Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies had been received from Councillor Jeffery, Councillor Poulsen, Councillor Davies, and Councillor Holdsworth.

The Mayor welcomed Annette Joseph, who attended the meeting as the LEP representative.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests at the meeting.

1.       To highlight Agenda Item 5, Appendices 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3, 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 5, Appendices 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3,.

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 5, Appendices 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3, 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.

The Mayor noted that appendices 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3 and 3 to agenda item 5 had been identified by officers as exempt from the press and public.

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 5, Appendices 1, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, and 3, 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.

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 7 September be approved.

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Simon Warburton)

Resolved:

(i)                  That the following be noted:

·       final approval of the Bus Reform Assessment which was then provided to the independent auditor for a report to obtained of the Bus Reform Assessment.

·       the provision of the external Audit Report, and determination to proceed with the proposed bus franchising scheme.

(ii)                That in accordance with the Act, the following be agreed:

·       notice of the proposed bus franchising scheme be given, and copies of the proposed bus franchising scheme, consultation document, Bus Reform Assessment and Audit Report be made available for inspection.

·       consultation be undertaken of all statutory consultees as listed in section 123E(4) of the Act, and set out in this report, as well as the general public more broadly.

(iii)               That the Bus Reform Assessment, the Audit Report and a consultation document relating to the bus franchising scheme (with finalisation of this delegated to the Executive Director of Transport) be approved for publication.

The Combined Authority considered a report which set out the next steps for Bus Reform following the completion of the external Audit Report.

Members were supportive of the proposed bus franchising scheme and the commencement of a public consultation.

Councillor Lamb suggested that the Enhanced Partnership Plus option could provide significant improvements to the current bus network for a lower cost, and requested the public consultation be presented in a balanced manner which would ensure respondents understood the available options. Cllr Lamb expressed his intention to abstain from recommendation (ii).

Resolved:

(i)                  That the following be noted:

·       final approval of the Bus Reform Assessment which was then provided to the independent auditor for a report to obtained of the Bus Reform Assessment.

·       the provision of the external Audit Report, and determination to proceed with the proposed bus franchising scheme.

(ii)                That in accordance with the Act, the following be agreed:

·       notice of the proposed bus franchising scheme be given, and copies of the proposed bus franchising scheme, consultation document, Bus Reform Assessment and Audit Report be made available for inspection.

·       consultation be undertaken of all statutory consultees as listed in section 123E(4) of the Act, and set out in this report, as well as the general public more broadly.

(iii)              That the Bus Reform Assessment, the Audit Report and a consultation document relating to the bus franchising scheme (with finalisation of this delegated to the Executive Director of Transport) be approved for publication.

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

Members considered a report which outlined membership changes across the Combined Authority committee structure.

Resolved:

(i)              That the change in appointment of Kirklees CA member and substitute as set out in paragraph 2.2 of the submitted report be noted.

(ii)            That Cllr Cathy Scott be appointed to replace Cllr Pandor on the Governance and Audit Committee and on the Finance, Resources & Corporate Committee as set out in paragraph 2.3 of the submitted report.

(iii)          That Councillor Eric Firth be appointed as Deputy Chair of the Transport Committee in place of Cllr Manisha Kaushik as detailed in paragraphs 2.4 – 2.5 of the submitted report.

(iv)          That Cllr Manisha Kaushik be appointed to the Economy Scrutiny Committee replacing Cllr Gwen Lowe as set out in paragraph 2.6 of the submitted report.

(v)            That Cllr Masood Ahmed be appointed to replace Cllr Eric Firth as Kirklees Transport Portfolio Holder on the Transport Committee as set out in paragraph 2.7 of the submitted report.

(vi)          That, following changes to portfolio holder responsibilities, the Combined Authority Cllr James Lewis be appointed as Chair of the Business, Economy & Innovation Committee and Cllr Cathy Scott as Chair of the Employment and Skills Committee as set out in paragraph 2.8 of the submitted report.

(vii)        That the changes to appointment of members to committees approved under delegation and set out in paragraph 2.9 to the submitted report be noted.

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