Agenda, decisions and minutes

There were no apologies from committee members.

The Mayor noted the recent announcement to cancel HS2 made by the Prime Minister during the Conservative Party conference, and noted the cancellation was opposed by labour and Conservative mayors. The Mayor noted that West Yorkshire could not wait for the promised alternative funding to fulfil its mass transit aims, and that she and the Chair of the Transport Committee had contacted Mark Harper, the Transport Secretary, to express that more investments were needed to improve connectivity and capacity across the north.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

No items were identified as exempt from the press and public.

Cllr Alan Lamb requested that his request for a fair consultation regarding bus reform be reflected in the minutes. Officers agreed to amend the previous minutes.

Resolved: That subject to amendment, the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 28 September be approved.

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

Resolved:

(i)             That the progress which has been made to establish the Mayor’s Fair Work Charter be noted; the Charter be formally adopted; and the proposed next steps be endorsed.

(ii)            That becoming one of the Charter’s early adopters be agreed, leading by example for the region.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Inclusive Economy, Skills & Culture to provide an update on the Mayor of West Yorkshire’s Fair Work Charter and to seek endorsement and approval of the Fair Work Charter.

The Mayor expressed thanks to the steering group for their work developing the Fair Work Charter, as well as to the employers and trade unions which had provided feedback.

Members questioned how the Charter would be communicated to businesses and how the support would be delivered. Officers responded that external partners would support businesses, and the Combined Authority had existing relationships with enterprises across the region. Additional promotion would take place through social media, websites, and events.

Members asked if the Combined Authority and Local Authority partners would be considered compliant, and which metrics were used to measure compliance. Officers responded that the Charter includes a metric for each of the five criteria to measure against, but the metrics were not considered a pass or fail, but an indicator to measure progression.

Members suggested small businesses may not be able to fully demonstrate their ability to meet the criteria, and members added that many businesses in West Yorkshire were small or medium enterprises. The Mayor noted the Charter was designed to be unintrusive to businesses, and sign up to the Charter should be because it is an attractive prospect to do the right thing for employees.

Members requested an update be brought to the next meeting, officers agreed to provide an update.

Resolved:

(i)             That the progress which has been made to establish the Mayor’s Fair Work Charter be noted; the Charter be formally adopted; and the proposed next steps be endorsed.

(ii)            That becoming one of the Charter’s early adopters be agreed, leading by example for the region.

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Luke Albanese)

Resolved: The draft Mass Transit Vision 2040, as amended following the outcome of the statutory consultation process, be considered and adopted as a supplementary document to the Local Transport Plan.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Mass Transit to consider the draft Mass Transit Vision 2040, as amended following the outcome of the statutory consultation process, and to adopt it as a supplementary document to the Local Transport Plan.

The Mayor welcomed the promise of funding due to the cancellation of HS2, but expressed the timescales for receipt of the funding did not match the Combined Authority’s ambition of the pace of delivery.

Members questioned why some of the statutory consultees did not respond to the consultation and what could be learnt from the consultation. Officers responded that great efforts were made to contact the statutory consultees, however responses were not mandatory. Officers noted that it may be more beneficial to identify consultees who were more suited to the topic, however the overall feedback had been extensive and would be taken into account.

Resolved: The draft Mass Transit Vision 2040, as amended following the outcome of the statutory consultation process, be considered and adopted as a supplementary document to the Local Transport Plan.

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Luke Albanese)

Resolved:

(i)             That the proposal to adopt the Approach to Placemaking and Design Philosophy as a tool for influencing the Mass Transit route development activity and stimulating wider place-based opportunities be approved.

(ii)            That the intention to prepare an updated Design Guide prior to commencement of the next stage of route design (Feasibility Design) be noted. This will be presented to Combined Authority for approval in due course.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Mass Transit to provide an update on the Mass Transit Approach to Placemaking and Design Philosophy and to seek approval to adopt the principles set out to support design and route development activity.

Members noted the report was discussed at the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee, and was received positively by the committee members.

Resolved:

(i)             That the proposal to adopt the Approach to Placemaking and Design Philosophy as a tool for influencing the Mass Transit route development activity and stimulating wider place-based opportunities be approved.

(ii)            That the intention to prepare an updated Design Guide prior to commencement of the next stage of route design (Feasibility Design) be noted. This will be presented to Combined Authority for approval in due course.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Policing, Environment & Place to report on proposals for the progression of, and funding for projects that have been considered at stages 1, 2 and 3 of the Combined Authority’s assurance process.

Officers outlined the Housing Revenue Accelerator Fund, which would deliver £3.2million of funding to develop a pipeline of investment-ready housing sites across West Yorkshire. Work would be undertaken alongside local authority partners and Homes England.

Housing Revenue Accelerator Fund

Resolved:

(i)             The Housing Accelerator Fund programme proceed through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commence on activity 5 (delivery).

(ii)            Approval be given to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £3,068,000 taking the total approval to £3,200,000. The total scheme value is £3,200,000.

(iii)           Delegation be given to the Chief Executive for allocation, and any amendment of allocation, of the £3,200,000 of funding to the individual work packages along with any associated grant funding agreements.

(iv)           Future approvals be made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. Where required, any future committee level approvals be delegated to the Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Angela Taylor)

Resolved:

(i)             That the current financial position be considered.

(ii)            That the refund of transport levy reserves to the constituent local authorities as set out in paragraph 2.10 of the submited report be approved.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Finance and Commercial Services to consider the wider funding landscape for local government and the implications for the West Yorkshire Combined Authority; to consider the reserves position; and to propose a refund of transport levy reserves to the constituent local authorities.

Resolved:

(i)             That the current financial position be considered.

(ii)            That the refund of transport levy reserves to the constituent local authorities as set out in paragraph 2.10 of the submitted report be approved.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Angela Taylor)

Resolved: That the multi-year approach to be implemented from the 2024/25 planning period be noted.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Director of Finance and Commercial Services to provide an update on the multi-year business planning approach that has been implemented for the 2024/25 planning cycle.

Officers noted the business plans build from the West Yorkshire Plan, and had outcomes set on a multi-year basis. Future updates would be provided to the Combined Authority and the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee.

Resolved: That the multi-year approach to be implemented from the 2024/25 planning period be noted.

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

Resolved:

(i)             That a representative of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board as a non-voting advisory representative to the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee be appointed.

(ii)            That the co-option of an independent member with appropriate financial expertise to the Finance, Resources & Corporate Committee be considered the level of remuneration for the role be agreed.

(iii)           That, subject to agreement of recommendation 10.2 of the submitted report, an open recruitment campaign be commenced with a view to bringing back a recommendation for appointment to the Combined Authority meeting in December.

(iv)           That the appointment of Councillor Peter Caffrey to the Economy Scrutiny Committee replacing Councillor John Ford as set out in paragraph 2.13 of the submitted report be approved.

The Combined Authority received a report from the Chief Operating Officer to consider a recommendation to appoint an advisory (non-voting) representative of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board onto the Climate, Energy & Environment Committee; to consider membership of the Finance, Resources & Corporate Committee; and to approve a change in nomination from Calderdale Council to the Economy Scrutiny Committee.

The Chair noted that the input from the health perspective would help the Combined Authority meet its health inequality outcomes and would complement the recent launch of the West Yorkshire Scientific Advisory Group.

Resolved:

(i)             That a representative of the NHS West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board as a non-voting advisory representative to the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee be appointed.

(ii)            That the co-option of an independent member with appropriate financial expertise to the Finance, Resources & Corporate Committee be considered the level of remuneration for the role be agreed.

(iii)           That, subject to agreement of recommendation 10.2 of the submitted report, an open recruitment campaign be commenced with a view to bringing back a recommendation for appointment to the Combined Authority meeting in December.

(iv)           That the appointment of Councillor Peter Caffrey to the Economy Scrutiny Committee replacing Councillor John Ford as set out in paragraph 2.13 of the submitted report be approved.

Resolved: That the minutes and notes of the Combined Authority’s committees and panels be noted.