Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Fazal.

The Chair welcomed Councillor Linda Bigham to her first meeting of the committee, replacing Councillor David Welsh who had been appointed to a Cabinet position by Coventry City Council. The Chair thanked Councillor Welsh for his contributions on the committee.

The minutes of the meeting held on 14 September 2020 were agreed as a true record.

Minute no.45 e-scooters

In relation to a request from Councillors Holl-Allen and Huxtable to receive an update on e-scooters including more information on usage, the Managing Director TfWM, Laura Shoaf, undertook to circulate a briefing note on the matter to the committee.

None submitted.

The committee considered a report of the Finance Director that set out the financial position to the end of September 2020.

Councillor Pervez Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance outlined key areas within the report.

In relation to a comment from Councillor Holl-Allen regarding the need to present some of the figures in report in a bigger font, the Finance Director, Linda Horne undertook to take this forward for the next report.

In relation to projects for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games in 2022 and the need for the committee to receive an update on schemes, it was a agreed that informal briefing session would be arranged for a Monday during December that would focus on the transport capital projects and this would include rail stations and Sprint.

Resolved:

1.     That the year to date net revenue expenditure to the end of September 2020 shows a favourable variance of £0.579m compared to budget and the second revenue forecast of the year takes place during October to be included in the November report be noted and

2.     That total capital expenditure to the end of September 2020 for the overall transport programme was £64.6m, which was £50.4m below the year to date budget of £115.0m and the second capital forecast was completed during September and has been reduced to £215.2m, which is £65.3m below the annual budget of £280.5m be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Development and Delivery that provided a progress monitoring update on the approved 2020/21 capital programmes and projects.

Councillor Pervez Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance outlined the key highlights of the report including progress made achievements and variations to the baseline programme.

Resolved:

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

2. That the progress of deliverables and outturn of the 2020/21 Capital Programme be noted and

3. That the variations from the baseline programme as outlined in paragraph 4.0 of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Rail, TfWM that provided an update relating to the performance, operation and delivery of rail services in the West Midlands including rail operator partnership agreements and West Midlands Rail Executive activity.

Councillor Lawrence, Lead Member for Rail and Metro, highlighted the key areas of the report.

In relation to comments from Councillor Lal regarding the design of the new Perry Rail Station that he considered poor and not a fitting legacy for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, the Head of Rail Franchising and Partnerships, Tom Painter, reported that he was aware of the lively debate surrounding the designs for the station and these was currently being reviewed and updated. He added that the design of the station however, had to be balanced against the cost/budget and the timing of the Commonwealth Games.

Councillor Huxtable asked that the design of Perry Barr Rail Station be considered as part of the committee’s briefing session on the Commonwealth Games in December.

In relation to an enquiry from Councillor Worrall regarding the proposed location for a new rail station at Tettenhall, the Head of Rail Franchising and Partnerships undertook to follow-up the matter with colleagues and to respond in due course.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Integrated Network Services that provided an update relating to the performance, operation of delivery of bus services in the West Midlands.

The Chair and Lead Member for Putting Passengers First, Councillor Hartley introduced the report.

Richard Hardman, Bus Services Manager and Richard Mayes, Bus Infrastructure Manager, outlined key highlights of the report.

In relation to a comment from Councillor Worrall that he has not witnessed any enforcement of face coverings on buses, the Chair and Lead Member for Putting Passengers First reminded members to report any such incidents  to the Safer Travel Task Force as per the email sent to all TDC members on 5 November and asked that they all shared the information with their council colleagues and constituents.

In relation to concerns expressed by Councillor Worrall with regards to a bus driver disregarding Covid-19 social distancing rules and allowing too many people on the bus, the Director of Integrated Network Services, Pete Bond, reported that bus operators have clear guidelines to follow and there are plans in place to mitigate against overcrowding on buses as the health and safety of passengers was critical. The Director of Integrated Network Services asked that councillors report any such incidents of overcrowding on buses to TfWM for investigation.

In relation to a request from the Chair for the committee to receive the latest travel survey results, the Director of Integrated Network Services reported that the item would be added to the forward plan for consideration at a future meeting.

Resolved : That the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Integrated Network Services that provided an update on the development and sought approval of the Enhanced Partnership Plan (EP) for the West Midlands and associated EP Scheme covering the A34 (north) and A45/B425 Lode Lane corridors.

The Bus Development and Partnership Manager, Edmund Salt, outlined the report and advised that no changes had been made to the Plan that was presented to the committee in March. He added that the modified scheme would now be taken forward and that wording relating to other sustainable modes would be strengthened, reference to voluntary partnerships removed and alignment with the Sprint infrastructure programme.

Resolved:

1.     That outcomes from the formal (public) consultation be noted;

2.     That TfWM issue a notice of intention to make the Enhanced Partnership Plan and modified Enhanced Partnership Scheme be approved;

3.     That the making of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and associated Enhanced Partnership Scheme with modifications, subject to passing the operator objections be approved and

4.     That the WMCA Head of Governance be authorised to ‘make’ the Enhanced Partnership Plan and associated Enhanced Partnership Scheme, subject to passing the operator objections, as set out in section 4 (Next Steps) and within section 4.4 of the report be agreed.

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 5 November 2020.

None submitted.

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on 5 November 2020 for written questions and 12 noon on 6 November 2020 for oral questions.

The committee considered a question submitted by the Vice-Chair, Councillor Worrall on 4 November 2020.

[Councillor Worrall declared an interest in the matter as a holder of a Senior Railcard]

‘Nationally, 5.1 million citizens, many of them vulnerable, and unable to afford non-discounted rail travel, having purchased  senior, disabled, young persons’ and other railcards in good faith, were robbed of the opportunity to use them for the duration of the first pandemic lockdown,

The Government recently confirmed its refusal to compensate customers, for example, by extending Railcards’ validity (attached letter of 28 October 2020, from Chris Heaton Harris, Rail Minister, to Meg Hillier MP circulated refers).

Given that a further lockdown is now in place (and with more in prospect), would Transport for West Midlands now contact all MPs within the Combined Authority area, asking them to lobby Government, in the interests of fairness and decency, to reverse their decision going forward?’       

The committee, following discussion of the question, agreed that TfWM and the WMCA should lobby the DfT and West Midlands MPs on the matter along with the minister with responsibility for consumer rights.

The Managing Director TfWM, undertook to discuss with the Chair of TDC how the matter would be taken forward with the WMCA Board following a conversation with the WMCA Portfolio Holder for Transport, Councillor Ward.

Resolved:

1.     That the question be noted;

2.     That TfWM lobby West Midlands MPs on of behalf of the committee, for the DfT to refund railcard holders the cost of their annual rail card and

3.     That the Managing Director TfWM raise the matter with the WMCA Portfolio Holder for Transport as to how the matter should be taken forward with the WMCA Board.

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

Resolved : That the report be noted.

The committee considered three transport reports that would be submitted to the next meeting of the WMCA Board on 13 September.

Resolved: That the reports be noted.