Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room A, Wellington House, Leeds. View directions

Contact: Ruth Chaplin 

Items
No. Item

12.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors P Davey, B Rhodes and

F Shaheen.

13.

Declarations of Interest

Minutes:

Councillor Ellis declared an other interest (not comprising a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest) as a member of the Yorkshire Regional Flood and Coastal Committee.

 

Councillor Baines declared an other interest (not comprising a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest) as a member of the ESIF Sub-Committee.

 

Councillor Groves declared an other interest (not comprising a Disclosable Pecuniary Interest) as a Director of Inspiring Positive Futures.

14.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes:

There were no items on the agenda requiring exclusion of the press and public.

15.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 20 September 2017 pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting held on 20 September 2017 be approved and signed by the Chair.

16.

Business Planning & Budget 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 268 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which:

 

·         Advised of the work underway to progress business and budget planning for 2018/19.

·         Provided further information on the key performance indicators and the ‘cliff edge’ situation on business support and skills funding which is at risk from 1 April 2018.

 

It was noted that work to identify the key strategic objectives for 2018/19 and successive years was being undertaken.  Members discussed the business planning and budget issues detailed in the report and welcomed the proposal to develop a detailed 3 year budget which would provide more certainty and planning ability.  It was noted that the outline corporate plan and budget figures would be considered by WYCA on 14 December 2017 and it was agreed that an additional meeting of the Committee would be arranged in early January 2018.  This would then provide an opportunity for members to consider the draft budget proposals, the process of preparing these and also information on staffing/organisational costs, efficiencies and benchmarking for back office functions prior to the budget being approved by WYCA on 1 February 2018.

 

Members discussed the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) identified in the corporate plan which were set out in Appendix 1.  Comment was made that the notes in respect of the RAG rating for the Value of MCard indicator and the definition of advertising value equivalent should be made clearer.  It was requested that the following additional indicators also be included and that WYCA be made aware of this:

 

·         Performance of tendered bus services

·         Air quality/CO2 emissions/fleet management

·         Social value

·         Jobs created in disadvantaged areas

·         Transport accessibility improvements

·         Productivity

 

In respect of ‘Cliff Edge’ funding, the Committee was provided with an overview of the business, skills and employment programmes which included the Skills Service, Business Growth Service, Apprenticeship Grants for Employers and Enterprise in Education.  Members discussed the current and future grant funding arrangements and details were outlined in the submitted report. It was proposed that Councillor Light would write to Leaders on behalf of the Committee highlighting members’ concerns in respect of future grant funding and the need for other options to be pursued in the absence of a devolution deal. 

 

The Committee was advised that consideration was being given to how information in respect of loans, grants, expectations, delivery and long term outcomes could be presented and this would be brought to a future meeting.  It was suggested that the O&S SEP Delivery Working Group also consider grant/external funding at a future meeting.

 

Resolved:  That the report be noted.

17.

Devolution

A verbal update will be given.

Minutes:

The Committee was provided with an update on the latest position in respect of devolution discussions since the last meeting.  Members were advised that an all party parliamentary group meeting had been held in October which had included Leaders and MPs from Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire where there had been a strong consensus for a “One Yorkshire” deal.  A meeting had been requested with the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government and confirmation was awaited.

 

Resolved:  That the update on devolution discussions be noted.

18.

Forward Programme of Work pdf icon PDF 261 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Committee considered the future work programme and noted that this was flexible and could be amended and supplemented throughout the year. 

 

It was agreed that the following items be added to the work programme:

 

·         An additional meeting to be arranged for early January to consider the draft budget proposals.

·         Transport Committee Update on priorities and spend for January meeting including how transport is delivering the social agenda and for deprived communities – Councillor Wakefield to be invited.

·         WYCA performance, priorities and governance review for March meeting – Councillor Hinchcliffe to be invited.

·         Culture & Sport

·         HS2 Growth Strategy

·         Flood alleviation (follow up actions from the report)

·         Branding

·         Transport for the North

 

A copy of WYCA’s forward agenda plan was attached to the report and members were advised that this was a live document and subject to change.

 

Resolved:  That the Forward Programme of Work be amended.

19.

Feedback from Overview & Scrutiny Working Groups

Verbal updates will be given.

Minutes:

The Committee was updated on the areas being considered at the meetings of the Transport Plan Delivery Working Group, Strategic Economic Plan Delivery Working Group and the Oxford GB2 Loan Working Group.

 

It was proposed that a report highlighting the recommendations of the Oxford GB2 Loan Working Group would be brought to the next meeting.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)         That the updates of the O&S Working Groups be noted.

 

(ii)        That a report highlighting the recommendations of the Oxford GB2 Loan Working Group be brought to the next meeting.

 

20.

Items for Feedback to WYCA

Minutes:

The Committee asked that WYCA be advised of their suggested additional KPIs as part of the business planning and budget setting process.  Councillor Light also asked that WYCA be made of aware of his intention to send a letter to Leaders on behalf of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee highlighting members’ concerns regarding future grant funding and the need for other options to be considered in the absence of a devolution deal.

21.

Items for Information pdf icon PDF 445 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

(a)        Draft Minutes of the Transport Committee meeting held on 8 September 2017

 

            Members asked for further information on the East Midlands Rail Franchise consultation and the consequences and opportunities for WYCA.  A briefing note would be circulated to members.

 

            Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the Transport Committee meeting held on 8 September 2017 be noted and a briefing note on the East Midlands Rail Franchise be circulated to members.

 

 (b)      Draft Minutes of the WYCA meeting held on 5 October 2017

 

            Resolved:  That the draft minutes of the WYCA meeting held on 5 October 2017 be noted.