Skip to main content

Agenda and minutes

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

Contact: Wendy Slater, Senior Governance Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for absence

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Andrew, Hibbert, Lawrence, Richards and Welsh.

2.

Chair's Remarks pdf icon PDF 45 KB

·         Lead Members and Membership of Lead Member Reference Groups for 2019/20

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

(i)            Welcome

The Chair welcomed everyone to the first meeting of the new municipal year.

 

(ii)          Sprint re-phasing

The Chair referred to a press release, entitled ‘A34 and A45 Sprint routes to be delivered in phases following design review’ that been circulated to the committee prior to the meeting for information. It was noted that the Sprint Lead Member Reference Group would give consideration to the Sprint programme including advanced works at a future meeting.

 

(iii)         Lead Members

The committee noted the 6 Lead Members for 2019/20 as follows:

 

Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Impact- Councillor Richard Worrall.

 

Finance and Performance – Councillor Pervez Akhtar

 

Putting Passenger First – Councillor Kath Hartley

 

Rail and Metro –Councillor Roger Lawrence

 

Safe and Sustainable Travel – Councillor Diana Holl-Allen

 

Sprint – Councillor Timothy Huxtable

 

 

 

 

 

 

3.

To note the schedule of meetings for 2019/20

·         9 September 2019

·         4 November 2019

·         6 January 2020

·         10 February 2020

·         16 March 2020

 

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee noted the calendar of meetings for 2019/20

 

·         9 September 2019

·         4 November 2019

·         6 January 2020

·         10 February 2020

·         16 March 2020

 

 

All meetings scheduled from 1.00-3.00pm

4.

Minutes of the last meeting pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The minutes of the meeting held on 24 June 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

5.

Matters Arising

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Minute No.119 Matters Arising, Capital Programme Aligned to 2022 Commonwealth Games update

 

In relation to the scheduling of a presentation on the Commonwealth Games for a future meeting, the Chair reported that the presentation would be given to a pre-TDC policy meeting on 4 November 2019.

6.

Correspondence / Petitions

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The Chair referred to a letter she had received from the Alderminster Action Group dated 18 July 2019 regarding changes to the A7/A8 bus service in Solihull.

 

The Chair outlined the contents of the letter noting there were some factual

inaccuracies. She reported that TfWM would continue to keep the Alderminister Action Group advised of the 6 month review of bus services in Alderminster Road and a letter would be sent to confirm this position.

7.

Financial Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 165 KB

Presented By: Linda Horne

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Finance Director that set out the financial position as at 31 May 2019, the first report of 2019/20 financial year.

 

Councillor Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and highlighted the report’s recommendations. 

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the year to date net revenue expenditure to the end of May 2019 shows a favourable variance of £89,000 compared to budget and there is no change in the full year position to date be noted and

 

2.    That the total capital expenditure to the end of May 2019 for the overall transport programme was £13.6 million, which was £3.9m below the year to date budget of £17.5m be noted.

8.

Capital Programme Delivery Monitoring Report pdf icon PDF 216 KB

Presented By: Sandeep Shingadia

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the Director of Development and Delivery that provided an update on progress monitoring on the approved TfWM led 2019/2020 programmes and projects.

 

Councillor Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and outlined the key highlights of the report.

 

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Huxtable regarding the dashboard and in particular item number 10, ‘Network wide park expansion developments’ as to whether the status of individual park and ride schemes could be listed in future reports, the Director of Development and Delivery undertook to check with the team whether the information could be obtained for future reports.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the achievements since the May 2019 meeting of the Transport Delivery Committee be noted;

 

2.    That the progress of deliverables and outturn of the 2019/20 Capital Programme be noted and

 

3.    That there are no variations from the baseline programme be noted.

 

9.

Metro Investment Programme pdf icon PDF 10 MB

Presented By: Michael Anderson

Minutes:

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

 

The report provided an overview of progress relating to the main activities of the Midland Metro Investment Programme and the actions being taken to manage the principle risks/ issues and opportunities that have arisen.

 

The Metro Projects Director, Michael Anderson and Head of Projects, Chris Haworth were in attendance to present the report.

 

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Huxtable as to whether the West Midlands Metro Team have had an input into  Birmingham’s Smithfield and Rhea Valley Master Plan which refers to tram running to the new development, the Metro Projects Director, Michael Anderson advised that he had recently joined the organisation and undertook to look into the matter.

 

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Jones regarding an update on proposals to connect the Metro at Brierley Hill to Stourbridge rail station, the Director of Development and Delivery, Sandeep Shingadia reported that TfWM was working with West Midlands Trains on looking at the connectivity between the two destinations and undertook to provide an update to the committee in due course.

 

In relation to a request from Councillor Pervez Akhtar for an update on the Coventry Very Light Project, the Metro Projects Director undertook for an update to be provided for a future meeting.

 

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

10.

Park and Ride Update pdf icon PDF 224 KB

Presented By: Richard Mayes

Minutes:

The committee considered a report of the interim Head of Park and Ride that provided an update on the progress of park and ride proposals already in delivery or in development since the previous report in January 2019.

 

The interim Head of Park and Ride, Richard Mayes, highlighted key areas of the report; this included ongoing expansion projects, lease reviews, maintaining existing park and ride sites, new stations and Longbridge charging.

 

In relation to capacity issues at Stourbridge Junction park and ride, Councillor Jones reported that there are 3 Dudley MBC owned car parks near to Stourbridge Town that were not well used and enquired whether TfWM could discuss with Dudley Council the possibility of utilising the car parks for rail users to help alleviate the parking pressures on Stourbridge Junction car park.

 

The interim Head of Park Ride, Richard Mayes undertook to discuss the matter with Councillor Jones following the meeting.

 

Councillor Lal commented that TfWM is unable to keep up with the demand for park and ride and reported of the need for better integration and to link bus services to tram and rail stations.

 

The Director of Integrated Transport Services, Pete Bond reported that the park and ride strategy for the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro Extension would be used as a ‘test bed’ to look at connectivity across all modes.  

 

Resolved: That the current status of development for park and ride be noted.

 

 

 

 

11.

West Midlands Metro - Westside Extension Stop Names pdf icon PDF 718 KB

Presented By: Laura Shoaf

Minutes:

The committee considered a report the Director of West Midlands Metro that sought a decision from members of the Transport Delivery Committee on the names to be applied to the new tram stops being constructed on the Westside extension of the West Midlands Metro and which will open for passenger use in December 2019 (2 stops) and December 2021 (3 stops) subject to the approval of the WMCA Transport Portfolio Lead.

 

The committee considered the list of suggested names and reported of the need for the tram stop to identify the place name and the key destination where appropriate.

 

In relation to tram stop number 5, the committee noted the commercial opportunities for the naming of the stop and considered a sponsor of the tram stop could determine the name; ‘Edgbaston Village’ or ‘Garden Square’ were two names proposed by the committee.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the contents of the report be noted and

 

2.    That the committee recommend to the WMCA Transport Portfolio Lead that the tram names for the following stops be approved to the four additional tram stops currently being constructed on the Westside extension of the West Midlands Metro;

 

·         Tram stop 1 – Victoria Square (for Birmingham Town Hall)

·         Tram stop 2 – Centenary Square (for Birmingham Library)

·         Tram stop 3 – Brindley Place

·         Tram stop 4 – Five Ways and

 

3.    That in relation to the naming of tram stops, commercial opportunities be explored with stakeholders vested in the area with regards to sponsoring the naming of a stop i.e., HSBC for tram stop 2- Centenary Square and Calthorpe Estates for tram stop 5 (Edgbaston Village or Garden Square)

12.

Notices of Motion

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 18 July 2019.

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee considered the following motion submitted by Councillor Worrall on 18 July 2019.

 

‘The Transport Delivery Committee welcomes the introduction of the West Midlands concessionary bus and travel pass for women born between 6 March 1954 and 5 November 1954, to be funded by the seven district councils via the Transport Levy Revenue Budget which they contribute. We note that participation by bus operators, in the WASPI concessionary travel pass scheme is voluntary and that all operators, with the exception of Rotala (Diamond Bus) have agreed to take part in it, so that up to 9,000 women unfairly disadvantaged by state pension entitlement changes will get a concessionary pass allowing free travel at the point of use on bus and Metro tram services within the West Midlands Metropolitan area.

 

In the interest of social inclusion and justice to enable universal access to the scheme for affected women, we invite the Board of Rotala to now review its position and join the scheme.’

 

The committee asked that TfWM contact Rotala Board Members on the matter.

 

In relation to a suggestion from Councillor Huxtable that the matter be raised at the next meeting of the Bus Alliance Board, the Director of Integrated Transport Services undertook for TfWM to speak to the Chair of the Bus Alliance Board on the matter.

 

Resolved: That the motion be supported.

 

13.

Questions

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on 18 July for written questions and 12 noon on 19 July for oral questions.

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

The committee considered a question submitted by Councillor Huxtable on 18 July 2019.

 

The following question was submitted by Councillor Huxtable on 18 July 2019.

 

Given the importance of the socially necessary bus services subsidised by TfWM to residents, could an update be provided on the continuation of the subsidised bus services within the West Midlands taken on by various operations following the collapse of iGo’

 

The Director of Integrated Transport Services provided the following response:

 

‘Late April 2019 – 3 contracts, which had already been re-let through the normal re-tendering process to commence at this time.

 

Mid- June 2019 -8 contracts, one of which had 1 journey removed.

 

October 2019- 10 contracts, to coincide with the next standard tender round, one of which involved a slight route change.

 

Substantive Replacement Contracts

 

A formal tender round was then undertaken for the emergency contracts expiring in June 2019 to re-let the expiring contracts on a permanent basis.

 

The remaining emergency contracts expire in October 2019. At the time of writing, the October 2019 tender awards have not been confirmed, however, it is intended that all ex- ATG contracts will be continued on a substantive basis with alternative operators.

 

Due to the emergency nature of the replacement provision, there has been an uplift in the costs of most contracts that were previously operated by ATG.

 

TUPE

 

As with all subsidised bus contracts TUPE may apply to drivers of contracts which are being awarded in the October 2019 tender round. This will be a matter for the operators to discuss and manage. TfWM were involved in facilitation of TUPE discussions in the emergency round given the urgent nature of the transfer and unusual situation of the operator being in administration. TfWM were pleased to able to clarify that all drivers who wished to remain in employment did so with alternative operators at very short notice.

 

In the October 2019 tender round there will not be the need for TfWM to be part of the TUPE discussions because the incumbent operators are not in administration; the usual timescales are available for operators to discuss TUPE implications with each other’.

 

The Head of Network Services, Jon Hayes undertook to advise Councillor Huxtable of the bus service that has been subject to a slight route change.

.

 

Resolved: That the question submitted by Councillor Huxtable and the response from the Director of Integrated Transport Services be noted.

 

 

14.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 83 KB

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

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

 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

15.

Exclusion of the Public and Press

[To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the

Local Government Act, 1972 the press and

public be excluded from the meeting for the

following items of business as it involves the

likely disclosure of exempt information relating to

the business or financial affairs of any particular

person (including the authority holding that

information)]

Presented By: Chair

Minutes:

Resolved: That in accordance with Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as it involves the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the business or financial affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

16.

Midland Metro Limited - Fare Change Proposals

Presented By: Laura Shoaf/Nafees Arif

Minutes:

The committee considered a report that would be submitted to the West Midlands Combined Authority Board of proposals by  Midland Metro Limited to make changes to Metro fares and to seek the approval of the board in its capacity as shareholder of Midland Metro Limited of the proposals.

 

Resolved:

 

1.    That the report be noted and

 

2.    That the Transport Delivery Committee recommend that the WMCA Board request further information with regards to the business case to support a fares increase before taking a decision on the matter.