Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the Combined Authority following the West Yorkshire mayoral elections in May 2021.

The Mayor thanked and paid tribute to the outgoing Chair, Councillor Hinchcliffe and the Members of the Combined Authority for all their significant achievements which included securing the devolution deal.  This had provided new powers and responsibilities, unlocking more than £1.8 billion in investment for West Yorkshire and Members were reminded of the 10 mayoral pledges to build a strong and successful economy in West Yorkshire by investing in areas such as transport, skills, housing and regeneration.

Sir Roger Marsh was congratulated by the Mayor and Members on his recent knighthood and Councillor Matthew Robinson was welcomed to his first meeting of the Authority.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services in respect of the following:

·       The election of the West Yorkshire Mayor and the appointment of Combined Authority Members and Substitute Combined Authority Members to the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority) by the Constituent Councils (the West Yorkshire councils) and the Non-Constituent Council (the City of York Council).

·       The Mayor’s appointment of a Deputy Mayor.

·       The appointment of the Leeds City Region Local Enterprise Partnership Combined Authority Member and Substitute LEP Member to the Combined Authority.

·       Granting of voting rights to the Non-Constituent Council Combined Authority Member and to the LEP Member (and their Substitutes).

The membership of the Combined Authority, including the appointments made by the Constituent Councils to the Combined Authority, and the Non- Constituent Council was attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.

Resolved:

(a)      That the Combined Authority notes the appointments set out in Appendix 1 of the submitted report for:

·       the election of the Mayor;

·       the appointment by the Mayor of Councillor James Lewis as the Deputy Mayor;

·       the appointment of Constituent Combined Authority Members and their Substitutes by the Constituent Councils;

·       the appointment of the Non-Constituent Council Member and Substitute by York City Council.

(b)      That Roger Marsh be appointed as the LEP Member of the Combined Authority, and Mark Roberts as Substitute LEP Member.

(c)      That the Non-Constituent Council Combined Authority Member may exercise one vote as follows:

·       on the Leeds City Region Partnership Committee (an advisory committee), and

·        at any other Combined Authority meeting (including any decision-making committee or sub-committee to which the Non-Constituent Council Combined Authority Member is appointed) only in respect of any decision which gives rise to a direct and significant financial liability for the Non-Constituent Council.

(d)      That the Substitute Non-Constituent Council Combined Authority Member may exercise the voting rights granted to the Non-Constituent Council Combined Authority Member, when acting in the absence of the Non-Constituent Council Member.

(e)      That the LEP Member may vote at any meeting of the Combined Authority (including any committee or sub-committee to which the LEP Member is appointed) on any decision, subject to the following exceptions:

·          decision-making in relation to budget and levy setting; and

·          the adoption of any implementation plans appended to the Local Transport Plan which relate specifically to the Combined Authority’s area (that is, West Yorkshire).

(f)       That the Substitute LEP Member may exercise the voting rights granted to the LEP Member, when acting in the absence of the LEP Member.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Denise Jeffery, John Lawson and Andrew Waller.

Tracy Brabin declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 13, Members Allowances Scheme.  She advised that Councillor Lewis, Deputy Mayor, would be asked to take the chair and she would take no part in the discussion or determining of this item.

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

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 22 April 2021 be approved.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services in respect of committee arrangements and appointments.

·       To appoint committees of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority (the Combined Authority).

·       To appoint or co-opt members onto the Combined Authority’s committees.

·       To appoint the Chairs and Deputy Chairs of committees of the Combined Authority.

·       To grant voting rights to some members of the Combined Authority’s committees.

·       To agree portfolio arrangements.

·       To note that Inclusivity Leads will be designated on thematic committees and on the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee.

·       To appoint Independent Persons.

It was reported that since publication of the agenda papers, the following outstanding appointments and nominations had been confirmed:

(i)       The appointment of Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe as the Chair, Councillor Tim Swift as Deputy Chair and Councillor Matthew Robinson as a member of the Governance & Audit Committee.

(ii)     The appointment of Helen Featherstone as Deputy Chair of the Culture,

          Arts & Creative Industries Committee.

(iii)     The appointment of Councillor Shabir Pandor as Chair of the Business

          Investment Panel.

(iv)      The appointment of Councillor Martyn Bolt (Kirklees) as the leader of the opposition on Transport Committee.

(v)      Councillor Neil Walshaw to replace Councillor Kayleigh Brooks on the Climate, Energy & Environment Committee.

(vi)     Councillor Kayleigh Brooks to replace Councillor Neil Walshaw on the Employment & Skills Committee.

(vii)     It was also agreed that in order to secure private sector representation on the Leeds City Region Partnership Committee that the LEP Member (Sir Roger Marsh) and the Chair of the York and North Yorkshire LEP be added as voting members.

In respect of scrutiny arrangements, the following appointments were confirmed:

(viii)    Corporate Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Peter Harrand

Kirklees Council have nominated Councillor Andrew Cooper as a member.

(ix)     Transport Scrutiny Committee

Chair: Councillor Amanda Parsons-Hulse

Kirklees Council have nominated Councillor Anthony Smith as a member.

The Authority agreed all the recommendations including the outstanding appointments, nominations and amendments outlined in (i) – (ix) above.  Any further nominations or changes to membership would be reported to the next meeting.

Members discussed the forthcoming internal review of the Transport Committee.  It was reported that this would be undertaken during the summer and that terms of reference and scope would be shared in advance.  Members asked that the findings be reported at the earliest opportunity.

Resolved:

(a)      That, in relation to appointment of committees –

(i)       That the following statutory committees be appointed with the terms of reference set out in the relevant appendix attached to the submitted report:

·     Governance and Audit Committee (Appendix 1)

·     Corporate Scrutiny Committee (Appendix 2)

·     Economic Scrutiny Committee (Appendix 3)

·     Transport Scrutiny Committee (Appendix 4)

(ii)      That the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee be appointed with the terms of reference set out in Appendix 5.

(iii)      That the following thematic committees be appointed with the  terms of reference set out in the relevant appendix attached to the submitted report:

·        Business, Economy and Innovation Committee (Appendix 6)

·        Climate, Energy and Environment Committee  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services in respect of the Combined Authority’s Officer Delegation Scheme for Non-Mayoral Functions and the Officer Codes of Conduct.

Resolved:

(a)      That the Officer Delegation Scheme in relation to Non-Mayoral Functions attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved.

(b)      That the Officer Codes of Conduct set out in Appendices 2 and 3 of the submitted report be approved.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services on the appointment of a Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime and the Mayor’s arrangements for PCC Functions.

It was reported that since publication of the agenda papers, Alison Lowe had been confirmed by the Police and Crime Panel as the first Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime (DMPC) in West Yorkshire and would start in August 2021.  Details of the appointment had been published in the Police and Crime Panel’s papers which would also be published on the West Yorkshire Police and Crime Panel’s website.

The Mayor expressed her thanks to Mark Burns-Williamson for his help and on-going support with the new PCC arrangements to ensure a smooth transition over the next three months.

Resolved:

(a)      That the appointment of Alison Lowe as the Deputy Mayor for Policing and Crime be noted.

(b)      That the Mayor’s arrangements for PCC Functions, as set out in Appendices 1, 2 and 3 of the submitted report be noted.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services on constitutional arrangements.

It was noted that the Combined Authority had previously agreed to adopt a formal Constitution and this had been amended to reflect the revised committee arrangements and further amendments for clarity and updating.  The Constitution documents were attached at Appendices 1 – 5 of the submitted report.

Resolved:  That the Constitution documents attached to the submitted report be approved.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services regarding Combined Authority representation on outside bodies.

Resolved:  That the appointments to the outside bodies for the municipal year 2021/22 as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report be approved. 

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services in respect of the Corporate Governance Code and Framework and the Annual Governance Statement for inclusion in the annual statutory accounts.

Resolved:

(a)      That the Corporate Governance Code and Framework be noted.

(b)      That the Annual Governance Statement be endorsed.

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

Tracy Brabin declared a disclosable pecuniary interest in relation to Agenda Item 13, Members Allowances Scheme.  Councillor James Lewis, Deputy Mayor, took the Chair and the Mayor took no part in the discussion or determining of this item.  

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services in respect of the Members’ Allowances Scheme. 

In response to a question raised, it was noted that The West Yorkshire  Combined Authority Order 2014 precluded members of the Combined Authority receiving an allowance.

Resolved:  That the Members’ Allowances Scheme, attached as Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be adopted for the municipal year 2021-2022.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services on the scrutiny annual report 2020/21.

The report provided a summary and highlighted the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee during the 2020/21 municipal year and

Councillor Harrand thanked officers for their support over the last 12 months. 

Members discussed the rationale, benefit and importance of the three new committees which had been established to cover corporate, economic and transport scrutiny. It was noted that broadening scrutiny had been one of the elements of the devolution deal.  It was considered that the increase in scrutiny membership would provide more transparency and broaden engagement.  It was confirmed that a review of the new arrangements would be undertaken and a report prepared for a future meeting of the Authority. 

Resolved:  That the annual report summarising the work undertaken by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee in 2020/21 be noted.

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

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate and Commercial Services setting out a proposed calendar of meetings for 2021/22.

Resolved: 

(a)      That the dates of meetings for the LEP Board as agreed by the LEP Board at its annual meeting be noted.

(b)      That the calendar of meetings of the Combined Authority, its committees and sub-committees for 2021/22, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

(Lead Member: The Mayor, Director: Dave Pearson)

Resolved:

(a)      That the publication of the Notice To Prepare An Assessment of the Need for a Franchising Scheme be approved.

(b)      That the publication of the Notice of Intent for the Enhanced Partnership be approved.

(c)      That the Government’s publication of the National Bus Strategy, the requirement for the Bus Service Improvement Plan be noted and the vision and objectives for the Plan as set out in the submitted report be endorsed.

(d)      That the approach to the deployment of emergency funding for bus services for the remainder of 2021/22 as set out in the submitted report be endorsed pending further guidance from Government.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Transport and Property Services on bus reform and the next steps.

Members discussed a proposal to start the process of introducing a bus franchising scheme into West Yorkshire and details of the next steps to deliver the Mayoral pledge to bring buses back into public control were set out in the submitted report.  Such a scheme would enable the Mayor to define routes, fares and service levels to make bus services more affordable, accessible and improve connections between communities. A copy of the ‘Notice To Prepare An Assessment of the Need for a Franchising Scheme’ was attached at Appendix 1. 

It was noted that the statutory process leading to a formal decision being taken on franchising would take some time and the franchise assessment would be subject to public consultation. Therefore, in the interim, it was proposed to establish an Enhanced Partnership with operators which would deliver earlier improvements and provide a better bus service for passengers .  Members discussed the proposal which would give access to Government funding next year. A copy of the ‘Notice of Intent for the Enhanced Partnership’ was attached at Appendix 2.  A Bus Service Improvement Plan has to be developed in partnership with the operators and submitted as part of the bidding process by October 2021 and the Authority endorsed the vision and objectives for the Plan as set out in the submitted report.  A further report would be brought to a future meeting.

The current position in respect of the emergency funding issued by Government to bus operators and Local Transport Authorities during the pandemic was noted.  The Government had advised that further funding will be available to support the recovery of bus fare revenues for September 2021 until March 2022.  The Authority was advised that details of the value and mechanism of the funding were still awaited and Members discussed and endorsed the principles for deploying emergency funding for the remainder of the year which were outlined in the submitted report. A report would be prepared for a future meeting when further details had been received from the Government.

The importance of devolving all public transport including rail to the regions was also highlighted and a report would be brought to a future meeting.

Members voted on the recommendations of the report with the following results:

          For:              7

          Against:        0

          Abstentions: 2

The recommendations were therefore carried.

Resolved:

(a)      That the publication of the Notice To Prepare An Assessment of the Need for a Franchising Scheme be approved.

(b)      That the publication of the Notice of Intent for the Enhanced Partnership be approved.

(c)      That the Combined Authority notes the Government’s publication of the National Bus Strategy and the requirement for the Bus Service Improvement Plan and endorses the vision and objectives for the Plan as set out in the submitted report.

(d)      That the approach to the deployment of emergency funding for bus services for the remainder of 2021/22 as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 16.

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

Resolved:  That the West Yorkshire Investment Strategy be endorsed.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Strategy, Communications and Policing on the West Yorkshire Investment Strategy.

It was noted that the Strategy had been updated in light of the Mayor’s pledges and sets out the priorities that will guide how gainshare and the other funds that form part of the Single Investment Fund (SIF) are spent.  A copy of the revised Strategy was attached at Appendix 1. 

Members discussed the SIF which brought together existing growth funding with the new funding streams secured as part of the devolution agreement.  It was suggested that for transparency, gainshare statements could be considered as part of the future scrutiny function.  Further information in respect of the funding included within the SIF and the remaining timescale of the funding secured through the City Deal for the West Yorkshire plus Transport Fund would be clarified in future reports to Members.

Resolved:  That the West Yorkshire Investment Strategy be endorsed.

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

Resolved:

(a)      That the Combined Authority indicatively approves funding from the Single Investment Fund to enable progress to be made in key priority areas, with full approval to spend being granted once the project has progressed through the assurance process in line with the Combined Authority’s Assurance Process. The indicative funding requested is:

·          £500k to support scheme development relating to culture and creative industries.

·          £1m to provide initial resources required to undertake an assessment relating to Bus Franchising.

·          £600k over three years to develop, launch and embed a West Yorkshire Good Work Standard

·          £500k to support scheme development relating to employment and skills support for 16-30 year olds.

(b)      That the approval for programmes to pass through Decision Point 2, totalling no more than £2.6m of funding from the Single Investment Fund be delegated to the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Strategy, Communications and Policing on initial funding priorities.

The linkages between the Mayoral pledges and the Authority’s objectives were set out.  Members noted the areas that require immediate investment and action which had been identified to support the Authority’s objectives linked to the priorities of the West Yorkshire Investment Strategy.

The Authority approved in principle some funding from gainshare to enable development work to be undertaken in the key priority areas of bus, culture, good work standard and skills.  Details were outlined in the submitted report and it was agreed that approval for programmes to pass through Decision Point 2 of the Assurance Framework be delegated to the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee.

Resolved:

(a)      That the Combined Authority indicatively approves funding from the Single Investment Fund to enable progress to be made in key priority areas, with full approval to spend being granted once the project has progressed through the assurance process in line with the Combined Authority’s Assurance Process. The indicative funding requested is:

·          £500k to support scheme development relating to culture and creative industries.

·          £1m to provide initial resources required to undertake an assessment relating to Bus Franchising.

·          £600k over three years to develop, launch and embed a West Yorkshire Good Work Standard

·          £500k to support scheme development relating to employment and skills support for 16-30 year olds.

(b)      That the approval for programmes to pass through Decision Point 2, totalling no more than £2.6m of funding from the Single Investment Fund be delegated to the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee.

(Lead Member: Councillor Jeffery, Director: Melanie Corcoran)

Resolved:

(a)      In respect of the Transforming Cities Fund Programme Review –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)          That the progress made in the delivery of the TCF programme be noted, in particular the key messages presented on milestones, finances and risks.

(ii)         That a further TCF Programme review is conducted over the next six months to report back to Committee in January 2022. This should consider opportunities to phase projects and accelerate delivery of schemes and associated spend.

(iii)       That partners develop plans to phase delivery of projects where possible to accelerate delivery to not only maximise spend but also deliver earlier benefits to users by March 2023.

(iv)       That the guiding principles around allocation of the remaining risk/contingency and inflation are noted.

(v)        That the changes to Indicative Funding Allocations set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report be approved.

(vi)       That the £2.760 million uplift in Programme Management budget to £7.690 million to reflect the larger high scenario programme being delivered and anticipated longer timescales for delivery (set out in Appendix 2) be approved.

(vii)     That a further allocation of £1 million programme development funding be approved, to be overseen by the TCF Portfolio Board and approved by delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director (who in turn will delegate to the Director of Delivery, and who will then take decisions taking on board the views of the TCF Portfolio Board – which comprises officers from all the authorities with TCF schemes).

(viii)    That the following development funding be approved:

·               Huddersfield Trinity St Access Improvements - £103,773

·               Huddersfield Rail Station Access - £76,679

·               A61 Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £79,990

·               Wakefield City Centre Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £172,226

·               A639 Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £110,000

·               York Tadcaster Road Corridor Improvement Scheme - £64,355

(b)      In respect of the Intra City Fund Capacity Fund –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)     That the Intra City Fund Capacity Funding scheme proceeds through decision point 1 (Pipeline Identification and Gateway Assessment) and work commences on activity 2 (Strategic Outline Case).

(ii)    That an indicative approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £7.400 million (which will be funded from the DfT Intra City Fund Capacity Fund) be given.

(iii)    That development costs of £3 million are approved in order to progress the scheme to decision point 2 (Strategic Outline Case).

(iv)   That the Combined Authority enters into any Funding Agreements required with our Partner Councils for expenditure of up to £0.500 million from the DfT Intra City Fund Capacity Fund.

(v)    That future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in the submitted report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in the report.

(c)      In respect of the Real Time Information System –

That the Investment Committee recommends to the Combined Authority that, subject to the conditions set  ...  view the full decision text for item 19.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Delivery on capital spending and project approvals.

Members noted the progress and funding for a number of schemes through the Combined Authority’s assurance process which were outlined in the submitted report.  These had been approved by the Investment Committee on 5 May 2021 and 8 June 2021 and included:

·       The Transforming Cities Fund Programme Review 2021

·       Intra City Fund Capacity Funding

·       Real Time Information System

·       East Leeds Demand Responsive Transport

·       Leeds City Region Growth Services

In addition, it was noted that the following decision points and change requests had been assessed and approved through the agreed delegation process:

·       Wakefield City Centre Package Phase 2: Ings Road

·       Beech Hill Phase 2, Halifax

·       A61 North Corridor: Scott Hall Road

·       Net Zero Region Accelerator

·       Health Innovation Support

·       Entrepreneurship Package of Support

·       TCF: Skipton Railway Station Gateway – Active Travel Improvement Scheme

·       TCF: Harrogate Rail Station Gateway – Active Travel Improvement Scheme

·       Steeton and Silsden Crossing

Details of all the schemes were provided in the submitted report.

Resolved:

(a)      In respect of the Transforming Cities Fund Programme Review –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee, the Combined Authority approves:

(i)          That the progress made in the delivery of the TCF programme be noted, in particular the key messages presented on milestones, finances and risks.

(ii)         That a further TCF Programme review is conducted over the next six months to report back to Committee in January 2022. This should consider opportunities to phase projects and accelerate delivery of schemes and associated spend.

(iii)       That partners develop plans to phase delivery of projects where possible to accelerate delivery to not only maximise spend but also deliver earlier benefits to users by March 2023.

(iv)       That the guiding principles around allocation of the remaining risk/contingency and inflation are noted.

(v)        That the changes to Indicative Funding Allocations set out in Appendix 2 to the submitted report be approved.

(vi)       That the £2.760 million uplift in Programme Management budget to £7.690 million to reflect the larger high scenario programme being delivered and anticipated longer timescales for delivery (set out in Appendix 2) be approved.

(vii)     That a further allocation of £1 million programme development funding be approved, to be overseen by the TCF Portfolio Board and approved by delegation to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director (who in turn will delegate to the Director of Delivery, and who will then take decisions taking on board the views of the TCF Portfolio Board – which comprises officers from all the authorities with TCF schemes).

(viii)    That the following development funding be approved:

·               Huddersfield Trinity St Access Improvements - £103,773

·               Huddersfield Rail Station Access - £76,679

·               A61 Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £79,990

·               Wakefield City Centre Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £172,226

·               A639 Bus, Cycle and Walking Improvements - £110,000

·               York Tadcaster Road Corridor Improvement Scheme - £64,355

(b)      In respect of the Intra City Fund Capacity Fund –

That following a recommendation from the Investment Committee,  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

The Combined Authority noted the minutes of the committees and panels that have been published on the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s website since the last meeting.

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