Items
No. |
Item |
1. |
Apologies for absence
To note apologies and confirm
the quorum of 11 members is met.
Minutes:
Attendees (12): Councillors Bob
Felstead, Stephen Baines, Kaleigh Brooks, Zafar Iqbal, Susan Press,
Audrey Smith, Richard Smith, Harpreet Uppal, Dawn Collins, Tony
Hames, Olivia Rowley, Tony Wallis
Apologies (4): Councillors
Aneela Ahmed, Manisha Kaushik, Jonathan Bentley, Andrew
Hollyer.
In attendance: Brian Archer,
Liz Hunter, Justin Wilson, Khaled Berroum, Hannah Scales
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2. |
Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests
Minutes:
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3. |
Possible exclusion of the press and public
Minutes:
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4. |
Minutes of the last meeting held on 17 November 2021 PDF 247 KB
Minutes:
Accepted subject to the
amendment of noting the attendance for Councillors Rowley, Kaushik
and Iqbal who sent their apologies at the last meeting.
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5. |
Chair's comments and update
Minutes:
Members were informed of the
outcomes from the Scrutiny Chair’s Steering meetings held in
December to discuss the year and the potential for a workshop for
members to discuss how they think scrutiny has gone this year so
far, any potential changes and areas the Committee would like to
explore further next year. Members were reminded of the
Mayor’s Question Time due to take place at the next committee
meeting on 9 March 2022.
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6. |
Rural issues PDF 450 KB
Minutes:
Members received a report which
provided an update on the rural context for West Yorkshire and
highlight main policy challenges and delivery programmes in the
region’s rural areas.
Questions and discussion
centred around:
- Broadband: Members discussed broadband
viability in rural areas, how broadband needs are assessed, the
thinking behind the 20% target – which was due to limited
funding (£5b committed nationally by government out of
£20bn needed) and the challenges with broadband provision on
unadopted streets in relation to the Gigabit rollout. Members also
discussed the need for businesses to be in hard-to-reach
'disconnected' areas and although business relocation was an option
it was not something being advocated for strategically.
- Tree
Planting: Members discussed what work was
being done with rural communities to source land for tree planting
and whether university courses on agriculture production were being
promoted. It was noted that the recently published Environment Plan
related to nature which included tree planting as a major element,
in particular as part of flood defence, although funding was a
challenge. The Climate and Environment Plan focussed on working
with farmers in order to establish their needs and gather data on
their land and areas – this is a work in
progress.
- Fuel
Poverty: Members clarified which
localities where accounted for in the four categories contained in
Table 2 of the report, which was confirmed to be DEFRA statistics
and every area had a classification. Members discussed why fuel
poverty was affecting rural areas as opposed to urban areas, noting
that it was generally due to proximity to the gas network and
building types in rural areas usually being larger and older
buildings.
- Funding: Members noted the continued
uncertainty around funding as the Combined Authority waited to hear
from government on continued growth hub funding and details of the
UK Shared Prosperity Fund, amongst others. The Growth Hub in
particular was vital to cross-council working in business support
and growth. Members also noted that the sick pay rebate had been
extended for small and medium sized businesses.
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7. |
Housing pledge and powers PDF 165 KB
Minutes:
Members were presented with a
report which outlined early work on fulfilling the Mayor’s
pledge on affordable housing.
Questions and discussion
centred around:
- Housing role and
powers: Despite not being a planning
authority, the Combined Authority supported local authorities on
strategic planning matters. The Combined Authority responded to
planning applications particularly with a transport focus and gave
joint advice back to government and work with our district partners
on their local plans. The Combined Authority was awaiting further
guidance from Government with regards to planning at a regional
level.
- Targets: Members discussed whether the
target was achievable and the Combined Authority is currently
identifying how to add value through a West Yorkshire Strategy
without duplicating local strategies already in place. Members also
discussed the importance of clearly defining
“affordable” housing.
- Funding: It reported that whilst the
Combined Authority had secured £67 million that would help,
it wouldn’t be able to address all brownfield site challenges
such as viability and determining land ownership. The Combined
Authority hoped Government would expand this funding while work is
underway by partner authorities to map out the level of available
funding across WY authorities.
- Stakeholders: Members discussed
engagement with developers, the strength of existing Section 106
agreements and whether they yielded enough alignment in areas where
developers and councils often diverge, such as affordable housing
and use greenbelt land. The CA has produced a ‘developers
note’ and guide which sets out relevant things developers
should consider in their planning applications, such as
infrastructure, transport, cycle lanes and climate impact. There is
also a “WY House Alliance” which seeks to improve
cooperation between key players – including ensuring the CA
is able to comment on transport aspects of planning
applications.
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8. |
COVID-19 economic recovery PDF 312 KB
Minutes:
Members were provided with an
update on the current economic situation in the region as a result
of Covid-19 and the work of the Combined Authority and the LEP with
regards to economic recovery planning and
implementation.
Questions and discussion
centred around:
- Claimant
count: As stated in section 2.6 of the
report the claimant count had decreased but remained higher than
pre-pandemic, this was due to several elements such as the increase
of the cost of living. It was noted that the claimant count was
lower in West Yorkshire than it was in England.
- Local recovery
data: Members learned that the local
recovery for the most part was due to domestic demand for both
goods and services increasing after lifting of Covid-19 Pandemic
due to ‘pent up demand’ and in part due to shipping
costs on imports. In terms of job retention, it was difficult to
ascertain exactly where jobs had gone but it could be down to
extended sick leave and some of the workforce not returning to
previous jobs. Certain sectors were hit harder such as hospitality,
and leisure services, which were sectors with a largely female
workforce. In the Combined Authority’s commissioning (such as
the entrepreneurship programme) gender targets had been put in
place and the first cohort was 60% female – following an
increase in demand.
- Business
liquidations: Members discussed why
business liquidations had increased in recent weeks and it was
explained that it was important to also look at new formation
rates, there would be a number of individuals moving into more
secure employment. There were a number of interventions the
Combined Authority could pursue in order to support the businesses.
The Business Accelerator Fund was due to start in 2023 which would
hopefully be equity investment. Energy costs were difficult to
mitigate but the Combined Authority does have a support programme
which helps businesses reduced energy costs with an environmental
audit.
In-work poverty statistics
& inclusivity: Members suggested
in-work poverty statistics be included in future reports and
discussed how the Combined Authority supported over 50s and 60s in
finding work. Members were informed of the Skills Connect Programme
and Employment Hub which support people get back into
work.
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9. |
Economy Scrutiny Work Programme PDF 148 KB
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Chair reminded Members of
the Workshop due to be held on Wednesday, 16 February 2022 and the
Mayor’s Question Tim due to be held on Wednesday, 9 March
2022.
Members asked whether there
would be a policy on electric vehicle chargers and the involvement
of the commercial sector. It was confirmed to be a combination of
both sectors, the Combined Authority had some funding for electric
charging, and it was suggested that colleagues in the Delivery
directorate may be able to provide further insight. It was also
suggested that analysis be done on the impact of the rising energy
prices and any opportunity for subsidies.
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10. |
Date of the next meeting - 9 March 2022
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