Agenda and decisions

1.       To highlight Agenda Item 13d, Appendix 9 – Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) (listed as 13d(10) on the agenda) which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and where officers consider that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for the reasons outlined in the report.

2.       To consider whether or not to accept the officers’ recommendation in respect of the above information as set out Agenda Item 13d, Appendix 9 – Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA).

3.       If the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Agenda Item 13d, Appendix 9 – Zero Emission Bus Regional Area (ZEBRA) on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Simon Warburton)

Resolved:

(i)              The Combined Authority noted the completion of the consultation process, its extent and the responses received.

(ii)             The Combined Authority noted and considered the contents of the Consultation Response Report at Appendix 2 and associated documents, including the Bus Reform Assessment, and endorsed the Combined Authority’s response to the consultation summarised in the report and set out at Appendix 2.

(iii)           The Combined Authority recommended to the Mayor that she make a franchising scheme as set out at Appendix 3, complying with all associated statutory requirements, rather than recommending that the Combined Authority pursue an Enhanced Partnership Plus.

(iv)           That following a decision by the Mayor whether or not to make a franchising scheme, the Combined Authority agreed to adopt and publish the Combined Authority’s response to the consultation, together with the Mayor’s decision as the report to be published by the Combined Authority under section 123G(1) of the Transport Act 2000 (the “Act”) and in accordance with s123G(2) of the Act to give notice to the traffic commissioner.

(v)             That if the Mayor decided to make a franchising scheme, the Combined Authority would publish the scheme set out at Appendix 3 on behalf of the Mayor at the same time as the Consultation Response Report (Appendix 2) to be published under section 123G(1) of the Act; and, at the same time, publish a transitional notice in the terms set out in Appendix 4 and then within 14 days of date upon which transitional notice is published, give notice to the traffic commissioner of its publication on behalf of the Mayor if the Mayor so decides (or alternatively WYCA) as required by the Public Service Vehicles (Registration of Local Services) (Franchising Schemes Transitional Provisions and Amendments) (England) Regulations 2018. Further, the Combined Authority agreed that, in conducting the procurement process for the provision of local services, the Combined Authority would facilitate the involvement of small and medium sized operators in the provision of local services as set out at Appendix 5 (s123G(3) of the Act); and commence with mobilisation of franchising, noting section 2.140 – 2.160 of the report (Mobilisation).

(vi)           That if the Mayor recommended that the Combined Authority pursued Enhanced Partnership Plus, to commence with mobilisation of Enhanced Partnership Plus, noting section 2.140 – 2.160 of the report (Mobilisation).

(vii)          The Combined Authority approved the repurposing of the remaining £2,883,150 funding approved for the preparation of the assessment to be used for initial mobilisation costs.

Mayoral Decision

Having considered all of the evidence and being satisfied that all legal requirements had been complied with, the Mayor decided on behalf of the Combined Authority, and in accordance with Section 123G (4) of the Transport Act 2000, (as amended by the Bus Services Act 2017), to make the West Yorkshire Franchising Scheme and publish the transitional notice set out in Appendix 4 of the Combined Authority report.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Luke Albanese)

Resolved:

      i.         The Combined Authority noted the SOC work that had been undertaken and delegated submission of the SOC to the DfT to the Executive Director for Transport for submission to the Department for Transport in consultation with the Mayor.

     ii.         The Combined Authority approved the continued development of Phase 1a of the Mass Transit Programme and the commencement of the work on the development of the Outline Business Case and Transport and Works Act Order application.

    iii.         The Combined Authority approved commencing wider stakeholder engagement in March 2024 and public consultation on Phase 1a in Summer 2024.

   iv.         The Combined Authority approved the allocation of up to £1 million funds from the Mass Transit budget to support the Dewsbury Line Development Project in parallel with the development of the future Kirklees Local Plan.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Liz Hunter)

Resolved:

      i.         The Combined Authority noted the content of the report and provided feedback.

     ii.         The Combined Authority endorsed the development of a business case for the One Stop Shop.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Liz Hunter)

Resolved:

      i.         The Combined Authority endorsed the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040.

     ii.         The Combined Authority granted delegated authority to the Chief Executive to make any necessary final amendments to the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040 in consultation with the Mayor.

(Lead Member: Councillor Hinchcliffe, Director: Simon Warburton)

Resolved:

      i.         The Combined Authority noted the outcome of the Rail Strategy public consultation and offered feedback.

     ii.         The Combined Authority approved the Rail Strategy Executive Summary and Rail Strategy full document, authorising them to be adopted as the formal rail policy for West Yorkshire.

(Lead Member: Councillor Hinchcliffe, Director: Simon Warburton)

Resolved:

      i.         The Combined Authority approved an eight week public and stakeholder engagement exercise in June and July 2024 on the proposed vision, objectives, and overall approach to the new West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

     ii.         The Combined Authority granted delegated authority to the Executive Director of Transport to finalise the engagement documents, following input from the Transport Committee in May 2024.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Felix Kumi-Ampofo)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Liz Hunter)

Resolved: The Combined Authority endorsed a Child First Approach by authorising officers to engage with children in the development of a framework charter.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Liz Hunter)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Liz Hunter)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Simon Warburton)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Felix Kumi-Ampofo)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Alan Reiss)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Alan Reiss)

Resolved: The Combined Authority endorsed the approach to the development of the Corporate Plan 2024-25.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Ben Still)

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Alan Reiss)

The date of the next meeting, which shall be the Combined Authority’s Annual Meeting, will be Thursday 20 June 2024.