There has been no loss of desire to progress with the York Outer Ring Road dualling project despite rising costs, the council’s economy spokesperson has said.
City of York Council’s lead on the economy, Labour’s Cllr Pete Kilbane, said it would be up to the authority to achieve what it could with the cash available.
It comes after the authority was warned that spiralling costs could mean the project being scaled back, with no dualling and just roundabout upgrades.
Liberal Democrat opposition leader Cllr Nigel Ayre said any reduction in the project’s scope could not be allowed to happen.
He said warnings about funding for both the York Station Gateway and Outer Ring Road projects followed the pushing back of spending into future years amid rising costs.
Council economy spokesperson Cllr Pete Kilbane previously said additional funding would be required for the Station Gateway.
A council report stated a significant funding gap had opened in the outer ring road project meaning it may potentially be scaled back and some dualling omitted.
Labour’s Cllr Kilbane told the meeting the council recognised the scheme was needed for residents and businesses looking to invest in York.
He said: “We need to make sure that we’re delivering the connections that are needed for sites that are coming forward.
“This administration remains committed to making sure those strategic development sites will be accessed.
“By focusing on those in the first tranche of works it doesn’t mean that we’ve lost the ambition or desire to dual the Outer Ring Road it just means we need to find the funds from other sources.”
‘Spending under control’
The comments came as the council’s executive met to discuss budget proposals for the coming financial year yesterday.
Labour finance lead Cllr Katie Lomas said progress was being made on bringing spending under control. That meant more investments could be made in frontline services which would face no new cuts.
Investment proposals discussed at the meeting included £150,000 for the creation of new neighbourhood caretaker roles, £800,000 for modernising council homes and £5.2m on improving gypsy and traveller accommodation.
Councillors heard the council was currently looking at a £2.6m overspend for the current financial year compared to around £11m forecast a year ago.
But £1.7m in cuts already agreed last year will be made from April with the council making to make a further £1.8m in efficiency savings including in back office functions.
Parking debate
Plans to hike council tax by the full 4.99 per cent, increase charges in council-run car parks and warnings about funding for major capital projects have also provoked opposition and concern.
York BID Chief Executive Andrew Lowson said the parking fees hike focused on making money at peak times but didn’t include offers to bring people in during quieter periods.
The increases could send potential city centre visitors elsewhere, he said, and came as businesses faced rising costs including the large rise in National Insurance contributions from April.
Proposals for charges would see them rise to £4.85-an-hour for the first two hours, and by an extra 10 per cent on Fridays, Saturdays and during events.
Minster Badge holders would get a 30 per cent discount. But the cost of a badge was going up from £30 to £45.
Green transport spokesperson Andy D’Agorne told the meeting £7.8m in spending to improve buses being pushed back after March would mean unpredictable and unreliable services would continue.
Council transport spokesperson Cllr Kate Ravilious said evidence showed more people were coming into York despite charges going up last year showing they would use alternate modes of travel.
She added the proposals would do away with the current individual rates for each car park, providing visitors with greater clarity, and aimed to cut congestion at peak times.
Cllr Ravilious also said efforts to encourage bus use, which charge hikes partly aimed to do, were succeeding, in response to Mr D’Agorne’s claims £100,000 had been wasted on marketing.
She added £20,000 set aside to explore a replacement Dial & Ride service would be used to find a model that could work going forward amid cost and timescale concerns.