Decision details

The Cabinet gave consideration to a report of the Leader of the Council which confirmed the value of the grant available to Oldham Council from the Mayoral Challenge Fund and the intention to add this additional resource to the Council’s Transport Programme.

It was reported that the Council had secured additional funding for scheme delivery, on behalf of Transport for Greater Manchester (TfGM), via the Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF).

The Greater Manchester Mayor established a £160M Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund for cycling and walking infrastructure to kick-start delivery of the Greater Manchester Bee Network in June 2018.

The fund was being used to deliver the first phase of the walking and cycling elements of the wider Bee Network, which will transform Greater Manchester’s transport system. This network, once completed, would cover circa 1,800 miles and be the longest, integrated, planned network in the country connecting every neighbourhood of Greater Manchester.

Transport for Greater Manchester successfully bid to MCF Tranche 6 in November 2019 for the Greater Manchester Bee Network Crossings scheme.

The scheme represented a rolling programme of highway crossing interventions across all districts in Greater Manchester, designed to reduce severance for walkers and cyclists. Phase 1 is currently delivering a package of crossings in Bury and Manchester.

Phase 2 of the GM Bee Network Crossings scheme would deliver new and upgraded crossing facilities to overcome highway severance at 7 sites located throughout Bolton, Oldham, Stockport, and Wigan.

This Phase 2 package of works haD been developed in collaboration with Local Authority partners. The release of the funding for Phase 2 delivery was approved at GMCA on 29^th July 2022.

Option 1 - Accept the grant offer, enter into the delivery agreement with TfGM for the proposed Oldham schemes and progress the delivery of all schemes in the appropriate timescales.

Option 2 - Do not accept the grant offer and do not enter into the delivery agreement with TfGM to deliver the schemes

RESOLVED – That:

1.    The grant offer from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF) for delivery of the Bee Network Crossings scheme in Oldham be accepted.

2.    The Council enter into a Delivery Agreement with Transport for Greater Manchester for the proposed scheme.

3.    The intention to bring the additional resource into the transport capital programme in 2022/23 and complete delivery of the schemes in the appropriate timescales be noted.