Officer Decisions 2017-18

Newcastle Airport Business Park Transport Studies

The purpose of this report is to agree to the financial and legal matters associated with the decision to award a grant of £20,986.88 from the Enterprise Zone Project Development Fund to Newcastle City Council to support the costs of a transport study relating to the alignment of the roads to access the Newcastle International Airport Enterprise Zone site.

• DD 82 – 15 May 2018 – Decision Record

Newcastle North Bank Preparatory Studies

The purpose of this report is to agree to the financial and legal matters associated with the decision to award a grant of £73,168.61 from the Enterprise Zone Project Development Fund to Newcastle City Council to support the development and preparations of the North Bank of the Tyne Enterprise Zone site extension.

• DD 84 – 15 May 2018 – Decision Record

Transport for the North – Franchise Management Agreement

To authorise the Monitoring Officer to enter into the franchise management agreement with Transport for the North and Rail North Limited.

• UD – 5th April 2018 – Request for Special Urgency
• UD – 5th April 2018 – Decision Record
• UD – 5th April 2018 – Decision Report
• UD – 5th April 2018 – Appendix 1 – Report to Leadership Board 7 August 2017

Innovation Project Development Fund – CESAM Project

To agree to the financial and legal matters associated with the North East LEP decsion to award a grant of £115,000 from the Innovation project development fund application relating to the CESAM project. The Chief Finance Officer has confirmed that this grant can be funded from revenue funds within the programme.

• DD 79 – 14th March 2018 – Decision Record

The Setup of a Not for Profit Company – Company Limited by Guarantee

The reason for this report is to provide information in relation to the setup of a not for profit company – Company Limited by Guarantee following agreement by the North East Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board and endorsement of the proposed approach and model from the North East Combined Authority as its Accountable Body.

• DD 85 – 12th March 2018 – Decision Record
• DD 85 – 12th March 2018 – Decision Report

Appointment of preferred bidder and consequential award of contract to that bidder in relation to the procurement of the Sunderland ‘Go Ultra Low Filling Station’ and the approval of associated lease and sub-lease

The purpose of this report invites the NECA Head of Paid Service to exercise authority contained in Part 3.7b (HPS4) of the Constitution to take operational action which is required as a matter of urgency in the interests of NECA, in consultation with the Chair of the Leadership Board, Monitoring Officer and Chief Finance Officer as far as is practicable. 

The decision follows a fully compliant OJEU procurement process conducted on behalf of the Combined Authority by Newcastle City Council, with expert procurement guidance from North Tyneside Council.

The decision is not one falling within the requirements of Paragraph 7 of the Openness of Local Government Bodies Regulations 2014 and it would not be considered a key decision under the Overview and Scrutiny Committee’s call-in protocol (discussed at its meeting of 5 February 2018).  

• Request for Special Urgency – 6th Feb
• Decision Record – 6th Feb
• Decision Report – 6th Feb

Exercise of delegated authority to grant dispensation to Councillors in relation to their registerable personal interests as Directors of the Newcastle International Airport Limited

The purpose of this report is to record the decision of the Monitoring Officer to grant dispensations under Section 33 of the Localism Act 2011 to:

1.  Councillor Simon Henig, Leader of Durham County Council
2.  Councillor Iain Malcolm, Leader of South Tyneside Council

 The dispensation will permit the Councillors to participate in decisions of the North East Combined Authority, notwithstanding their registerable personal interests as Directors of Newcastle International Airport Limited.

• 12th Jan 2018 – Appendix 1 I Malcolm
• 12th Jan 2018 – Appendix 1 S Henig
• 12th Jan 2018 – Decision Record
• 12th Jan 2018 – Decision Report

JEREMIE 2 Investment Fund – Governance Arrangements

The purpose of this report is to outline the implementation arrangements around the JEREMIE 2 Investment Fund and the governance arrangements for the Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV), including the Articles of Association.

• 5th Jan 2018 – Decision Record
• 5th Jan 2018 – Decision Report
• 5th Jan 2018 – Appendix 1

Local Sustainable Transport Fund Capital Package: Newcastle Cycle Scheme – Approval to Proceed

A delegated decision, using the delegated authority given to the Head of Paid Service on 14th July 2015, is sought to approve the scheme business case and for the NECA to enter into Grant Funding Agreement with Newcastle City Council for the LSTF Capital Package: Newcastle Cycle Scheme (part of the Local Growth Fund), based on the receipt of a compliant business case for the scheme.

The completion of a Grant Funding Agreement will allow the scheme to proceed with delivery, including expenditure of £710,000 from the Local Growth Fund in 2017/18. The total project cost is £1.866m.

The scheme will deliver a cycle route between the High Level Bridge and Westgate Road and part way along St Nicholas Street. Details of the objectives, scope and funding breakdown of the scheme are contained within the associated scheme approval report and in the scheme business case.

• 13th Dec 2017 – Decision Record
• 13th Dec 2017 – Decision Report

Local Sustainable Transport Fund Capital Package: Newcastle Gateway Scheme  -Approval to Proceed

A delegated decision, using the delegated authority given to the Head of Paid Service on 14th July 2015, is sought to approve the scheme business case and for the NECA to enter into Grant Funding Agreement with Newcastle City Council for the LSTF Package: Newcastle Gateway Scheme (part of the Local Growth Fund), based on the receipt of a complient business case for the scheme.

The completion of a Grant Funding Agreement will allow the scheme to proceed with delivery, including expenditure of Local Growth Fund of £37,000 in 2017/18 (total project cost £44,500).

The scheme will provide a variety of cycle parking around the vicinity of Newcastle Central Station. Details of the objectives, scope and funding breakdown of the scheme can be found within the associated scheme approval report and in the scheme business case.

• 13th Dec 2017 – DD 76 – Decision Record
• 13th Dec 2017 – DD 76 – Decision Record

Transport for the North – Sub-National Transport Body Status

This report recommends that NECA provides its consent to the making of regulations by the Secretary of State for Transport under section 102E of the Local Transport Act 2008 to establish TfN as a Sub-national Transport Body.

• DD 71 – 10th Oct 2017 – Decision Record
• DD 71 – 10th Oct 2017 – Decision Report
• DD 71 – 10th Oct 2017 – Appendix 1

Housing Infrastructure Fund – Forward Funding proposals

The purpose of this report is to agree to the expression of interest form(s) that are to be submitted to Government by NECA in relation to the Housing Infrastructure Fund.

• DD 74 Decision Record – Housing Infrastructure Fund.pdf

Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnel – Shuttle Bus Contract

The purpose of this report is to provide details of the procurement for the provision of a replacement shuttle bus at the Tyne Pedestrian and Cyclist Tunnels during the current refurbishment works. It reviews the procurement exercise undertaken and recommends the organisation to be contracted with to provide the service.

• DD 72 – 30 Aug 2017 – Decision Record

Durham County Cricket Club – Variation to Terms of Loan Agreement

The purpose of this report is to agree Variation to Terms of Loan Agreement for Durham County Cricket Club projects.

• DD 66 – 22 Aug 2017 – Decision Record

Scale Up North East

The purpose of this report is to agree to the finanical and legal matters associated with the North East LEP Board decision to grant an award £1.5m from the Local Growth Fund to the Regional Technology Centre to provide capital grants to growth businesses.

• DD 70 – 9 Aug 2017 – Decision Record

Integra 61

The purpose of this report is to agree to the matters associated with the North East LEP Board decision in relation to the strategic employment and housing site near Bowburn, County Durham.

• DD 68 – 4th Aug 2017 – Decision Report

5G Test Bed

The purpose of this report is to agree to the financial and legal matters associated with the North East LEP Board decision to grant an award £250,000 from the Local Growth Fund to the North East BIC to support the costs of building capacity to research and develop a competitive business case for funding support from the Government’s ‘5G Testbeds & Trials Programme’.  The Chief Finance Officer has confirmed that this grant can be funded from revenue funds within the programme.

• DD 67 – 3rd Aug 2017 – Decision Report

National Centre for Healthcare Photonics  Phase 2  

The purpose of this report is to agree to the financial and legal matters associated with the LEP Board decision to award a grant of £8,288,370 from the Local Growth Fund to the Centre for Process Industries (CPI) towards the National Centre for Healthcare Photonics (NCHP) Stage 2 contruction costs.

• DD 69 – 3rd Aug 2017 – Decision Report