Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Greg Brackenridge (West Midlands Fire Authority), Jonathan Browning (Coventry & Warwickshire LEP), Councillor Ian Courts (Solihull), Councillor Shaun Davies (Telford & Wrekin), Councillor David Hitchiner (Herefordshire), Councillor Julie Jackson (Nuneaton & Bedworth), Councillor Peter Nutting (Shropshire), Councillor Izzi Seccombe (Warwickshire), Stewart Towe (Black Country LEP) and Councillor Ian Ward (Birmingham).

The Mayor welcomed David Stevens, Interim Chief Executive of Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council, to his first meeting. He also noted the appointment of Councillor Greg Brackenridge as the new Chair of the West Midlands Fire Authority and paid tribute to the outgoing chair, Councillor John Edwards, for his many years of public service leading the fire authority.

Agreed as a correct record, subject to the addition of Councillor Greg Brackenridge to the list of those in attendance, and Councillor George Adamson to the list of those who had submitted their apologies for absence.

Noted.

It was agreed that Councillor Lisa Trickett be appointed Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee for 2019/20.

(1)       The financial position as at the end of May 2019 was noted.

(2)       The decision to place on hold the development of a West Midlands wide business rates supplement was confirmed.

(3)       The approach agreed with constituent authority finance directors relating to the approach towards business rates growth for 2019/20 was approved.

(4)       Authority was delegated to the Director of Finance in respect of Adult Education Budget payments to providers.

(1)       A West Midlands target of net-zero emissions no later than 2041, with interim targets based on a 2018 baseline of 36% reduction by 2022, and 69% reduction by 2027, supported by the corresponding carbon budgets was set.

(2)       The estimated financial cost of this transition as 1-2% of GDP, which was estimated at £40 billion for the West Midlands over the period to 2041, and that bringing the target forward ahead of 2041 would require additional investment, was noted.

(3)       An inclusive transition which protected marginalised communities, maximised support for West Midlands businesses, and helped individuals to change their own behaviours, was committed to.

(4)       It was noted that a Carbon Reduction Action Plan would be brought back to the WMCA Board in autumn 2019.

(5)       It was noted that proposals for additional funding would be submitted to the Government ahead of the November 2019 budget or Comprehensive Spending Review to accelerate the West Midlands carbon transition.

(1)       It was noted that the Social Economy Taskforce had made six recommendations for how the West Midlands - through the WMCA and as a wider partnership - could double the size of the social economy in ten years.

(2)       It was agreed to receive this draft report, with a view to launching formally with a full response to those recommendations at the WMCA Board meeting of September 2019.

(3)       Members for the Social Economy Taskforce be thanked for investing time, effort, and expertise into this work.

The minutes of the meeting were noted.

The minutes of the meeting were noted.

The minutes of the meeting were noted.

The minutes of the meeting were noted.

The minutes of the meeting were agreed.

[In accordance with s100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public and press be excluded from the meeting for the following item(s) of business as it is likely to involve the disclosure of exempt information as specified in paragraph 3 of the Act.]

The public and press were excluded for the remainder of the meeting.

(1)       The contents of the report was noted.

(2)       The implementation of a fare increase on West Midlands Metro services were approve.

(3)       The proposed change to the reserved matters in the Shareholder Agreement was approved.

(4)       Authority was delegated to the Managing Director of Transport for the West Midlands to approve the withdrawal of Midland Metro Ltd from bi-lateral through ticketing agreements with Travel West Midlands in favour of Swift nBus and nNetwork products.

(5)       The change of Shareholder Representative was approved.

(6)       The Shareholder’s Representative was authorised to negotiate the required changes to the Shareholder Agreement arising from the report with Midland Metro Ltd.