Decisions

The date of the next meeting was noted.

(1)       The contents of this report, which reviewed the current ticketing approach on the West Midlands Metro as well as assessing the viability of alternative options in order to ensure a robust ticketing solution was in place to optimise revenue generation from Metro services, was noted.

(2)       The policy of moving to an off-tram ‘Buy Before Boarding’ ticketing system incorporating the features set out in the report was approved.

(3)       Interim cashflow funding of £1.7m to cover the capital costs of the preferred option was approved, noting that the scheme was self-funding over a short timescale thereafter.

(4)       It was noted that Transport for West Midlands would explore further security measures on the tram network and, following consultations on these proposals with staff, no current customer representatives would be subject to compulsory redundancy.

(1)       The request for £18m of WMCA repayable grant, as part of an overall £126m project in progress to create an innovative open access facility and research and technology organisation to support national and regional Industrial Strategy focus on UK design, development and manufacture of battery technologies, was approved, subject to the charge noted in (4) below on UK Battery Industrialisation Centre assets.

(2)       It was noted that the repayable grant would be financed by the WMCA through treasury management and prudential borrowing as required, and would not form part of the WMCA Investment Programme.

(3)       It was noted that the repayable grant would not bear interest.

(4)       It was noted that grant repayment risk would be mitigated by placing an appropriate first charge on UK Battery Industrialisation Centre assets.

(5)       Authority was delegated to the WMCA Finance Director and Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Economy & Innovation to finalise details of the security, repayments and other technical details of the repayable grant.

The request for £4m of WMCA funding as part of an overall £36.4m project in progress to support the City of Culture Trust in planning and delivering the UK City of Culture 2021 programme and developing a sustainable legacy was approved.

Funding of £19.945m was approved for the proposed Roundabout Over-Trace project required to ensure that the huge economic potential of the Arden Cross

HS2 Interchange Station site and the NEC, which formed part of the wider growth plans for the UK Central Hub area, was realised.

[NB. Councillor Bob Sleigh declared a personal interest in respect of the fact that he was a Solihull councillor, the site of the project was within the ward he represented and he was a director of the UK Central Urban Growth Company. Councillor Karen Grinsell declared a personal interest in respect of the fact she was a Solihull councillor.]

The draft Commonwealth Games Strategic Transport Plan was approved for publication in September.

The financial position as at the end of July 2019 was noted.

(1)       The Head of Governance, Clerk and Monitoring Officer reported that the WMCA Board scheduled for 10 January 2020 would now be held on 17 January 2020.

(2)       The plan of items to be reported to future meetings of the board was noted.

The minutes were agreed as a correct record.

The minutes were noted.

(1)       The minutes were noted.

(2)       The amendment to the Strategic Economic Development Board’s terms of reference were agreed.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were agreed.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

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

(1)       The Chair welcomed Clive Heaphy, Acting Chief Executive of Birmingham City Council, to his first meeting and thanked Dawn Baxendale for all she had done to support the WMCA.

(2)       The Chair noted that Phil Hewitt, Director of West Midlands Metro, was soon to take up a new post outside of the WMCA and thanked him for his leadership in delivering improvements to the Midland Metro over the last four years

Councillor George Adamson (Cannock Chase), Jonathan Browning (Coventry & Warwickshire LEP), Councillor Ian Courts (Solihull), Councillor Shaun Davies (Telford & Wrekin), Councillor Sebastian Lowe (Rugby) and Stewart Towe (Black Country LEP).