Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fazila Loonat.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

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

The Committee considered the minutes from the last quorate meeting on 22 March 2019 and reviewed outstanding issues and matters arising.

Resolved: 

i)     That the minutes of the meeting held on 22 March 2019 be approved.

ii)    That information on the work and engagement the Combined Authority and Transport Committee have undertaken to date with train operators on the topic of accessibility and mobility be provided to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The Committee noted the record of the discussion at the last (inquorate) meeting on 24 May 2019.

Members welcomed the committee asking the Chair of the Combined Authority whether the Combined Authority planned to join partner councils in declaring a climate emergency and noted that one month later the Combined Authority formally did so.

Resolved: 

i)     That the notes of the inquorate meeting held on 24 May 2019 be noted.

ii)    That the Combined Authority’s formal declaration of a climate emergency since the last scrutiny committee meeting and scrutiny’s role be noted. 

To note the standing orders and terms of reference

The Committee noted a report of the Scrutiny Officer outlining the governance arrangements agreed by the Combined Authority at its annual meeting on 27 June 2019 pertaining to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including changes to Scrutiny Standing Orders and the appointment of Councillor Peter Harrand as the new scrutiny chair.

Resolved:   

i)     That the governance arrangements agreed by the Combined Authority at its annual meeting on 27 June 2019 and amendments to the Scrutiny Standing Orders be noted.

ii)    That new members be welcomed and parting members be thanked for their service and many contributions over the years.

The Committee heard comments from the newly appointed Chair of Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Peter Harrand, who thanked his predecessors Robert Light and Liz Smaje for their stewardship and work in raising the profile of scrutiny at the Combined Authority to date.

The Chair welcomed new members and emphasised the importance of strong scrutiny in an authority that spends over £1 million a day on average and covers a large territory.

The Chair suggested that a cross-party group of members act as leads for each of the Combined Authority/LEP’s priority areas. These member leads will liaise closely with lead officers for their priority and report back periodically to the committee as appropriate. It was agreed that member leads may choose deputies and otherwise approach their role as they thought best. 

Resolved:

i)     That the Chair's comments be noted.

ii)    That a cross-party group of members act as scrutiny leads (and deputies) for each of the Combined Authority/LEP priority areas with the following members nominated:

·         Cllr Stephen Baines: ‘boosting productivity’

·         Cllr James Baker: ‘supporting clean growth’

·         Cllr Peter Harrand: corporate, governance and devolution

·         Cllr Betty Rhodes: ‘21^st century transport’

To agree topics for scrutiny this year

The Committee considered a report of the Scrutiny Officer to approve a work programme for 2019/20 following the members’ workshop held on 28 June 2019.

Following discussion, the Committee agreed that:

• Due to the large number of possible issues scrutiny is able to look into, there is a need to be selective when deciding which topics to scrutinise.
• Scrutiny should focus on issues that the Combined Authority/LEP has the power to directly impact or indirectly influence through ‘soft power’ actions.
• More external guests should be invited to give evidence this year on key issues, including local academics, businesses, service users and any other stakeholders/partners.
• There should be a greater effort to compare the West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s activity and performance with other combined authority areas with a similar profile and size such as West Midlands, Manchester and Liverpool.
• With the current resources available to scrutiny, two working groups is likely the maximum number that can be supported at one time – leaving some flexibility for one-off workshops.
• Consequently, last year’s transport and LEP working groups should not be reappointed and instead more topic-focused ‘task and finish’ groups concentrating on two issues of importance – climate change and outcomes from business grants – be appointed this year.
• Working groups should form their own focused terms of reference and report back to the main committee.
• Members interested in being on a working group should inform the scrutiny officer after the meeting.

The Committee discussed the topics that scrutiny should focus on this year and concluded that:

• On climate change:
  
  
  1. A working group dedicated to climate change should be established and determine its own terms of reference.
     
     
  2. Scrutiny should investigate how the declaration of a ‘climate emergency’ will impact the work of the Combined Authority this year in real terms, outcomes and noticeable changes in policy.

• On apprenticeships and skills:
  
  
  1. That apprenticeships and skills is a topic of increasing urgency and the bleak regional picture presented to the committee in its January and May 2019 meetings remains a cause for concern.
     
     
  2. The conclusions of those meetings should be revisited. Particular concerns include:

-   Reports that some schools are not receptive to engagement on apprenticeships or have a stereotypical view of which students apprenticeships are for.

-   Reports of apprenticeships still being used as a box ticking exercise or a source of cheap temporary labour

-   The scope for potential programme of follow up  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To comment on the development of the Local Industrial Strategy

The Committee considered a report of the Director of Policy, Strategy & Communications providing an update on the progress to develop a Local Industrial Strategy to be the central element of a new strategic policy framework intended to replace the LEP’s current Strategic Economic Plan. The item was last considered by the Committee on 13 July 2018.

The following were in attendance for this item:

• Alan Reiss, Director of Policy, Strategy & Communications
• Emma Longbottom, Head of Policy and Strategy Coordination

Following questions from members and further discussion, the Committee learned:

• The LEP Board is leading the development of the Local Industrial Strategy and will make the ultimate decision.

• Each of the (thematic) advisory panels (that include both private sector and elected members) that report to the LEP are involved in developing the strategy.

• Although the government has been clear that the Local Industrial Strategy is not a bidding document and details of future funding mechanisms are not yet clear, it is estimated and hoped that around £120m a year will be made available to the LEP in the future via the future UK Shared Prosperity Fund. 

• A successful outcome in three years timing would include the LEP having:
  1. Developed a clear strategy that is approved by the government
  2. Received new funds released by the government
  3. Begun investing in interventions to achieve the identified strategic goals
  4. Begun to see short term benefits from those interventions

• Although the Leeds City Region and York & North Yorkshire LEPs are currently each developing their own separate local industrial strategies, they have taken into account the ongoing intention to create a new LEP covering the whole of Leeds City Region and North Yorkshire by:
  1. collaborating on the development of the evidence base,
  2. coordinating on mutual areas (such as rural issues)
  3. establishing a joint independent expert panel
  4. Keeping in close touch at officer level
  5. Collaborating on consultation in the overlapping areas.

• The LEP has not yet decided which of the four ‘grand challenges’ (artificial intelligence/data, future mobility, ageing society and clean growth) it will focus on. The government has asked each LEP to choose where to focus.

• Whilst a strong case could be made for all of them, the LEP is currently leaning towards either ‘clean growth’ or ‘ageing society’ because:
  1. Clean growth: the region’s existing local energy assets and sector put it in a strong position to realistically achieve its zero carbon targets and position itself as a national leader.
  2. Ageing society: one of the biggest employers in the region is the health and social sector (est: 250,000 employees) and the region has emerged as a strong performer in the health technology industry which would put it in a strong position to supply the needs of an ageing population nationally.

• Discussions are still ongoing about whether the strategy should be focused on certain sectors of the economy or take a broader approach. Feedback shows that businesses prefer the latter.

• There will also be a strong ‘place’ based element to the strategy as  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

As requested by the Committee at the May 2019 meeting

The Committee received a report of the Scrutiny Officer containing briefing notes requested by members at the inquorate committee meeting held on 24 May 2019:

1.    Overview of low uptake in AGE grant programme PHASE 2 and which grant criteria was changed to increase uptake.

2.    Explanation of current/planned work on procurement policy with regards to local supply chains in the region.

3.    Background info on upcoming the ‘Climate Summit’ and Blue & Green Infrastructure Plan/Strategy.

4.    Overview of Broadband rollout and the ‘ongoing challenges in contract 2’ mentioned in the report.

5.    Further information on the Growing Places Fund and planned changes to its delivery.

Resolved:  That the briefing notes be noted.