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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Room 116, 16 Summer Lane, Birmingham B19 3SD

Contact: Wendy Slater, Senior Governance Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

99.

Apologies for absence

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Akhtar, Hanif, Sidhu, Warren and Welsh.

100.

Chair's Remarks

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

(i)               The Chair informed members that Pete Bond, Director of Integrated Network Services, had recently returned from adoption leave and would be attending future committee meetings.

 

(ii)               The Chair informed the committee that following a meeting of the Bus Alliance Board on 28 February, all members would be invited to attend a policy briefing session at 12.30pm with the DfT to receive an update on the Bus Services Act.

101.

Minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2018 pdf icon PDF 177 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 8 January 2018 were agreed and signed by the Chair as a correct record.

 

102.

Matters Arising

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

(i)                 Matters Arising – Question (Relating to the retention of an original Midland Metro tram (minute no. 83 (v) refers). Councillor Davis advised members that the current position was as stated at the last meeting. In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Horton regarding an update on the auction for the T69 trams, the Director of Customer Experience, Steve McAleavy undertook to speak to the relevant officer to provide members with an update following the meeting.

 

(ii)                Metro Investment Programme (minute no. 85 refers)

Councillor Huxtable asked whether an update could be provided with regards to the question he raised at the last meeting on whether TfWM could expedite the Birmingham Eastside Metro Extension for the Commonwealth Games and also enquired as to when the committee would receive a presentation on the Very Light Rail Centre in Dudley.

 

Steve McAleavy undertook to refer the matter to the Metro Programme Director, Phil Hewitt to respond to Councillor Huxtable.

 

 

103.

Correspondence/ Petitions

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

There were no items of correspondence or petitions submitted for consideration at the meeting.

104.

Presentation : Third Generation Trams pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Presented By: Chris Haworth

Minutes:

The Head of Metro Projects, Chris Haworth, was in attendance to present to the committee details of the next phase of the procurement for the ‘Third Generation Trams’ that would support the Midland Metro extension plans.

 

The presentation outlined the plan of the proposed tram routes, phasing and anticipated passenger service patterns, an initial assessment of the number of trams required and the 3G tram procurement and manufacture outline schedule.

 

In relation to tram manufacturing Councillors Horton and Lal considered that the UK should invest in tram manufacturing.

 

Chris Howarth advised that CAF, the tram manufacturer of the current trams, was investing in a facility in Wales but this was beyond TfWM’s influence.

 

Councillor Huxtable noted that the Warwick Manufacturing Group was working in partnership with Dudley Council on the Very Light Rail innovation Centre and enquired whether discussions could be held with the organisation regarding tram manufacturing.

 

Chris Howarth reported that he would investigate the matter and report back to the committee.

 

Resolved: That the presentation be noted.

105.

Rail and Metro Lead Member Report pdf icon PDF 102 KB

Presented By: Cllr. Horton

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Head of Franchise Management and the Metro Operations Manager that reported on progress to date with the work of the Lead Member and Lead Member Group for Rail and Metro.

 

The Lead Member for Rail and Metro, Councillor Horton, reported that the Head of Franchise Management, Tom Painter and the Metro Head of Projects, Chris Haworth were in attendance to answer any questions regarding the contents of the report.

 

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Rowley regarding the catenary free trams and whether the trams had the capability to continue running if the overhead wires came down, Chris Haworth advised that it would be dependent on how much wire was down and on the length of time, but if it was for a fairly short section, the trams would be able to operate in catenary free mode.

 

Resolved: That progress to date with the work of the Lead Member and Lead Member Group for Rail and Metro be noted.

106.

Rail Business Report pdf icon PDF 1 MB

Presented By: Tom Painter

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Head of Franchise Management that provided an update relating to the performance, operation and delivery of rail services in the West Midlands including rail partnership agreements and West Midlands Rail (WMR) activity.

 

In relation to the Stations Alliance, Councillor Davis reported that he would be interested to receive a report on the relationship with Network Rail or would welcome their attendance at a committee meeting for them to answer questions.

 

The Head of Franchise Management, Tom Painter, agreed that Network Rail were integral to the Alliance and advised that consideration was being given to establishing a collaborative partnership or a partnership agreement  just for New Street Station to improve the operation of the station via bringing together  West Midlands Trains, Virgin and other train operating companies.

 

In relation to Councillor Huxtable’s comment for the interchange for Sprint to work for Commonwealth Games, request for an update on park and ride and information on the 3 rail lines and 7 stations West Midlands Trains has identified as priority for opening, Tom Painter reported that he would feedback the comment regarding Sprint to the Sprint Team and would include updates on the rail lines and stations as mentioned in future rail business reports. With regards to park and ride, it was noted that a report is scheduled on the forward plan to be submitted to the April meeting of the committee.

 

In relation to rail business reports, the Chair asked that there be a section in future reports on revenue protection and security.

 

Councillor Horton, Lead Member for Rail and Metro confirmed that this had been agreed at a recent Lead Member meeting.

 

 Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

 

 

 

107.

Publication of 2018/19 English National Concessionary Travel Scheme & accompanying reimbursements Arrangements pdf icon PDF 92 KB

Presented By: Matt Lewis

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Swift and Concessions Scheme Manager that informed them of the publication of the 2018/19 English National Concessionary Travel Scheme and Reimbursement Arrangements to be effective from 1 April 2018.

 

The Head of Swift, Matt Lewis, presented the report and advised the committee that there were no changes from the arrangements that are currently in place for the scheme.

 

Resolved:

 

1.     That there are no amendments from the previous 2017/18 Concessionary Fare Schemes as specified below be noted and

 

2.     That the publication of the 1985 Act Older and Disabled Persons Travel (Bus) Concession Scheme and the Transport Act 2000 Travel Concession Reimbursement Arrangements be noted.

108.

Presentation : Swift Delivery Update

Presented By: Matt Lewis

Minutes:

The committee received a presentation from the Head of Swift, Matt Lewis, updating them on the delivery of Swift.  The presentation included the achievements to date, the upcoming enhancements to Swift and Swift diversification.

 

Councillor Hartley reported that it would be useful to have a comparison of progress of Swift with smart card travel schemes in other transport/ local authority areas outside of London and asked whether a chart could be produced to show this information.

 

Matt Lewis undertook to produce a chart for Councillor Hartley to illustrate the progress made on Swift compared to smart card travel schemes to other areas outside of London.

 

Resolved : That the presentation be noted.

109.

Finance and Performance Lead Member Report pdf icon PDF 302 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Head of Finance and Business Planning that reported on the work of the Finance and Performance Lead Member Reference Group to date and its proposed programme of work for the coming months.

 

The Chair, Lead Member for Finance and Performance, outlined the report and updated the committee with regards to consideration of the WMCA’s budget by the WMCA’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee following recent meetings. The Chair reported that the Chair of Overview and Scrutiny Committee would present his report on the findings of the Mayor’s Question Time and discussions held at Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 30 January 2018, to the WMCA Board on 9 February but advised the committee that he had no knowledge of what would be said at the meeting.

 

The Majority Vice-Chair, Councillor Davis, considered there was a need to formalise a relationship with the Chair of the WMCA’s Overview and Scrutiny, Councillor Hughes and proposed that a standing invitation be sent to Councillor Hughes or his nominee to attending Transport Delivery Committee meetings.

 

Councillor Holl-Allen supported the proposal put forward by Councillor Davis which was endorsed by the committee.

 

Resolved:

 

1.     That the work of the Lead Member Reference Group to date and its proposed programme of work for the coming months be noted and

 

2.     That the Chair of the WMCA Board’s Overview and Scrutiny Committee (or their nominee) be invited to attend future meetings of the Transport Delivery Committee.

 

 

110.

WMCA Update -Transport Reports For Information

Presented By: Steve McAleavy

Minutes:

The committee considered a report on Longbridge park and ride decking scheme charging policy that would be considered by the WMCA Board on 9 February 2018. The report was submitted to the committee for information only.

 

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Huxtable as to whether local ward councillors had been consulted on the proposed park and ride scheme, the Chair reported that the issue would have been a matter for WMCA/ TfWM Officers to take forward.

 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

111.

Notices of Motion

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 1 February 2018.

Minutes:

None submitted.

112.

Questions

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on 1 February 2018 for written questions and 12 noon on 2 February 2018 for oral questions.

Minutes:

Councillor Horton, Lead Member for Rail and Metro asked the following question:

 

‘Could the Transport Delivery Committee look into naming a tram after Cyrille Regis after TfWM has spoken to the family on the matter?’ 

 

Councillor Horton reported that naming a tram after Cyrille Regis would not only honour the late footballer’s sporting achievements in the West Midlands but also his charity and church work.

 

Councillor Alden noted the role Cyrille Regis had in bringing communities together whilst Councillor Huxtable noted that he had played football for England.

 

Councillor Stanley endorsed Councillor Horton’s proposal which was supported by the committee.

 

The Chair reported that support and approval would need to be obtained from the family of Cyrille Regis before the proposal was taken further.

 

 

Resolved: That question be noted.

 

 

113.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 78 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee considered a report on agenda items to be submitted to future meetings.

 

Resolved : That the report be noted.

114.

Date of Next Meeting - 5 March 2018, at 1.00pm