Decision Details

To seek approval to the Full Business Case (FBC) for the Walsall to Birmingham Sprint Phase 2 scheme

Sprint Bus Rapid Transit Network Development and Implementation Strategy’, Report of the Corporate Director Economy to Cabinet, 24^th January 2018. 

 A34 Walsall to Birmingham Sprint – Full Business Case’.  Report of the Interim Director, Inclusive Growth to Cabinet, 17^th December 2019.

 Transportation and Highways Capital Programme 2022/23 to 2027/28 – Annual Programme Update’.  Report of the Strategic Director of Place, Prosperity and Sustainability to Cabinet, 22^nd March 2022. 

On 19 March 2024, Cabinet:-

1. Noted the content of this report and approves the Full Business Case for A34 Walsall to Birmingham Sprint Phase 2 as set out in Appendix A, to the report, at a total scheme cost to WMCA of £4.600m, and authorises the Assistant Director Transport and Connectivity in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport to agree the final detail of the scheme with WMCA who are acting in their capacity as project promoter and funder;

    

2. Approved, subject to WMCA having the necessary approvals and funding in place, the City Council entering into legal agreements with WMCA to allow the works to be carried out on the public highway within Birmingham, and for the legal agreement to be made without a bond being required from WMCA as detailed in paragraph 7.3.3, to the report;

    

3. Noted that following implementation, WMCA will be financially responsible for the ongoing maintenance resulting from the highway works at an estimated cost of £0.001m per year as detailed in Paragraph 7.3.8, to the report;

    

4. Noted the expenditure of fees and other costs for internal staff up to a value of £0.280m for the City Council to complete design reviews, legal agreements, traffic regulation orders and site inspections, and that the City Council will be reimbursed by WMCA based on actual costs rather than a fixed fee percentage, subject to an agreed cap on overhead rates of 15%;

    

5. Approved the installation of one further BLE camera in addition to the four reported in the original Cabinet report, at an estimated additional cost of £0.020m to be funded by WMCA as part of the overall project, and notes that following completion of the scheme the City Council will be responsible for the on-going operation of the BLE activity and the resultant income and expenditure including future maintenance obligations;

    

6. Authorised the Interim City Solicitor & Monitoring Officer (or their delegate) to negotiate, execute, seal and complete all necessary documentation to give effect to the above decisions.

THE DEADLINE FOR CALL IN IS 1600 HOURS ON MONDAY 25 MARCH 2024.