Agenda and minutes

Tim Martin, Head of Governance, Clerk and Monitoring Officer, indicated that this meeting was inquorate and therefore any decisions taken at the meeting would be submitted to the WMCA Board on 24 July 2020 for formal approval.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Dean Carroll (Shropshire Non – Constituent Local Authorities), Councillor Mike Chalk (Worcestershire Non – Constituent Local Authorities) and Mike Lyons (Greater Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnership).

The minutes of the meeting held on the 9 March 2020 were agreed as a correct record.

·       Introduction – Deborah Cadman

·       Economy & Innovation – Councillor Ian Brookfield / Julia Goldsworthy

·       Transport – Laura Shoaf

·       Skills & Productivity – Clare Hatton

·       Housing & Land – Gareth Bradford

The committee received a presentation from Deborah Cadman, Chief Executive, on the work being undertaken by the WMCA to support the economic recovery of the region following the COVID-19 pandemic. This work included identifying the form that recovery might take, arrangements to provide the strategic leadership and co-ordination of recovery priorities, and workstream planning activities across the WMCA’s portfolio areas.

Councillor Ian Brookfield, Portfolio Lead Economy & Innovation provided an overview on the economic recovery so far, including information on the work of the Economic Impact Group, and the thematic priorities that would form the region’s asks to attract new Government investment. Laura Shoaf, Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands, gave the committee an overview of the impact COVID-19 has had on the provision of public transport services within the region and outlined various elements for TfWM’s recovery plan. Clare Hatton, Head of Skills Delivery, outlined the key issues and challenges to the delivery of the Adult Education Budget and skills portfolio.

Councillor Ahmad Bostan noted the disproportionate impact on the region’s Black, Asian and minority ethnic communities of the COVID-19 pandemic. Deborah Cadman recognised this and indicated that work was currently being undertaken to analyse Public Health England’s recent report on this issue, which would help to understand the causes and shape the recovery work that would be undertaken. Aisha Masood drew attention to the impact on youth unemployment, especially graduate students entering the jobs market and being unable to secure a job. Julia Goldsworthy reported that the WMCA was working closely with the university sector to help develop a support package to address these concerns.

Councillor Cathy Bayton stressed the importance of having a clear understanding of the different sectoral challenges, particularly as furlough arrangements ended and the economic impact on individuals became more apparent. She also stressed the importance of understanding differential sub-regional impacts, rather than imposing one-size-fits-all solutions.

The committee requested further information on the work of the WMCA in respect of ‘social recovery’ in addition to the economic recovery work that had been outlined. Members also wished to see in more detail the data and evidence base that had helped form the investment ‘asks’ to Government.

It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:

(1)  The presentation be noted.

(2) Further consideration of the investment case being submitted to Government for additional funding for economic recovery within the region be given at the next meeting of the committee, following discussions between the Chair and Chief Executive as to the most effective way to undertake this.

The committee considered a report of the Head of Governance, Clerk and Monitoring Officer on how the recommendations arising out of the transport governance scrutiny review would now be taken forward following the approval of these recommendations by the WMCA Board.

The report sets out the progress made to date in respect of the proposals to establish a Strategic Transport Board and a Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee, along with a refresh of the Transport Delivery Committee. The committee stressed the importance of implementing the recommendations considering the upcoming challenges and ensuring there was rigours scrutiny transport policy making and delivery.  

It was recommended to the WMCA Board that:

(1)  The work programme taking forward the recommendations arising out of the Transport Governance Review be noted.

·       WMCA Board

·       Overview & Scrutiny Committee

The committee noted a forward plan on items that were to be reported to future meetings of this committee and the WMCA Board.

The date of the next meeting was noted.