Issue - meetings

It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:

(1)  The responses provided be noted.

(2)  The comments made by committee in relation to the Mayoral Capacity Fund to be noted.

The committee considered a report from the Chief Executive providing a formal response to the points raised by committee at the Q&A session relating to issues on air quality, transport, housing and other policy-related matters.

The Chief Executive commented that it was her view the funding of resources for scrutiny was more sustainable from the operational fund of the Combined Authority than the Mayoral Capacity Fund as this was only allocated for a period of two years. Further to committees concerns around the lack of resources as highlighted in the Governance Working Group, it was also noted that additional resources for scrutiny had been identified in the draft budget.

The chair acknowledged the additional resources being committed to scrutiny from the operational budget. However, committee members considered that the Mayor should still have shown support to scrutiny by allocating a segment of the Mayoral Capacity Fund (albeit only over the 2 years of the fund) for this purpose. They considered that this would have demonstrated a significant commitment towards scrutiny in decision making, and help to substantiate his claims regarding ‘transparency’.

Further to concerns raised around the Mayor not utilising his bus franchising powers, it was agreed that a task & finish group would be implemented to look at this further and feedback at a future committee.

Councillor Ian Shires also referenced point (d) of the report and requested that pre-decision scrutiny be undertaken into the development of proposals for an affordable housing deal with Government.

It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:

(1)  The responses provided be noted.

(2)  The comments made by committee in relation to the Mayoral Capacity Fund to be noted.