Agenda item

To consider the initial scheme approval for the A461 Bus, Cycle & Walking Corridor.

That Cabinet be recommended to:

(1)     Approve in principle the proposed sustainable transport and highway improvements that make up the A461 Bus, Cycle & Walking Corridor as shown on Drawing at Appendix A.

(2)     Authorise the Director of Regeneration & Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WMCA, to carry out public consultation on the proposed sustainable transport and highway improvements that make up the A461 Bus, Cycle & Walking Corridor.

(3)     In connection with (2) above, the Cabinet Member for Environment & Highways in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & WMCA, be authorised to consider and determine any objections received at a future Decision Making Session.

(4)     Authorise the Director Regeneration & Growth to approve the submission an Outline Business Case to the West Midlands Combined Authority.

(5)     Authorise the Assistant Director - Legal & Assurance in conjunction with Assistant Director - Highways to enter into an agreement with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council under section 8 of the Highways Act 1980 in connection with (1).

(6)     That the Scheme of Delegation to Officers (Executive side) be amended to include authority to the Assistant Director - Legal & Assurance in conjunction with Assistant Director - Highways to enter into agreements under section 8 of the Highways Act 1980 for future schemes as required.

Approval was sought to the initial scheme in relation to the A461 Bus, Cycle and Walking Corridor.

The A461 Walk, Cycle and Bus Corridor formed part of the West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement Programme which had been approved by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board on 14 January 2022. The Sandwell elements of this programme were approved by Cabinet in July 2022.

In response to a question from the Chair of the Budget and Corporate Scrutiny Management Board, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WMCA confirmed that the highway network was usually the most direct route for residents to travel.

In addition, the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WMCA outlined that 68% of the canal towpath network in Sandwell had been upgraded to make it suitable for cycling, with further upgrades to be made subject to the availability of funding.

Reason for Decision

The Council was required to approve the scheme to enable it to progress through the WMCA Single Assurance Framework Process, receive consultation from the public and stakeholders and proceed to the next stages of design and business case preparation.

Alternative Options Considered

The Council could decide not to continue with the scheme and reallocate the funding back to the WMCA for spending on a different scheme. This was not recommended, as it would leave the WBHE without essential connections to nearby communities and amenities and there was no guarantee that the Council would be able to retain the funding for a different scheme, resulting in Sandwell residents becoming disadvantaged against other areas in the region.

The scheme could also be amended, however, this would make it difficult to deliver by 2027 and would risk the funding being reclaimed.

Resolved:-

(1)          approval in principle be given to the proposed sustainable transport and highway improvements that make up the A461 Bus, Cycle & Walking Corridor as shown on Drawing at Appendix A;

(2)          authorise the Director of Regeneration & Growth, in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration and WMCA, to carry out public consultation on the proposed sustainable transport and highway improvements that make up the A461 Bus, Cycle & Walking Corridor;

(3)          that in connection with Resolution (2) above, the Cabinet Member for Environment & Highways in conjunction with the Cabinet Member for Regeneration & WMCA, be authorised to consider and determine any objections received at a future Decision Making Session;

(4)          authorise the Director Regeneration & Growth to approve the submission an Outline Business Case to the West Midlands Combined Authority;

(5)          authorise the Assistant Director - Legal & Assurance, in conjunction with Assistant Director – Highways, to enter into an agreement with Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council under section 8 of the Highways Act 1980 in connection with Resolution (1) above;

(6)          that the Scheme of Delegation to Officers (Executive side) be amended to include authority to the Assistant Director - Legal & Assurance in conjunction with Assistant Director - Highways to enter into agreements under section 8 of the Highways Act 1980 for future schemes as required.