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Agenda and decisions

Venue: Council Chamber, Birmingham City Council, Council House, Victoria Square, Birmingham, B1 1BB

Contact: Dan Essex, Governance Services Manager 

Items
No. Item

1.

Apologies for Absence

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

Councillor Mike Bird (Walsall), Jonathan Browning (Coventry & Warwickshire LEP), Councillor Steve Claymore (Tamworth), Councillor Shaun Davies (Telford & Wrekin), Councillor Steve Eling (Sandwell), Councillor David Humphreys (North Warwickshire), Councillor Abdul Khan (Coventry), Tim Pile (Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP), Councillor Bob Sleigh (Solihull) and Stewart Towe (Black Country LEP).

3.

Chair's Remarks (if any)

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

(a)       Councillor Qadar Zada, Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council

The Mayor welcomed Councillor Qadar Zada to his first meeting following his recent election as Leader of Dudley MBC. He confirmed that Councillor Qadar Zada would take portfolio lead responsibility for environmental matters.

 

(b)       Jaguar Land Rover

The Mayor announced the creation of a ‘task force’ that was being set up to support Jaguar Land Rover and its employees following the recent announcement of 4,500 redundancies.

4.

Minutes - 9 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 157 KB

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

5.

Forward Plan pdf icon PDF 109 KB

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

Items of business to be reported to future meetings were noted.

6.

Financial Monitoring Report 2018/19 pdf icon PDF 328 KB

Presented By: Linda Horne

Decision:

(1)       The financial position as at the end of November 2018 was noted.

 

(2)       The Business Rates Growth allocation to the WMCA for 2018/19 was noted.

7.

WMCA Draft Budget 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 394 KB

Presented By: Deborah Cadman

Decision:

(1)       The consolidated revenue budget monitoring position as at 30 November 2018 was noted;

 

(2)       The draft WMCA consolidated revenue budget, summarised in Section 4, was approved for consultation and scrutiny. This included:

 

(a)       the budget requirement for transport delivery 2019/20 comprising two elements:

 

(i)         £114.7m a year to be funded from the existing transport levy mechanism; and

 

(ii)        a transfer from earmarked reserves of £1.0m.

 

(b)        the WMCA Operational budget requirement for 2019/20 of £103.1m comprising of six elements:

 

(i)         £84.2m Adult Education spending to be funded for the first time from Adult Education Budget funding devolved by the Department for Education;

 

(ii)        £10.6m to be funded from other devolution deal grants;

 

(iii)       £4.6m to be funded from Constituent Authority fees (fees to remain at the same level as 2018/19);

 

(iv)       £0.4m to be funded from Non-Constituent Authority and observer fees (fees to remain at the same level as 2018/19);

 

(v)        £2.2m to be funded from other income; and

 

(vi)       a transfer from reserves of £1.1m.

 

(3)       The Mayoral Office budget for 2019/20 of £0.8m, to be funded from existing Mayoral capacity funding of £0.8m, was approved for consultation and scrutiny.

 

(4)       It was noted that the Mayor had indicated that there would be no mayoral precept during the remainder of his current term of office.

 

(5)       The WMCA’s indicative 5 year Medium Term Financial Plan, as set out in Paragraph 7.2 and Table 8, was noted.

 

(6)       The Transport Capital Programme, as set out in Section 8 and Appendix 4, was approved for consultation and scrutiny.

 

(7)       The planned spend on the Investment Programme over the 3 year period, as set out Appendix 7 and in Section 9, was noted.

 

(8)       It was approved that surplus cash balances generated from the Collective Investment Fund were to be used to support the WMCA Operational Budget, thus minimising Constituent and Non-Constituent Authority contributions.

 

(9)       The intention, as detailed in section 8, to launch a commercial housing fund in 2019/20 to enable the Housing Delivery Team to become self-sufficient with effect from 2021/22 onwards was noted.

8.

Appointment of Interim s151 Officer pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Presented By: Tim Martin

Decision:

Linda Horne was appointed as Interim s151 Officer and Interim Director of Finance and Carl Pearson as Deputy Interim s151 Officer with effect from 14 December 2018.

9.

West Midlands Local Industrial Strategy pdf icon PDF 127 KB

Presented By: Councillor Ian Ward

Additional documents:

Decision:

The draft Local Industrial Strategy was endorsed for further discussion and agreement with Government, and the Strategic Economic Development Board was given delegated authority, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Economic Growth, the Mayor and the WMCA Chief Executive, to agree any further amendments that arose in discussion with Government, where they were consistent with the overall strategy as currently drafted.

10.

Regional Energy Strategy pdf icon PDF 535 KB

Presented By: Councillor Ian Ward

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)       The WMCA formally adopted the Regional Energy Strategy following the approval and endorsement of all three LEP Boards and the Strategic Economic Development Board.

 

(2)       Within the Local Industrial Strategy, the Regional Energy Strategy was recognised as a key delivery mechanism and energy was identified as a cross-cutting infrastructure enabler of economic growth and social inclusion.

 

(3)       The Mayor and WMCA would seek an Energy and Power Deal with Government during 2019 to take forward the Regional Energy Strategy and to institutionalise a regional delivery capability.

 

(4)       The WMCA would fund development work to secure this deal using available Investment Programme funds, subject to satisfactory business cases being provided.

 

(5)       The Strategic Economic Development Board would continue to monitor and supervise delivery of the Regional Energy Strategy.

11.

Refreshing our Approach to Culture pdf icon PDF 118 KB

Presented By: Councillor Ian Ward

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)       Work to develop a Cultural Leadership Board in collaboration with the sector was approved.

 

(2)       A review of the current Culture, Creative Industries & Tourism Advisory Group to provide expert working group support to the new Cultural Leadership Board was approved.

12.

Devolution of the Adult Education Budget 2019/20 pdf icon PDF 218 KB

Presented By: Councillor George Duggins

Decision:

(1)       The approach to regional commissioning of the Adult Education Budget in relation to the 2019/20 Academic Year, as outlined within the report, was approved.

 

(2)       Authority was delegated to award contracts and issue grant agreements to be funded by the Adult Education Budget, in line with the commissioning approach outlined within the report, to the Director of Productivity & Skills in consultation with the s151 and Monitoring officers and the Portfolio Lead for Productivity & Skills.

 

(3)       It was agreed that the Skills Advisory Board, with support from local authority and Local Enterprise Partnership officers, would monitor progress and impact and recommend any future changes to the deployment of Adult Education Budget funding.

13.

West Midlands Bus Byelaws pdf icon PDF 170 KB

Presented By: Councillor Roger Lawrence

Decision:

(1)       The introduction of byelaws on the West Midlands bus network was supported in principle.

 

(2)       The commencement of byelaw application process and public consultation framework detailed in section 6 was approved.

14.

Regional Road Safety Strategy pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Presented By: Councillor Roger Lawrence

Additional documents:

Decision:

(1)       The West Midlands Regional Road Safety Strategy was agreed and endorsed.

 

(2)       The proposed governance arrangements of a new Regional Road Safety Strategic Group to drive forward the Strategy, other future regional initiatives as outlined in chapter 5, and any new regional funding opportunities for road safety in the region was endorsed.

 

(3)       The Regional Road Safety Strategy Group was authorised to develop a Regional Road Safety Action Plan incorporating the measures and initiatives, as set out in chapter 5 of the Regional Road Safety Strategy.

15.

Feedback from Overview & Scrutiny Committee - Mayor's Question Time: Budget pdf icon PDF 150 KB

Presented By: Councillor Peter Hughes

Decision:

(1)       The Mayoral Q&A event held with members of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee on 12 December 2018 was noted; and also noted was:

 

(a)       The committee’s views on the need for the WMCA to engage with Overview & Scrutiny Committee in the process to develop the budget, and that the consultation timescales should allow the committee to review the draft budget proposals in sufficient time to enable it to undertake its role effectively.

 

(b)       The committee’s comments and observations on how the WMCA measured the effectiveness and impact of how it allocated its resources.

 

(2)       The recommendations of Overview & Scrutiny Committee arising from the Mayoral Q&A event (section 5 of the report) were approved as set out below:

 

(a)       The WMCA should seek to establish a robust budget consultation process for future annual budgets, which built in and ensured adequate time for proper scrutiny. It should also consider the use of innovative ways to consult with residents and the younger generation of the West Midlands (eg. live streaming consultation events) which could help raise the general awareness and profile of the WMCA.

 

(b)       The current performance framework should align with the budget framework to enable the outputs and achievements to be seen, with Overview & Scrutiny Committee to be engaged in the development of future performance management frameworks, including pre-scrutiny consideration of the proposed report on performance management/delivery monitoring due to be considered by the WMCA Board on 8 February 2019.

 

(c)        The Transport for West Midlands’ performance data was currently reviewed by Transport Delivery Committee on a regular basis, however it was considered that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s Budget Working Group should review transport performance data, on an exception basis, and question how it related to budget spend.

 

(d)       WMCA to establish a policy document that defined its approach to the delivery of social housing and that also identified the percentage of social housing and affordable housing it wished to achieve within the West Midlands area.

 

(e)       In addition to social value and procurement, when making investments the WMCA should also look at a number of other measures including equality and diversity, inclusive growth and environmental improvement to achieve a carbon neutral environment. These key issues should therefore be included in any project appraisal process.

 

(f)        The review of the Ring and Ride service, including the integration of other forms of local transport schemes (including community/hospital transport) be prioritised for consideration during 2019/20, rather than being a ‘medium term’ aim. The Board should note that the Overview & Scrutiny Committee would be happy to support the portfolio holder and Transport Delivery Committee in trying to achieve this.

 

(g)       WMCA to give priority to developing an Arts & Culture Strategy and Physical Activity Strategy, to establish unique selling points for the region, which set it apart from its peers, reflected its diverse nature, achieved physical/mental health benefits and built on the success of achieving the Commonwealth Games and City of Culture to the area.

 

(3)       The following questions being asked of the  ...  view the full decision text for item 15.

16.

Wellbeing Board - 31 October 2018 pdf icon PDF 120 KB

Presented By: Councillor Izzi Seccombe

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

17.

Investment Board - 1 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 146 KB

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

18.

Transport Delivery Committee - 5 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 145 KB

Presented By: Councillor Kath Hartley

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

19.

Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee - 12 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 148 KB

Presented By: David Lane

Decision:

The minutes were approved.

20.

Investment Board - 19 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 139 KB

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

21.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - 20 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 113 KB

Presented By: Councillor Peter Hughes

Decision:

The minutes were approved.

22.

Skills Advisory Board - 21 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 128 KB

Presented By: Councillor George Duggins

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

23.

Overview & Scrutiny Committee - 26 November 2018 pdf icon PDF 133 KB

Presented By: Councillor Peter Hughes

Decision:

The minutes were approved.

24.

Investment Board - 10 December 2018 pdf icon PDF 122 KB

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

The minutes were noted.

25.

Friday 8 February 2019 at 11.00am

Presented By: Chair

Decision:

The date of the next meeting was noted.