Decision details

(1)       The Mayoral Q&A event held with members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 28 September 2018 was noted, along with:

(a)       The committee’s views on the need for a ‘prescribed/dedicated’ time slot within the Mayor’s diary for such events;

(b)       Proposals to increase the number of events to three per year, in order to facilitate a wider range of questioning, and ensure greater transparency;

(c)        The continued need for the WMCA Board to ensure that pre-decision scrutiny was embedded throughout the work of the WMCA.

(2)       The recommendations of Overview & Scrutiny Committee arising from the Mayoral Q&A event were approved:

(a)       A report on Brexit, and the implications for the region, to be presented to the WMCA Board as soon as possible, as it was considered that there was a need for a co-ordinated regional approach on the potential impacts and mitigations of Brexit.

(b)       Any WMCA Air Quality Strategy should be drafted in co-ordination with all constituent authorities, and include reference to impact on non-constituent authorities;  also  the WMCA should develop a region-wide database for all local authorities to input into, and to access information.

(c)        The WMCA should provide leadership on vehicle emission standards impacting on air pollution, and therefore any decision on the engine type to be used in the proposed Sprint vehicle should avoid the use of diesel; and WMCA should seek to be the market leader in environmental emissions.

(d)       Overview & Scrutiny Committee should undertake pre-decision scrutiny on any proposals or recommendations arising out of the Ring & Ride review prior to its consideration by the WMCA Board.

(3)       The following questions being asked of the Mayor were noted, which, in accordance with the WMCA’s constitution, he was required to provide a written response to the committee, within two months:

(a)        To provide a detailed breakdown on how the Mayor had utilised the £2m central Government funding allocated to the WMCA to boost mayoral capacity and resources, and whether any of this funding had been, or was intended to be, allocated to support an effective scrutiny function.

(b)        To provide greater clarification on the extent to which the Mayor was utilising the powers provided within the Bus Services Act 2017 in respect of bus franchising.

(c)        To provide further details on the support being provided by Transport for West Midlands to ensure vehicles operated on subsidised routes achieved high standards of environmental emissions.

(d)        To provide further details on the number and percentage of housing delivery programme targets that would be designated as ‘affordable homes’, and also social housing.

(e)        To provide further information of the economic benefits that the Mayor envisaged for the region as a result of hosting the Commonwealth Games 2022, and how this would contribute to the region’s inclusive growth.