Decision details

Approval of preferred design options for implementation

It has been decided that the highway proposals for the Transforming Cities Fund projects in Harrogate, Skipton and Selby are taken forward for preliminary and detailed design and consultation subject to the following:
(a) further design and consultation is undertaken on the Harrogate 1 Lane Station Parade option only;
(b) further design and consultation is undertaken on James Street based on full pedestrianisation incorporating the ability to retain an unobstructed width such that traffic could be accommodated if necessary;
(c) a Final Business Case will be presented prior to implementation and a further decision from the Executive will be sought to agree any recommended implementation of the final designs later in 2021;
(d) decisions on how to progress with the variant options at Selby which do not directly affect the existing highway network are delegated to the Corporate Director, BES working with Selby District Council and Network Rail.

Under his delegated decision making powers in the Officers’ Delegation Scheme in the Council’s Constitution, the Chief Executive Officer has power, in cases of emergency, to take any decision which could be taken by the Council, the Executive or a committee.

Following on from the expiry of the Local Authorities and Police and Crime Panels (Coronavirus) (Flexibility of Local Authority and Police and Crime Panel Meetings) (England and Wales) Regulations 2020 (“the 2020 Regulations”), which allowed for committee meetings to be held remotely, the County Council resolved at its meeting on 5 May 2021 that, for the present time, in light of the continuing Covid-19 pandemic circumstances, remote live-broadcast committee meetings should continue, with any formal decisions required being taken by the Chief Executive Officer under his emergency decision making powers and after consultation with other Officers and Members as appropriate and after taking into account any views of the relevant Committee Members. This approach is to be reviewed by full Council at its July meeting.

Following the decision to accept grant funding from the Transforming Cities Fund to deliver projects in Skipton, Selby and Harrogate, initial designs were developed and a public consultation exercise has shown broad support for taking the proposals forward to the next stage of design.

The Chief Executive Officer has taken all relevant information into account in exercising his emergency delegated powers in this matter, including considering the views of the Executive Members and has made the decisions set out earlier for the reasons set out in the body of the report – see: Executive Agenda 25 May 2021

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