Item 8 - Glasgow Region City Deal Update
West Dunbartonshire Council · 28 June 2023
Back to West Dunbartonshire Council — 28 June 2023 and its agenda
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WEST DUNBARTONSHIRE COUNCIL Report by Chief Officer (Regeneration and Regulatory) Council: 28 June 2023 Subject: Glasgow City Region City Deal - Update 1. Purpose 1.1 To note the progress with the implementation of the Glasgow City Region City Deal. 2. Recommendations 2.1 It is recommended that Council notes the progress of the Glasgow City Region programme. 3. Background 3.1 The Glasgow City Region City Deal Infrastructure programme equates to £1.13bn of investment during period 2015-2035. Projects are progressing and have reached various stages from Strategic, Outline and Full Business Case stages of approval. 4. Main Issues 4.1 This report addresses City Region progress. A separate report on the Council’s Exxon project is on the agenda. 4.2 The Glasgow City Region Chief Executives Group met on 8 June 2023. Agenda items included the Interim Performance report described in more detail below; a presentation by Glasgow City Council on the Full Business Case for Sauchiehall Street Precinct/Cambridge Street; a report on the Innovation Action Plan; a proposed approach to the use of Shared Prosperity Fund underspend; and a report on Clyde Mission. 4.3 The Interim Performance Report provides an update on all the regional City Deal projects, and specifically reported progress on business cases by South Lanarkshire Council for both Larkhall and East Kilbride Community Growth Areas, and by Glasgow City Council for Sauchiehall Street Precinct and Cambridge Street. Additionally it was reported that the City Deal Gateway 2 evaluation framework has been submitted to UK Government, and that progress was being made on the new Community Benefits system. 4.4 Glasgow City Council’s Full Business Case for Sauchiehall Street Precinct/Cambridge Street was considered and approved. This project has a value of £6.596m, and is one of The Avenues projects, which provides better active travel connections and public realm within Glasgow city centre. The funding request in the Full Business Case was in addition to the £1.279m ITEM 8
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already approved at the Outline Business Case. The final cost took account of value engineering measures already undertaken by the City Council project team. 4.5 The report on the Innovation Action Plan addressed the progress being made towards the Plan including ongoing work on creating an evidence base. 4.6 A report which outlined recent discussions on how underspend across the region-wide allocation of Shared Prosperity Fund was presented. With the current advice from UK Government that all of the Fund must be spent by March 2025 - same as Levelling Up Fund capital funding – the City Region Programme Management Office has tabled options for redistribution of underspend within the local authority or across the Region, in relation to both the reprofiling of new projects or underspend in current projects. Discussions are ongoing, and will be reported back to Chief Executives Group on 27 July. 4.7 Discussions on the future of the management of Clyde Mission moving from Scottish Government to the City Region are progressing but not yet concluded. Under discussion are the level of resources that would transfer including a previously ring-fenced Heat Decarbonisation Fund, and the governance of Clyde Mission, specifically in relation to Argyll and Bute Council which is in the scope of Clyde Mission but not the City Region. A Ministerial launch of the refreshed Clyde Mission is anticipated later in 2023. 4.8 Although not on the agenda for the Chief Executives Group meeting on 8 June, the City Region Programme Management Office continues to work with Chief Executives on a project reprogramming exercise using underspend from other projects, with the objective of prioritising projects with the most economic impact across the Region. There’s currently no date for when this will be concluded. 4.7 A Local Investment Plan has been developed and approved by the UK Government as part of a wider Glasgow City Region Investment Plan through the UK Shared Prosperity Fund. The business support proposals within the Investment Plan have been developed to support business recovery and include a Business Recovery & Growth fund, Early Stage Growth grants, Towards Net Zero Grant, Enhancing Tourism Events & Attractions Fund, Business Gateway Expert Help and Shopfront & Small Business Improvement Grants. Clyde Bridge 4.8 The Clyde Bridge contractor maintains a website with regular updates on the project. A viewer at the top of the website home page shows a video of progress which is updated monthly. This can be accessed at: www.graham.co.uk/clyde-waterfront 4.9 Since the last report the contractor has continued to make progress on site. The diversion of the Yoker Burn culvert is progressing with the existing culvert now diverted into a new channel. Works to remove the old redundant section of culvert are ongoing and the contractor expects to complete these works over the next month. The contractor have also progressed construction of the piling and crane platform on the north side of the river. On
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the south side they have continued with earthworks for the new road link to Argyle Avenue and have started constructing the cycleway adjacent to the existing road in this area. Fabrication of the bridge structure continues off- site. 4.10 Next stages of works include commencing road embankment works and widening works along Dock Street in June / early July. The Contractor will continue to liaise with West Dunbartonshire Council colleagues regarding these works. The Contractor will also continue with works to construct the North Pier. 4.11 Newsletters are accessible to those who register for further updates. A link to register for updates is contained within the project webpage noted above. 5 People Implications 5.1 There are a number of senior officers involved in the Glasgow City Region wider programme as identified at City Region Update paper at Council on 26 August 2021. 6. 6.1 Financial Implications Not applicable. 7. 7.1 Risk Analysis Not applicable. 8. 8.1 Equalities Impact Assessment Not applicable. 9. Consultation 9.1 Consultation with all key stakeholders is progressing as we continue to work as part of the Glasgow City Region. 10 Strategic Assessment 10.1 At its meeting on 26 October 2022, the Council agreed that one of its main strategic priorities for the Strategic Plan 2022 - 2027 is: • A Strong local economy and improved employment opportunities 10.2 The proposals within this report are specifically designed to deliver on this priority.
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Alan Douglas Chief Officer: Regulation and Regeneration Date: 6 December 2022 Person to Contact: Gillian McNamara gillian.mcnamara@west-dunbarton.gov.uk Appendix: None Background Papers: UK Shared Prosperity Fund Report to Housing and Communities Committee 22 August 2022 Glasgow City Region City Deal- Council 13 August 2014. “City Deal Initiative” Clyde Valley Investment Fund- Council 30 April 2014 (Memorandum of Understanding). Clyde Valley Community Planning Partnership – City Deal Initiative – Council 28 August 2013. Wards Affected: All