Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Ken Hawkins (Solihull Metropolitan Borough Council) and Councillor Matt Rogers (Dudley Metropolitan Borough Council.

Members are reminded of the need to declare any disclosable pecuniary interests they have in an item being discussed during the course of the meeting. In addition, the receipt of any gift or hospitality should be declared where the value of it was thought to have exceeded £25 (gifts) or £40 (hospitality).

Councillor Jackie Taylor, Councillor Ian Kettle and Councillor Philip Bateman declared non-pecuniary interests.

The Chair welcomed all to the first meeting of the Transport Scrutiny Sub-Committee. Each member provided a brief introduction of themselves along with relevant officers to the committee.  

To appoint a Vice-Chair of the sub-committee for 2020/21.

A unanimous decision was made by the committee that Councillor Philip Bateman be appointed as Vice-Chair of the committee.

Resolved:

(1)  Councillor Philip Bateman be appointed as Vice-Chair of the committee.

Presentation to include:

·       role and purpose of WMCA

·       evolution of transport powers and responsibilities

·       transport governance within the WMCA

·       scrutiny within a combined authority context

·       2020/21 work programme

Members received a presentation from the Governance Services Manager on the roles, purpose and vision of the Combined Authority, information on the portfolio areas, transport governance and the roles and responsibility of this newly established committee.

The committee also received a presentation from the Transport Strategy and Place Manager on Transport for West Midlands. The information provided gave oversight of historic transport governance, the roles, responsibility, key individuals, funding, investing and challenges for the future for Transport for West Midlands. The committee will receive further information at its next meeting on the Local Transport Plan.

Councillor Philip Bateman requested statistical information on the transport network to allow him to better his knowledge and understand the wider context of commercial network verses the social network developments.

Councillor Liz Clements was interested to understand the committees involvement in the Enhanced Partnership and other policy development opportunities. She was also interested in received information on the Emergency Active Travel Funds and the involvements of the Combined Authority with this.

Resolved:

(1)  The presentation’s be noted.

The committee received a presentation from the Director of Network Resilience on school restart. Information provided to the committee related to guidance published by Government on return to schools including transport requirements, along with the funding allocation to support this. Transport for West Midlands main responsibility was to oversee operators on bus, train and trams for all other travellers ensuring an appropriate network was in place.

Councillor Jackie Taylor requested information on how social distancing was being managed across the transport network in terms of keeping young people safe. The Director of Network Resilience assured the committee that lots was being done to keep all individuals using the network safe. Lots of communication tactics had been identified in terms of educating individuals on the need to keep safe whilst using the network as well as information being provided to education establishments, support was also being received from the Safer Travel Partnership and other transport colleagues. The Chair shared her concerns social distancing on the dedicated school services as it had been reported of the lack of maintaining social distancing. She recognised the positiveness of the provision for transport home for any pupil or student showing symptoms of COVID-19 whilst at school or college.

Resolved:

(1)  The presentation be noted.

Monday 19 October 2020 at 10.30am.