Agenda item

(Led by: Mark Roberts, Lead Officer: Myles Larrington)

The Board considered a report providing an update on the work of the six Thematic Committees as follows:

·       Councillor Shabir Pandor, Chair of the Business Economy and Innovation Committee, presented an update on the proceedings of the Committee which met on 19 October 2022. He advised that the Committee considered a range of reports, including the latest economic and business intelligence around the Crisis in the Cost of Living and Doing Business, the Combined Authority's response to the crisis, and asks of the Government.

·       The Mayor presented an update on the Culture, Heritage and Sport Committee which had met on 28 October 2022 and had considered = reportswhich included presentations from Calderdale and Wakefield on respective plans for Year of Culture activities in 2024; Sector Economic Intelligence; progress of the Creative Catalyst and Mayor’s Screen Diversity Programme, and a report on the development of the Culture, Heritage and Sport Framework following sector and public engagement.

·       The Chair, Mark Roberts, presented an update on the proceedings of the Climate, Energy and Environment Committee which had met on 4 October 2022 and had consideredreports relating to the Mayoral pledge to tackle the climate emergency and meeting the 2038 net-zero carbon target.

·       Councillor James Lewis, Chair of the Employment & Skills Committee, presented an update on the proceedings of the Committee which had met on 20 October. The Committee had received an update that in West Yorkshire, West and North Yorkshire Chamber of Commerce, and the Mid-Yorkshire Chamber had been chosen to lead the LSIP (Local Skills Improvement Plan being set up by Government) and intended to work closely with WYCA. The Committee were also recommending an increase in the funding rate for the Adult Education Budget, which would be subject to approval by the Combined Authority at its in February 2023.

·       Amir Hussain, Deputy Chair of the Place, Regeneration & Housing Committee, presented the update on the proceedings of the Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee which had met on 3 November 2022. The Committee considered a reportwhich provided an update on the relevant economic indicators and reported on their performance to support the work of the Committee, including the State of the Region, the Cost of Living and Doing Business, the Leeds City Region Business Survey and Footfall Data. They also considered the Housing Pledge and Policy which provided an update on progress towards delivery of the Mayoral pledge to deliver 5000 affordable and sustainable homes in West Yorkshire and two Project Approvals.

·       Councillor Hinchcliffe, Chair of the Transport Committee, presented an update on the proceedings of the Committee which had met on 14 October 2022 as the 16 September 2022 meeting had been cancelled with papers moved forward to the October meeting. The Committee considered a range of reports including a response to the Government’s mini budget and the projects identified for acceleration. It was agreed by the Committee that a letter should be drafted to send to Government highlighting the need to focus on delivery and ways to accelerate projects such as Mass Transit and Northern Powerhouse Rail.

Resolved: That the updates from the Thematic Committees be noted.