Agenda and decisions

Noted.

Resolved that:

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 March 2025 be approved as a correct record.

Resolved:

1.    Approval under delegated authority by WMCA Officers of the business case submission disclosed at Section 4 of the report be noted;

2.    The WMCA Investment Programme funding status and current affordable limit as outlined at Section 4 of the report be noted and

3.    The Regional Investment Programme delivery update detailed within this report and appendices (including the project-level summary within the WMCA Investment Programme dashboard at Appendix 2) be noted.

Resolved that:

1.    The inclusion of the Coventry Station Bay Platform as a key rail infrastructure improvement within the Midlands Connect Strategic Outline Business Case for the re-introduction of direct passenger rail services connecting Coventry, Leicester and Nottingham and the significant improvements to local train services between Coventry and Nuneaton be noted ;

2.    The request to Government for funding to further develop the business case with the aim of constructing the Bay Platform by the agreed long-stop date of December 2031 be supported;

3.    The full funding for the delivery of the Bay Platform will be sought from the Rail Network Enhancement Plan budget through the Midlands Connect Programme for the Coventry to Leicester rail service, subject to Government approval of the Outline and Full Business Case be noted and

4.    This report be accepted as the Delivery Plan for the Bay Platform as requested by Investment Board at is meeting on 29 March 2023.

Resolved that :

1.    The Connect to Work Business Justification Case, which notes £5.72m of funding through Year 1 of the Integrated Settlement be approved;

2.    Authority be delegated for decisions regarding onward funding, commissioning, monitoring and programme level oversight to the Director of Employment, Skills, Health and Communities in conjunction with the WMCA S.73 Officer and Director of Law, Governance and Audit be agreed;

3.    The breakdown of financial allocations at a Local Authority level agreed through the WMCA Directors of Employment and Skills Group be noted;

4.    The Integrated Settlement funding secured approval at the WMCA Board on 14 March 2025 be noted and

5.    The funding supports delivery of the Adult Skills and Employment Functional Strategy also presented and agreed by the WMCA Board at is meeting on 14 March 2025 be noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

[In accordance with s100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified in the paragraphs of the Act.]

Resolved that :

That in accordance with s100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and the press be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business as they are likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified in the paragraphs of the Act.

Resolved that :

1.    The results of the business case refresh for Birmingham Eastside Extension Sections 3 & 4, noting in particular the very high value for money outcome assessment be approved;

2.    Coventry Very Light Rail (CVLR) continue to be supported and, CVLR construction methods be considered as alternative options for future Metro Extensions along with any lessons learnt ro deliver value for money for the public;

3.    Consideration be given to the Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee keeping a watching brief over the remainder of the Birmingham Eastside Extension Scheme;

4.    The options and work being undertaken to identify a funding package for the project (including the work on the CRSTS re-base and HS2 compensation), expected to be considered by the WMCA Board in May be noted and

5.    Further to the approval of the business case referred to in 1. above, the WMCA Board be asked to approve the budget and funding for Phase 2 at its meeting in May, subject to an appropriate funding solution being identified and agreed be noted.

Resolved that:

1.    The comments made by Investment Panel when this proposal was presented be noted;

2.    The investment of £1.36m, providing a loan to the ‘Company’ for a term of 3 years under the Commercial Investment Fund as outlined in the report be approved and

3.    Authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial and Investment in consultation with the s.73 Officer and Monitoring Officer be agreed.

Resolved that:

1.             The comments made by Investment Panel when this proposal was presented be noted;

2.             The investment of £8.4m providing a loan to the ‘Company’ for a term of 2.5 years under the Commercial Investment Fund as outline in the report be approved and

3.             Authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial and Investment to negotiate and approve the final terms of the loan be agreed.

Resolved that:

1.    The comments made by Investment Panel when this proposal was presented be noted;

2.    The extension of the existing £25.5m loan to the ‘Company’ for a further 6 months (maximum) under the Commercial Investment Fund as outlined in the report be endorsed and

3.    Authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial and Investment for the negotiation and approval of the final terms of the loan be agreed.

Resolved that :

The report be noted.

Resolved that:

The report be noted.

Resolved that:

The report be noted.

Resolved that:

The report be noted.