Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence received from Cllr Tim Swift, Cllr Jack Hemingway, Cllr Paula Widdowson, Simon Pringle and Adrian Gill.

The meeting was chaired by the Deputy Chair Mark Roberts.

There were no declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

There was no exempt information requiring the exclusion of the press and

public.

That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 October be approved.

The Committee considered a report to present the latest position on the State of the Region monitoring indicators relating to Climate and Environment, to respond to requests from Committee members for further information relating to State of the Region indicators, plus additional indicators, and to update the Committee on latest developments on the cost-of-living crisis.

Members noted the headline analysis and considered the analysis for suggested additional indicators and potential value to the Committee in terms of future monitoring.

The latest intelligence was discussed and the implications of the current economic situation for businesses within the region. The Committee noted the action taken so far by the Combined Authority and the next steps following the Autumn statement.

Resolved:

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)            That the additional indicators, latest intelligence on the cost of living

crisis and the action taken so far by the Combined Authority and next steps following the Autumn statement be noted

The Committee considered a report to provide an overview of progress on the development of a West Yorkshire Plan and its fit with the wider policy framework of the Combined Authority.

The Plan will promote the region and be our ‘outward facing shop window’, enabling us to drive West Yorkshire’s story, rather than being reactive. Setting a trajectory for the longer term, ensuring that all partners speak with one strong voice to government and the Committee was asked to consider the draft of the vision and narrative of the plan and agree the proposed next steps.

Resolved:

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)            That the Committee considered the draft vision of the plan and the proposed next steps be endorsed.

The Committee considered a report to provide an update on the Better Homes Hub Programme and learnings from elements already in delivery: the Community Renewal Fund Retrofit Hub Pilot and the Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund (SHDF).

Martyn Broadest from West Yorkshire Housing Partnership was invited to speak on this item by the Chair as his expertise brought a particular insight to help the committee discussion.

The Better Homes Hub is an umbrella programme which encompasses all the West Yorkshire activity on domestic energy efficiency retrofit.  It incorporates the overarching strategy and the projects that will deliver it (both currently in delivery and those still in programme development phases).

During the meeting, officers provided an overview of the Hub including objectives and workstreams and an update on two of the schemes Social Housing Decarbonisation Fund Wave and the Manningham Community Renewal Fund pilot. The programme is currently in development phase.

Members discussed and provided feedback on the overall scope of the Hub programme and the opportunities for demonstrator projects and a one stop shop which officers noted,

Resolved:

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)            That feedback, comments and thoughts from the committee on the overall scope pf the programme be noted.

The Committee considered a report to provide an overview of the zero-emission transport activity and work programme being undertaken by the Combined Authority with the following key points.

·       Mayor’s West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan.

·       Zero Carbon Transport Vision

·       Hydrogen Strategy

·       Electric Vehicle Charging Strategy

·       Bus Service Improvement Plan

·       Development of a West Yorkshire Freight Strategy to support the Development of the Local Transport Plan and the delivery of the West Yorkshire Climate and Environment Plan

·       Air Quality Strategy for the region

Resolved:

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)            That the update on the zero-emission transport activity and work programme being undertaken by the Combined Authority be noted.

The Committee considered a report to provide an overview and update on the work and findings of the Mayor’s Green Jobs Taskforce to date, including the

Taskforce’s emerging recommendations to develop a pipeline of skills

required for the workforce to support the Combined Authority achieve its

climate ambitions and the Mayoral pledge of 1,000 jobs for young people.

Work is progressing on the development of recommendations through the Green Jobs Taskforce and an update on the key themes from research commissioned by the Green Jobs Taskforce to inform emerging recommendations was shared with the Committee.

The Committee was invited to comment and support the shaping of the

emerging recommendations proposed by the Taskforce, ahead of the

Taskforce’s final meeting in January 2023.

Resolved:

(i)             That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)            That the work of the Green Skills Taskforce be noted.

(iii)          That the emerging recommendations proposed by the Taskforce be endorsed.

The Committee considered a report to provide an overview of selected ongoing activity to deliver against the mayoral pledge to tackle the climate emergency

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.