birmingham Cycle Revolution (BCR) programme seeks to promote sustainable travel options by increasing the attractiveness of cycling, which will contribute to reducing car usage, improving health and the environment, and improving connectivity for households without a car. The proposals in this report will also benefit pedestrians. 4.1.2 The BCR programme supports the City Council’s policy objectives as outlined in the Vision and Forward Plan approved in May 2017, in particular ‘investment in infrastructure and improved connectivity’, ‘development of a…transport system that promotes and prioritises sustainable journeys’, ‘creating a healthier environment’, and ‘more people walking and cycling’. The measures also support the policies within the Birmingham Development Plan (BDP), the aspirations of Birmingham Connected, the Health and Wellbeing Strategy, and the West Midlands Strategic Transport Plan. Further details are included in Appendix A. 4.1.3 The proposed contractors selected to deliver these scheme are accredited signatories to the Birmingham Business Charter for Social Responsibility, and will be required to produce additional actions proportionate to the contract sum where this meets the threshold for the charter to apply. These actions will be included in the supplier’s Action Plan, and will be implemented and monitored during the contract period. 4.2 Financial Implications 4.2.1 The total capital cost of the infrastructure work for the three schemes covered by this FBC is estimated to be £1.650m, including supervision fees and contingencies. The expenditure will be funded through a combination of the Department for Transport’s Cycle City Ambition Grant (CCAG), the Greater Birmingham and Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership (GBSLEP) Local Growth Fund (LGF), the City Council’s Integrated Transport Block (ITB) capital allocation, and Section 106 funding from ‘Bournbrook Account, Queen Elizabeth Medical Centre, Edgbaston Ward, S/04585/03/OUT’. Further details are given in the Financial Table in Appendix A. 4.2.2 LGF was confirmed by the GBSLEP Growth Team on 2nd September 2015 and a letter of confirmation was received on 23rd October 2015. Approvals to date are shown in tables in Appendix A. 4.2.3 The schemes will deliver new and improved paths in parks and green open space managed by Parks and Nature Conservation. The off-road elements of the new cycle routes will be the responsibility of the Place Directorate, and will be maintained from their existing revenue maintenance budgets where existing paths have been utilised or where path reductions have been made to compensate. This has been confirmed with the relevant Parks Managers. The proposed investment in existing assets will increase their natural life thereby reducing current maintenance obligations, and new assets will be designed to be low maintenance and revenue neutral. 4.2.4 Although Lyndon Playing Fields are within the Solihull MBC Boundary the cycle path will be installed and maintained by Birmingham City Council. Maintenance of the Bournbrook Bridge will be funded as a commuted sum of £19,060 from Parks Commuted Sums Reserve account. 4.2.5 The works within the Solihull MBC area will include works on sections of highway. These will be funded by Solihull MBC and they will remain responsible for future maintenance of these sections of the route.