Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Fazal, Jones, Lawrence, Linnecor and Welsh.

UK Bus Summit – 6 February 2020

The Chair reported back from the UK Bus Summit that she and Councillor Taylor had attended the previous week. The Chair undertook to circulate copies of the presentations from the summit in due course.

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 January 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

The Chair reported that in relation to minute number 63, Rail Business Report, she was waiting for information to be provided on the funding position for Darlaston and Willenhall Stations. With regards to minute 65, the Chair asked to be provided with the names of the unsuccessful applicants to the Better Streets Community Fund.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

Minute No.59 Correspondence/Petitions.

Further to consideration of a petition report at the last meeting regarding the A435 Alcester Road/Moseley Road and Highgate Middleway Bus Revitalisation Project, the Senior Development Manager, Danny Gouveia was in attendance to update the committee on the scheme; a copy of the report was circulated prior to the meeting.

The committee noted that the scheme consulted upon included the removal of six trees through Balsall Heath although it was hoped that three trees could be retained through mitigation measures.

The Senior Development Manager advised the committee that a change to the project design had been made following further development work which would necessitate the removal of further trees. Two options were presented ; one requiring the removal of two additional trees (compared to that presented to TDC in January) and another requiring removal of two additional trees. Depending on the option taken forward following further detailed design work, there would be a maximum loss of five mature trees. It was noted that the proposed re-planting of 16 semi-mature street trees and further soft landscaping would remain sufficient to mitigate the tree impact.

The Chair reported that the Lead Petitioner had been provided with a copy of the report to update them on the current position.

Resolved:

1.    That the petition submitted by Birmingham Friends of the Earth and considered by the committee on 6 January be noted;

2.    That a change to the project relating to tree removal and its associated interaction with the petition report be noted and

3.    That a final decision to proceed with the project would be retained by Birmingham City Council as Local Highway Authority by the Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment through a Cabinet report be noted.

None received.

The committee considered a report of the Network Development Manager that provided an update on matters relating to the governance, operation, delivery and performance of the West Midlands Bus Alliance.

The Chair and  Lead Member for Putting Passengers First introduced the report and informed the committee of a disability awareness DVD developed by TfWM  in conjunction with National Express, that has been used by several operators to help improve driver awareness and confidence in supporting passengers with a disability, both visible and non-visible.

The committee was shown a video on dementia awareness as part of the

meeting would they found to be very useful and moving and considered the DVD could be used as a training tool for neighbourhood offices (see link below).

https://www.networkwestmidlands.com/information-for/transport-accessibility/disability-awareness-dvd/

In relation to the difficulty experienced by people with dementia in differentiating between the floor of a bus and the ground and whether the colour of the bus floor could be changed to help in this regard, the Network Development Manager reported that he would raise the matter with the Equalities and Human Rights Commission when they visit TfWM later this month.

The Network Development Manager, provided on update on paragraph 8 and 11 of the report, following the Bus Alliance Board meeting on the 5 February 2020. The Bolder Bus Alliance commitments would now be developed with partners for a public launch after May 2020, along with publishing the Achievements 2019.

In relation to the continued investment in new buses to tackle poor air quality in the region, Councillor Pervez Akhtar enquired whether the committee could receive a breakdown of the Euro VI emission standard buses and Platinum buses on the bus network on a district basis.

The Network Development Manager reported that he would provide the information on a route basis as many bus routes crossed district boundaries. He added that bus operators have made a commitment to get all buses to Euro VI standard by April 2021 through a combination of new buses and bus retrofit which would mean that the number of Euro VI buses on a particular route could be subject to change on a daily basis.

Resolved:

1.    That the contents of the report and the current status of the West Midlands Bus Alliance be noted and

2.    That the report be submitted to the West Midlands Combined Authority Board for information.

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability Lead Member Reference Group that provided an update on progress of the work of the group.

The Majority Vice-Chair and Lead Member for Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability, Councillor Worrall introduced the report that set out the terms of reference for the group,  membership and the work plan for the year.

Councillor Worrall thanked Jake Thrush, Associate Policy Advisor for all his work in supporting the group and referred to their recent technical visit to Birmingham University (copies of the slide presentation were circulated to the committee prior to the meeting) which had been very informative.

Councillor Worrall also reported on a technical visit to Leicester on 25 March  details of which had been circulated to the committee.

Resolved: That progress to date with the work of the Lead Member Reference Group for Air Quality, Congestion and Environmental Sustainability be noted.

The committee considered the Annual Report of the Finance and Performance and Lead Member Reference Group.

The report set out the terms of reference for the Group, membership and provided an overview of the work programme of the Group during the 2019/20 municipal year.

The Chair and Lead Member for Finance and Performance, Councillor Pervez Akhtar conveyed his thanks to Linda Horne and Louise Cowen for their support to the Group.

The Chair commented on the key role played by this committee in scrutinising public money by regularly reviewing the Capital Programme Delivery Monitoring Report and Financial Monitoring Report.

Resolved: That the summary of the Finance and Performance Monitoring Portfolio activity in 2019/20 be noted.

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 6 February 2020.

None submitted.

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on

6 February 2020 for written questions and 12 noon on 7 February 2020 for oral questions.

None submitted.

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

The following items were added to the agenda for the meeting on 8 June :

-       Park and Ride Update and

-       Commonwealth Games 2020 -TfWM Transport Schemes Update.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

[To pass the following resolution:

That in accordance with Section 100A4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the business affairs of any particular person(including the authority holding that information)]

Resolved: That in accordance with Section 100A4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

The committee considered four transport reports that would be considered by   the WMCA Board on 14 February for approval.

The reports were submitted for information only.

Resolved: That the reports be noted.