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Agenda item

Minutes:

Linda Horne and Sukhy Dhanoa presented a report on the status of the Investment Programme to assist the Board in determining investment decisions. The report also included a suggested revised format for Investment programme milestone reporting for consideration.

 

Nick Abell commented that previous iterations of the report had included details of the origin of funding sources and spend to date. Linda Horne explained the various appendices to the report which included:

·         Appendix 1 – WMCA Investment Programme Funding Summary;

·         Appendix 3 – WMCA Investment Programme – Spend to Date;

·         Appendix 4 – WMCA Investment Programme Commitment Profile.

 

She advised on the various workstreams to secure further and/or alternative funding to bridge the current funding shortfall. She reported that a report on this matter was to be considered at a meeting of the WMCA Mayor and the Metropolitan Leaders on 8 March 2019 prior to consideration at the meeting of this Board scheduled for 18 March 2019. Nick Abell requested that future iterations of the report include details of expenditure and commitments against the secured funding of £766 million. Linda Horne agreed to include such details in future reports.

 

Councillor Mike Bird commented that an allocation of £50 million had been made previously to a scheme in Coventry where alternative funding had now been identified. He suggested that this allocation be returned to the Investment Fund for re-allocation. He also referred to previous discussions on the Wednesbury – Brierley Hill Metro extension scheme and the apparent shortfall in funding for that scheme. He commented that although funding continued to be allocated at each meeting of the Board there was very little activity apparent to the general public with the exception of metro works in Wolverhampton and Birmingham. The Chair suggested that this matter be raised at the forthcoming meeting with the WMCA mayor and Metropolitan Leaders.

 

Councillor Peter Lowe suggested that the aforementioned meeting presented an opportunity for the number and scale of schemes to be considered together with their deliverability. He referred to the need for those schemes identified by the individual Constituent Authorities at the point when the original Devolution Deal was negotiated to be given priority status and to not be overtaken by schemes identified subsequently.

 

Councillor Tony Jefferson referred to those schemes identified on page 7 of the Document Pack as having been delayed and questioned whether there was a pattern behind the delays or if the reasons varied. Sukhy Dhanoa referred the Board to Appendix 5 to the report which explained deviations from the baseline.

 

Resolved:

1.    That the status of the Investment Programme delivery, as detailed in the report, be noted;

2.    That the revised format for Investment Programme milestone reporting be approved;

3.    That future reports contain details of expenditure and commitments against the secured funding of £766 million;

4.    That the funding of £50 million allocated previously to a scheme in Coventry where alternative funding has now been identified be returned to the Investment Fund for re-allocation;

5.    That at the forthcoming meeting of the WMCA Mayor and Metropolitan Leaders the number and scale of schemes and of their deliverability be considered together with the need to afford priority status to those schemes identified by the individual Constituent Authorities at the point when the original Devolution Deal was negotiated to be given priority status and to not be overtaken by schemes identified subsequently.

      

Supporting documents: