Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: Large Meeting Room, Wellington House, 40-50 Wellington St, Leeds, LS1 2DE

Items
No. Item

41.

Apologies for Absence

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Himchcliffe, Councillor Jeffery and Sir Roger Marsh.

42.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Minutes:

There were no declartions of pecuniary interest at the meeting.

43.

Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

1.       To highlight Appendix 3 to Agenda Item 5 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 in paragraph 7.1 of Agenda Item 5.

 

2.       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 Appendix 3 to Agenda Item 5 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 that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

Minutes:

1.       To highlight Appendix 3 to Agenda Item 5 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 in paragraph 7.1 of Agenda Item 5.

 

2.       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 Appendix 3 to Agenda Item 5 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 that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

44.

Minutes of the Meeting held on 3 March pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 3 March be approved.

45.

Financial Update pdf icon PDF 175 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report that set out the current financial position. A revised gainshare forecast was attached at appendix 1 and now included indicative funding allocations to the investment priorities. Members noted that it was proposed that no revenue would be used at this point to allow borrowing to take place, although it could commence if a suitable pipeline was found.

 

Members were updated on the 2021/22 financial outturn ahead of year end finalisation and noted that savings due to lower payments on concessionary travel would be ringfenced to support future bus activity.

 

Core funding for LEPs had been halved by Government but the Combined Authority had underwritten the budgets of certain teams within the Economic Services directorate. Members were supportive of this approach and recognised the valuable work the various teams provided for the region. Members considered how best to maintain the services in the long term given the reduction in funding; a short review would be carried out and would also look at alternate modes of funding. 

 

Resolved:

(i)              That the financial position be noted.

 

(ii)             Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

 

46.

Bus Funding pdf icon PDF 289 KB

Decision:

 

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the current position regarding bus funding and the implications for the Combined Authority finances be noted.

 

(ii)             That payments to be made under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in line with Government guidance be endorsed.

 

(iii)           That the approach to review bus service sustainability ahead of the end of Government bus funding  be noted and endorsed.

 

Minutes:

Members considered a report which set out the current position regarding bus service funding. Government had announced funding for 6 months starting 1 March but had made it clear that no further funding would be made available.

 

Government had asked that Local Transport Authority’s and bus operators to collaboratively undertake a sustainability review to determine a network in autumn which reflects the new level of demand and travel behaviours.

 

Members discussed the approach to the sustainability review which included a revised criteria which determined which bus services received Combined Authority funding, the commissioning of independent advisors to model different scenarios, and identify which commercial services were at risk to take decisions on bus service support from October 2022 onwards.

 

Members discussed the need for analysis and some high level principles on what a future bus network should look like to grow patronage and provide a good standard of service across the region.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the current position regarding bus funding and the implications for the Combined Authority finances be noted.

 

(ii)             That payments to be made under the English National Concessionary Travel Scheme in line with Government guidance be endorsed.

 

(iii)           That the approach to review bus service sustainability ahead of the end of Government bus funding be noted and endorsed.

 

47.

Corporate Plan and Key Performance Indicators 2022/23 pdf icon PDF 194 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the update on the development of the Corporate Plan 2022-23 and Key Performance Indicators 2022-23 be noted.

 

(ii)             That final approval for the Corporate Plan is delegated to the Mayor and the Managing Director and that a copy of the final document is shared with the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee at their June meeting, for information.

 

(iii)           That the proposed Corporate KPIs for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 2, be endorsed.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the development of the Corporate Plan 2022/23 and Corporate Key Performance indicators 2022/23.

 

Members noted that the Corporate Plan would include strategic targets and ambitions for the region. The final approval for the Corporate Plan would be delegated to the Mayor and the Managing Director and a copy of the final document would be shared with the Committee at its next meeting.

 

The Corporate Key Performance Indicators for 2022/23 were attached at appendix 2 to the submitted report and would be routinely monitored throughout the year with the Committee receiving a quarterly summary of progress. The strategic KPIs would contain quantified Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion to demonstrate action.

 

Members discussed the use of the Corporate Plan to set out a vision for the region over several years along with some specific targets relating to the Combined Authority’s specific contribution. Members discussed the way in which the Corporate Plan was presented to the Committee and the need for it to be readable and clear and the possibility to use case studies to illustrate the detail behind the KPIs and taking one KPI to take to each meeting to look at in more detail.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the update on the development of the Corporate Plan 2022-23 and Key Performance Indicators 2022-23 be noted.

 

(ii)              That final approval for the Corporate Plan is delegated to the Mayor and the Managing Director and that a copy of the final document is shared with the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee at their June meeting, for information.

 

(iii)            That the proposed Corporate KPIs for 2022/23, as set out in Appendix 2, be endorsed.

 

48.

Capital Spending and Project Approvals pdf icon PDF 580 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

(i)       That in respect of Greener Together the Finance, Resources, and Corporate Committee approved that, subject to the conditions set by PAT:

a)    The Greener Together scheme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

b)    Full approval for the Combined Authority’s contribution of £306,604, funded from the Combined Authority’s Gainshare allocation is given. Total scheme value is £461,648.

c)     The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Newground CIC for £306,604.

d)    Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The following conditions have been set by PAT to gain Approval to Proceed to Delivery:

e)    A carbon impact assessment should be undertaken as part of evaluation (DP7).

f)      Information on quantified benefits should be provided and social VfM should be calculated using the national Themes Outcomes and Measures framework for reporting social value (TOMS) as part of evaluation (DP7).

(ii)      That in respect of the Bradford Literature Festival the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee approved that, subject to the conditions set by PAT:

a)    The Bradford Literature Festival scheme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on delivery.

b)    Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £250,000 is given. The total scheme value is £1,892,340.

c)     The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Cultured Squared CIC for expenditure of up to £250,000.

d)    Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The following conditions have been set by PAT to gain Approval to Proceed to Delivery:

a)    Conclusion of satisfactory due diligence

b)    Previous evaluations to be shared with PMA

c)     Monitoring and evaluation plan agreed and implemented.

 

Minutes:

The Committee considered a report which set out proposals for the progression of, and funding for, several West Yorkshire Combined Authority supported projects, Members discussed the proposals for the progression of the following schemes which were detailed in the submitted report:

 

·       Greener Together

·       Bradford Literature Festival

Resolved:

(i)       That in respect of Greener Together the Finance, Resources, and Corporate Committee approved that, subject to the conditions set by PAT:

a)    The Greener Together scheme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on activity 5 (delivery).

b)    Full approval for the Combined Authority’s contribution of £306,604, funded from the Combined Authority’s Gainshare allocation is given. Total scheme value is £461,648.

c)     The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Newground CIC for £306,604.

d)    Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The following conditions have been set by PAT to gain Approval to Proceed to Delivery:

e)    A carbon impact assessment should be undertaken as part of evaluation (DP7).

f)      Information on quantified benefits should be provided and social VfM should be calculated using the national Themes Outcomes and Measures framework for reporting social value (TOMS) as part of evaluation (DP7).

(ii)      That in respect of the Bradford Literature Festival the Finance, Resources and Corporate Committee approved that, subject to the conditions set by PAT:

a)    The Bradford Literature Festival scheme proceeds through decision point 2 (strategic outline case) and decision point 4 (full business case) and work commences on delivery.

b)    Approval to the Combined Authority’s contribution of £250,000 is given. The total scheme value is £1,892,340.

c)     The Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Cultured Squared CIC for expenditure of up to £250,000.

d)    Future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and approval route outlined in this report. This will be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined in this report.

The following conditions have been set by PAT to gain Approval to Proceed to Delivery:

a)    Conclusion of satisfactory due diligence

b)    Previous evaluations to be shared with PMA

c)     Monitoring and evaluation plan agreed and implemented.

 

49.

Staff Engagement pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered a report which provided an update on the Combined Authority’s approach to staff engagement.

 

Members discussed the findings of the staff survey and recognised the areas that needed to be improved as well as the positive responses. Members noted the action already undertaken in response to the survey including the feedback sessions, engagement events, and a communications plan to update staff with progress. 

 

Members discussed alternate ways to engage staff including highlighting the work of the Mayor and of the Combined Authority’s social value.

 

Resolved: That the update on the approach to going forward, and the progress to date, be noted

 

50.

Modern Slavery Statement pdf icon PDF 166 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the Modern Slavery Statement be approved.

 

(ii)             That it is published externally on the Combined Authority website and the Modern Slavery register on the official .gov domain.

 

Minutes:

Members considered a report that set out a Modern Slavery Statement for the Combined Authority.

 

The Modern Slavery Statement was attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report and members noted that it had been drafted to complement the Modern Slavery Statement for West Yorkshire Police.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)              That the Modern Slavery Statement be approved.

 

(ii)             That it is published externally on the Combined Authority website and the Modern Slavery register on the official .gov domain.