Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Alden, Andrew, Fazal, Horton, Jones and Rowley.

(a)  Councillor Horton

The Chair reported that Councillor Horton had recently suffered a stroke and the committee would be sending a card to Councillor Horton to convey their best wishes. The Chair reported that Councillor Rowley was also unwell and similarly, a card would be sent to him on behalf of the committee. 

In relation to Councillor Horton’s Lead Member Portfolio for Rail and Metro, the Chair reported that Councillor Davis would cover the rail element in the interim whilst she would cover Metro.

(b)   Ring and Ride Board

The Chair asked that the Conservative Group give consideration to a representative on the Ring and Ride Board to replace Councillor Stanley.

(c)  Councillor Lawrence

The Chair reported that Councillor Lawrence, the WMCA Portfolio holder for Transport, had announced he would be standing down as Leader of the City of Wolverhampton Council in May this year. It was noted that Councillor Lawrence has played a substantial role in transport for the region.

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 January 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

Safer Travel Update (Minute no.55 refers)

In relation to visits with the Safer Travel Partnership Team, Councillor Holl-Allen reported that following discussion with the Head of Safety, Security and Emergency Planning they would be looking to arrange visits on or around 13 May.

The Action Tracker was noted and that there were no actions outstanding.

None submitted.

The committee considered a report of the Swift and Concessions Scheme Manager that notified the committee of the publication of the 2019/20 English National Concessionary Travel Scheme and reimbursement arrangements to be effective from 1 April 2019.

Councillor Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report.

The Swift and Concessions Scheme Manager, Paula Higgins, reported that there had been no substantive changes to the schemes or reimbursement arrangements, however, some wording within the reimbursement arrangements has been updated to clarify matters following queries from operators during 2018.

Resolved:

1.    That there are no material changes from the previous 2018/19 Concessionary Fares Schemes specified be noted;

2.    That the points of clarification added to the scheme documentation as specified in the report be noted and

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

The committee considered a report of the Head of Business Transformation West Midlands Metro that provided the committee with an overview of the first 6 months of Midland Metro Limited’s (MML) performance as operator of the metro network.

The Interim Lead Member for Metro, Councillor Hartley introduced the report.

The Head of Business Transformation West Midlands Metro, Sophie Allison, presented the report and outlined the key highlights which included improvements and initiatives with regards to MML, challenges and future plans.

The committee welcomed the report and acknowledged the achievements realised by Midland Metro Limited during the first 6 months of operation.

The Chair asked that the committee receive a further update report in 6 months’ time.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Head of Business Transformation West Midlands Metro that reported on the operational performance of metro services in the West Midlands.

The Interim Lead Member for Metro, Councillor Hartley, introduced the report.

The Head of Business Transformation West Midlands Metro, Sophie Allison, outlined key highlights in the report related to performance, this included metro patronage, punctuality, reliability, customer service representative coverage, staffing and an update on the metro penalty fare

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Metro Programme Director that reported on matters relating to the Metro Investment Programme in the West Midlands.

The Interim Lead Member for Metro, Councillor Hartley, introduced the report.

The Metro Programme Director, Phil Hewitt, outlined key developments and progress with regards to the investment programme during the 3 months since the last update. The report provided updates in respect of the Westside Extension – Centenary Square and Edgbaston; Wolverhampton Extension; Wednesbury to Brierley Hill; Birmingham Eastside; East Birmingham Solihull and provided a summary of the third generation trams.

In relation to the map of the Metro extension programme included in the report and an enquiry from Councillor Huxtable as to whether the map could include other transport modes such as Sprint, the Metro Programme Director advised that the map provided a high level overview of Metro routes and was not intended to be a comprehensive network map although these would be produced in due course.

Further to a supplementary question from Councillor Huxtable as to whether the committee could look at how Metro and Sprint infrastructure would work together, the Chair considered that this would be a suitable topic for a pre-TDC briefing session in March.

The Metro Programme Director reported that he would contact the Head of Sprint, Angela Hosford with regards to scheduling the briefing session.

In relation to concerns expressed by Councillor Welsh regarding the funding of the Metro programme and in particular funding gaps for some schemes and whether these would take priority over non-Metro schemes for funding, the Managing Director, Laura Shoaf, reported that she noted Councillor Welsh concerns regarding investment, however there were opportunities to seek funding from Government such as the Comprehensive Spending Review and referred to new opportunities for funding such as the Transforming Cities Fund which awarded £207m to the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension.

The Metro Programme Director added that the Midland Metro Alliance delivery schedule for the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Extension was due in May and he could share this information with the committee.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Metro Programme Director that provided an update on the third generation tram procurement.

The Interim Lead Member for Rail, Councillor Hartley, introduced the report.

The Metro Project Director, Judith Watt, outlined the key highlights of the report which included the background to the tram procurement, the impact on the delivery of the Strategic Transport Plan and progress and options relating to the procurement of the third generation trams.

 Resolved:

1.    That the stage 2 procurement principles and the down selection to four pre-qualified bidders prior to the issue of the Invitation to Negotiate be noted and

2.    That the down selection to four pre-qualified bidders has been undertaken at the selection evaluation workshop and the stage 2 Procurement Strategy be completed recommending the four pre-qualified bidders be taken forward to Invitation to Negotiate be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Associate Policy Advisor, TfWM that outlined the work of the Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability Portfolio.

The Lead Member for Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability, Councillor Davis outlined the current work programme for the group.

Resolved: That the summary of the Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability Portfolio be noted.

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 31 January 2019.

None submitted.

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on 31 January 2019 for written questions and 12 noon on 1 February for oral questions.

None submitted.

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

Councillor Davis proposed that a report on air quality be submitted to the next meeting.

Resolved: That the report be noted.