Agenda, decisions and minutes

Media

Items
No. Item

83.

Apologies for Absence

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no apologies for absence.

84.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Additional documents:

Minutes:

There were no pecuniary interests declared by members at the meeting.

85.

Exclusion of the Press and Public

Additional documents:

Minutes:

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

86.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 16 April 2020 pdf icon PDF 66 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Resolved:  That the minutes of the meeting of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority held on 16 April 2020 be approved.

87.

COVID-19 Response and Economic Recovery pdf icon PDF 278 KB

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Brian Archer)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Directors of Economic Services and Transport Services on COVID-19.

 

The report provided an update on the latest response to the COVID-19 outbreak from the Combined Authority and Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership. Members considered the continued delivery and development of products and services in response to COVID-19.  They discussed the challenges facing the region and the response work and recovery planning which is being overseen by the new West Yorkshire Economic Recovery Board. It was noted that regular meetings were also being held between the four Yorkshire and Humber LEP Chairs and representatives of all the major banks in the region.  In noting the summary of support and products being provided to businesses, Members highlighted and discussed the problems being faced by all sectors including the issues regarding the sourcing of seasonal agricultural workers, tourism, hospitality, theatre and the arts.

 

Members expressed their concerns and discussed the future viability and funding of public transport due to the impact of the pandemic. It was reported that in anticipation of an increase in passengers following the Government’s message to people unable to work from home, work was in progress at bus stations, interchanges and bus shelters to reinforce the social distancing advice.  The emergency arrangements for funding bus services will expire on 9 June 2020 and discussions are being held with the Department for Transport seeking clarity of further funding and investment.  The five Combined Authorities had sent a joint letter to Government seeking emergency funding for public transport and Councillor Blake and the Metro Mayors had also written to the Secretary of State recommending that all public sector funding for buses be directed through local transport authorities including the Combined Authority. 

 

The Authority noted the update in respect of the impact of COVID-19 on the organisation and the detailed work being undertaken to consider the financial impacts of the pandemic on the Combined Authority.  Forecasts and options are to be considered by a meeting of the Budget Working Group and a report will be taken to the next meeting of the Governance and Audit Committee.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the progress on the delivery and development of products and

services in response to the COVID-19 crisis be noted.

 

(b)       That the position with regard to the impact of COVID-19 on the bus

industry and organisation be noted.

88.

Devolution Implementation pdf icon PDF 440 KB

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Alan Reiss)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director Policy, Strategy and Communications on the implementation of devolution in West Yorkshire.

 

Members considered the outcome of the statutory Governance Review and the draft Scheme for the establishment of a Mayoral Combined Authority which were summarised in the report. A copy of the full Governance Review was attached at Appendix 1 and the draft Scheme at Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

 

The Authority discussed the consultation and engagement process which, subject to the authorisation of the Combined Authority and the Constituent Councils, would be carried out across the region.  It was noted that the draft consultation questions which were attached at Appendix 3 were currently being updated and a copy of the final consultation documents would be shared with Members at the earliest opportunity.  The public consultation on the devolution deal and proposals for a directly elected mayor would be held between 25 May – 19 July 2020.

 

It was agreed that the decisions taken in respect of the report be exempt from call-in by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.  This was on the grounds of urgency as any delay caused by the call-in process would prejudice the Combined Authority’s and Constituent Councils’ interests as delaying the start of the consultation process would have a significant detrimental impact on the proposed timetable which was attached at Appendix 4.

 

The Authority thanked officers for their support during the devolution negotiations and the work being undertaken to establish a Mayoral Combined Authority.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the conclusions of the Governance Review attached as Appendix

1 to the submitted report be endorsed, including that an Order under S104 and S105 in relation to the changes to constitutional arrangements considered in the Review and the delegation of additional functions to the Combined Authority would be likely to improve the exercise of statutory functions in relation to the Combined Authority’s area.

 

(b)       That the Combined Authority’s consideration of the draft Scheme for the establishment of the Mayoral Combined Authority, attached as Appendix 2 to the submitted report be noted.

 

(c)        That agreement be given for a public consultation exercise to be carried out on the proposals contained in the Scheme and that the Combined Authority’s consideration of the draft consultation questions, attached as Appendix 3 to the submitted report be noted.

 

(d)       That engagement between the Combined Authority and other Constituent Councils should progress as described in the submitted report and that the Managing Director of the Combined Authority, in consultation with the Chief Executive and Leader of each Constituent Council, be authorised to take any steps to finalise the Scheme and progress the public consultation exercise as set out above.  

 

(e)       That the updated timetable set out in Appendix 4 to the submitted report be noted and the next steps including, subject to the approval by the Constituent Councils and Combined Authority, the submission of a summary of the consultation responses to the Secretary of State in August/September 2020 and subsequently consent to any  ...  view the full minutes text for item 88.

89.

Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans pdf icon PDF 257 KB

(Lead Member: Cllr J Blake, Director: Alan Reiss)

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the Combined Authority adopt the phase one Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) produced for Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, and that proposals included in the plans be used as inputs into the development of a transport investment pipeline.

 

(b)       That a decision on the final appearance of the phase one LCWIP documents for publication is delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Transport Committee.

 

 

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Policy Strategy and Communications on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs).

 

The importance of walking and cycling had been highlighted during the current COVID-19 pandemic and it is expected that more people will choose these modes of travel, particularly as restrictions are lifted.  It was reported that £250 million national emergency funding for active travel had been announced by the Government but clarification was awaited on the how this would be distributed amongst the local authorities. 

 

The Transport Committee has overseen the technical work to develop the LCWIPs and endorsed a phased approach. Members noted the phase one summary documents for each of the five districts which were attached at Appendices 1 – 5 of the submitted report. The LCWIPs had been developed through a combination of technical work and stakeholder input and engagement had been carried out on the draft documents using the Your Voice platform. It was agreed that approval of the appearance of the final phase one documents be delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director in consultation with the Chair of the Transport Committee.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the Combined Authority adopt the phase one Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs) produced for Bradford, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds and Wakefield, and that proposals included in the plans be used as inputs into the development of a transport investment pipeline.

 

(b)       That a decision on the final appearance of the phase one LCWIP documents for publication is delegated to the Combined Authority’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of the Transport Committee.

 

 

90.

Corporate Matters pdf icon PDF 170 KB

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Angela Taylor)

Additional documents:

Decision:

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the capital strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report

            be approved.

 

(b)       That the procurement strategy attached at Appendix 2 to the submitted

            report be approved.

Minutes:

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director, Corporate Services on corporate matters which sought endorsement of the revised capital strategy and consideration of the updated procurement strategy.

 

Members considered the draft capital strategy which was attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report.  It was noted that the Governance and Audit Committee had considered the draft capital strategy at their meeting on 12 May 2020 and had recommended it to the Combined Authority for approval, noting that the strategy would require early review to ensure it remained fit for purpose for the COVID-19 response.

 

In respect of the procurement strategy, it was reported that there had been a number of changes within procurement and the wider organisation and these were now reflected in the revised procurement strategy which was attached at Appendix 2.  The Authority considered and approved the strategy, which sets out the direction of travel for procurement within the Combined Authority and explains the drivers, approach and intended outcomes for procurement activity. 

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the capital strategy attached at Appendix 1 to the submitted report

            be approved.

 

(b)       That the procurement strategy attached at Appendix 2 to the submitted

            report be approved.

91.

Calendar of Meetings 2020/21 pdf icon PDF 177 KB

(Lead Member: Cllr S Hinchcliffe, Director: Angela Taylor)

Additional documents:

Minutes:

 

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate Services setting out a proposed calendar of meetings for 2020/21.

 

The calendar of meetings also set out provisional dates for meetings of the Leeds City Region Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Board which would be considered at their meeting to be held on 10 June 2020.

 

Resolved:

 

(a)       That the calendar of meetings of the Combined Authority, its committees and sub-committees for 2020/21, as detailed in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be approved.

 

(b)       That the provisional dates of meetings for the LEP Board, to be considered by the LEP Board on 10 June 2020, be noted.