Agenda item

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

Resolved:

(a)       That the Combined Authority approves amendments to the terms of reference for the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, authorising the Committee to make decisions on behalf of the Combined Authority to progress schemes under the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework, in accordance with each scheme’s bespoke assurance pathway and approval route.

(b)       That the Combined Authority approves revised bespoke assurance pathway and approval routes for the schemes set out in Appendix 2.

(c)        That the Combined Authority approves the changes in governance arrangements for the Enterprise Zone programme as detailed in para 2.11 of the submitted report.

(d)       That the Combined Authority notes the termination of the appointment of Councillor Robert Light as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and appoints Councillor Elizabeth Smaje as his replacement.

(e)       That the Combined Authority appoints Councillor Elizabeth Smaje as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(f)        That the Combined Authority notes the termination of the appointment of Councillor Simon Cooke as a substitute Combined Authority member and that his replacement is Councillor Rebecca Poulsen with effect from 26 October 2018.

(g)       That the Combined Authority notes the updated member appointments as set out in Appendices 3 and 4 to this report.

(h)       That the Combined Authority agrees the proposed response to the recommendations made by Calderdale Council’s Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board as set out in Appendix 6.

The Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Resources on the following corporate developments which:

·         Proposed governance changes in relation to the role of the Investment Committee.

·         Proposed governance changes to the Leeds City Region Enterprise Zone programme.

·         Proposed changes in appointments to the membership of the  Combined Authority and its committees and to consider the appointment of a Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

·         Informed the Combined Authority of the recommendations of a scrutiny review conducted by Calderdale Council into its engagement and relationship with the Combined Authority and agree a formal response.

·         Provided an update on corporate performance including progress against 2018/19 corporate plan priorities, risk management and the current budget position.

Members discussed the proposal for the Investment Committee to be able to make decisions on behalf of the Combined Authority in respect of progressing schemes under the Assurance Framework to facilitate their delivery within the funding programme timescales.  Details of the proposed changes were detailed in the report and the draft terms of reference and a revised bespoke assurance pathway and approval routes for the schemes were attached at Appendices 1 and 2.  Members discussed the issues raised in respect of the political balance of the Investment Committee and the need to ensure projects were given the right level of scrutiny and investigation.  They were advised that the intention for the proposed changes was to speed up the progression and delivery of projects.  It was noted that there was geographic balance on the Committee and, in approving the changes, it was agreed that the issue of political balance would be considered further and addressed either at the Combined Authority’s AGM or as part of the LEP merger.

It was noted that the Combined Authority had previously identified the need to prioritise the accelerated delivery of the EZ programme and the proposed governance changes, which had been considered by the LEP Board on 22 November 2018, were outlined in the report.

The report provided an update on changes in membership and revised schedules were attached at Appendices 3 and 4. In respect of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee it was agreed that Councillor Elizabeth Smaje be appointed as a member and Chair of the Committee following the resignation of Councillor Robert Light. In welcoming Councillor Smaje to her new role it was agreed that a letter of thanks be sent to Councillor Light on behalf of the Combined Authority.

It was noted that Bradford Council had advised that Councillor Rebecca Poulsen would replace Councillor Simon Cooke as the substitute ‘balancing member’ on the Combined Authority with effect from 26 October 2018.

It was reported that Calderdale Council’s scrutiny boards had carried out a detailed review of their authority’s engagement and relationship with the Combined Authority.  The final report was endorsed by their Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board and contained recommendations for both the Combined Authority and Calderdale Council.  The report had been presented to the Combined Authority’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee in September 2018 and an extract detailing the recommendations from Calderdale Council’s Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board report was attached at Appendix 5.  In welcoming the report, Members considered and agreed the draft response to be sent on behalf of the Combined Authority which was attached at Appendix 6.  

In respect of corporate planning and performance, Members noted the update on progress attached at Appendix 7 which included a summary of the strategic risks affecting the organisation.

A summary of the 2018/19 current spend to budget was attached at Appendix 8 and it was noted that there were currently no areas of concern to report.

Resolved:

(a)       That the Combined Authority approves amendments to the terms of reference for the West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee as set out in Appendix 1 to the submitted report, authorising the Committee to make decisions on behalf of the Combined Authority to progress schemes under the Leeds City Region Assurance Framework, in accordance with each scheme’s bespoke assurance pathway and approval route.

(b)       That the Combined Authority approves revised bespoke assurance pathway and approval routes for the schemes set out in Appendix 2.

(c)        That the Combined Authority approves the changes in governance arrangements for the Enterprise Zone programme as detailed in para 2.11 of the submitted report.

(d)       That the Combined Authority notes the resignation of the appointment of Councillor Robert Light as a member of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and appoints Councillor Elizabeth Smaje as his replacement.

(e)       That the Combined Authority appoints Councillor Elizabeth Smaje as Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

(f)        That a letter of thanks be sent to Councillor Light on behalf of the Combined Authority.

(g)       That the Combined Authority notes the termination of the appointment of Councillor Simon Cooke as a substitute Combined Authority member and that his replacement is Councillor Rebecca Poulsen with effect from 26 October 2018.

(h)       That the Combined Authority notes the updated member appointments as set out in Appendices 3 and 4 to this report.

(i)         That the Combined Authority agrees the proposed response to the recommendations made by Calderdale Council’s Strategy and Performance Scrutiny Board as set out in Appendix 6.