Decisions

Friday 15 January 2021 at 11.00am

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were approved.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were approved.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The report was noted.

(1)      The final draft for publication of the Health of the Region, prepared in light of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, was noted.

(2)      The recommendations to Government on the basis of the findings within the report were agreed.

(3)      The commitments to action of the WMCA and its partners were endorsed.

(1)      The progress made with regards to bus byelaws since May 2019 was noted.

(2)      The progression to the next steps was approved.

(3)      Authority was delegated to the Managing Director of Transport for West Midlands and the WMCA’s Monitoring Officer to conclude the works on bus byelaws.

(1)      The changes to the Articles of Association, which permitted for the Mayor of the West Midlands to become the non-Director, non-voting Chair of West Midlands Rail Ltd, and also for the creation of two new Vice-Chair roles was approved.

(2)      The power described in 3.1(i) of the West Midlands Rail Ltd Articles of Association to represent and publicise West Midlands Rail Ltd through lobbying and related activities and survey to advance West Midlands Rail Ltd’s purpose was delegated to the Chair.

The publication of the WMCA HS2 Growth Strategy refresh ‘The Defining Decade’ was noted.

(1)      It was agreed to extend for two years (from April 2021) the current investment of £0.7m per annum from the WMCA revenue budget to the West Midlands Growth Company to support inward investment, capital attraction and tourism promotion activity.

(2)      The extension of £1.8m per annum from the investment programme, agreed by the Investment Board on 21 September 2020, thereby approving a total investment by WMCA of £2.5m per annum (£5m total) to the West Midlands Growth Company from April 2021, was endorsed.

The mid-year summary of progress against portfolio deliverables for 2020/21 was noted.

(1)      The financial outturn position as at the end of September 2020 was noted.

(2)      The latest forecast for 2020/21, incorporating the estimated impact of COVID-19, was noted.

(3)      The updated Medium-Term Financial Planning position for the period 2021/22 to 2025/26 was noted.

(4)      The final confirmed project allocations made under the Get Britain Building initiative was noted.

(5)      The Treasury Management Strategy Mid-year update was noted.

Noted.

Agreed.

The Chair reported that Herefordshire Council had indicated that it was no longer seeking non-constituent membership of the WMCA.

Apologies for absence were received from Lee Barron (TUC Midlands), Councillor Maria Crompton (Sandwell), Councillor Shaun Davies (Telford & Wrekin), Councillor Julie Jackson (Nuneaton & Bedworth), Councillor Brigid Jones (Birmingham), David Lane (Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee), Tim Pile (Greater Birmingham & Solihull LEP) and Mandy Thorn (The Marches LEP).