Agenda and decisions

WMCA Board - Friday 13th October 2023 11.00 am

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

Contact: Dan Essex, Governance & Scrutiny Manager

Media

Items
No.	Item
1.	Apologies for Absence Presented By: Chair Decision: Lee Barron (Midlands Trades Union Congress), Councillor Mike Bird (Walsall), Councillor Ian Davison (Warwick), Councillor Susan Juned (Stratford-on-Avon), Councillor Bob Sleigh (Solihull), Mark Smith (Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee) and Councillor Sharon Thompson (Birmingham).
3.	Chair's Remarks Presented By: Chair Decision: The Chair asked the board to observe a minute’s personal reflection for all those impacted by the conflict in Israel and Gaza. He also congratulated Transport for West Midlands and Midland Metro Ltd for their successes at the recent National Transport Awards, and welcomed Emma Bennett to her first meeting of the board following her appointment as Chief Executive of Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council.
4.	Minutes - 15 September 2023 PDF 169 KB View the background to item 4. View the decision for item 4. Presented By: Chair Decision: Agreed as a correct record.
5.	Forward Plan PDF 248 KB View the background to item 5. View the decision for item 5. Presented By: Chair Decision: Items of business to be reported to future board meetings were noted.
6.	Regional Activity & Delivery Update View the background to item 6. View the decision for item 6. Presented By: Chair Decision: The presentation on regional economic trends and recent WMCA activity was noted.
7.	Deeper Devolution Deal Ratification PDF 161 KB View the background to item 7. View the decision for item 7. Presented By: Councillor Sharon Thompson Additional documents: Appendix A , item 7. PDF 9 MB Appendix B1 , item 7. PDF 178 KB Appendix B2 , item 7. PDF 129 KB Decision: (1) The ‘trailblazer’ deeper devolution deal between the WMCA and HM Government was formally ratified; and (2) The Governance Review and Scheme for devolution to the WMCA of the administration of Bus Service Operators Grant under section 154(1), (3) and (4) of the Transport Act 2000 was approved for submission to the Secretary of State for Transport.
8.	New Stations Package 1: Project Update PDF 164 KB View the background to item 8. View the decision for item 8. Presented By: Anne Shaw Decision: (1) The insolvency and administration proceedings of the principal contractor for the New Stations Package 1 project, Buckingham Group Contracting Ltd, was noted. (2) The decision made at West Midlands Rail Partnership Board on 28 September 2023 to novate the Package 1 main works contract to Kier Integrated Services Ltd was noted. (3) The work underway to re-assess affordability and funding was noted, and the options be bought back for consideration to a future meeting of the board. (4) It was noted that in the interim period, only work associated with scheme costs that would remain in scope and within the existing budget would continue to be incurred until a resolution to the overall scheme affordability had been reported to, and agreed by, this board. (5) The board’s continued commitment to complete Package 1 in full and as a single, fully funded programme of work, was noted.
9.	Environment & Energy Board - 12 July 2023 PDF 117 KB View the background to item 9. View the decision for item 9. Presented By: Councillor John Cotton Decision: The minutes were noted.
10.	Economic Growth Board - 12 July 2023 PDF 153 KB View the background to item 10. View the decision for item 10. Presented By: Councillor Stephen Simkins Decision: The minutes were noted.
11.	Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee - 19 July 2023 PDF 151 KB View the background to item 11. View the decision for item 11. Presented By: Mark Smith Decision: The minutes were noted.
12.	Young Combined Authority - October 2023 Update PDF 692 KB View the background to item 12. View the decision for item 12. Presented By: YCA Representatives Decision: The report was noted.
13.	Date of Next Meeting View the background to item 13. View the decision for item 13. Presented By: Chair Decision: Friday 17 November 2023 at 11.00am.