Decisions

WM5G will be leading the West Midlands’ bid to become a 5G Innovation Region.
The bid will focus on 2 key clusters which comprise of sectors where the West Midlands has key strengths, and which represent the highest potential areas for 5G/IoT (Internet and other things) /data adoption – as evidenced by WM5G and others – but are facing key adoption challenges.

To agree to distribute £3.8m funds as follows, if successful in DSIT’s 5G Innovation Region competition:

•         Birmingham City Council: £289,857

•         City of Wolverhampton Council: £289,857

•         Coventry City Council: £136,617

•         Remaining 4 Constituent LA’s (x4): £30,857 each

•         WM5G: £3,160,241 (includes remainder of smart communities work as well as all of the advanced manufacturing to be distributed to third parties through procurement exercises being run by WM5G)

2.2      Delegated authority for the Director for Commercial Activities and Investment to:

•         Enter into the relevant documentation with DLUHC; and

•         To negotiate and complete the relevant contract documentation for the onward funding to the bodies detailed in the recommendation 2.1

Resolved:

To agree to distribute £3.8m funds as follows, if successful in DSIT’s 5G Innovation Region competition:

•         Birmingham City Council: £289,857

•         City of Wolverhampton Council: £289,857

•         Coventry City Council: £136,617

•         Remaining 4 Constituent LA’s (x4): £30,857 each

•         WM5G: £3,160,241 (includes remainder of smart communities work as well as all of the advanced manufacturing to be distributed to third parties through procurement exercises being run by WM5G)

2.2      Delegated authority for the Director for Commercial Activities and Investment to:

•         Enter into the relevant documentation with DLUHC; and

•         To negotiate and complete the relevant contract documentation for the onward funding to the bodies detailed in the recommendation 2.1

Resolved:

That the award of contract to Royal Mail for the delivery of election leaflets for the 2024 Mayoral elections be agreed.

Agreed as a correct record.

An update from Sharonjit Clare, Chair of the Race Equalities Taskforce was noted.

A presentation on recent activity of the WMCA and regional trends across the West Midlands was noted.

Noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

The minutes were noted.

(1)      A cash flat transport levy for 2024/25 of £119.4m was approved.

(2)      The budget requirement for transport delivery 2024/25, totalling £198.3m and comprising three elements was approved:

(i)       £119.4m to be funded from the existing transport levy mechanism;

(ii)       use of £73.9m of grant income, including £28.4m of Network Stabilisation Grant;

(iii)      use of windfall gains from treasury management of £5.0m.

(3)      The budget requirement for portfolio delivery in 2024/25 of £262.0m comprising of six elements was approved:

(i)       £142.0m adult education (including Free Courses for Jobs) spending to be funded from adult education budget funding devolved by the Department for Education;

(ii)       £104.4m to be funded from other grants;

(iii)      £2.3m to be funded from other income, notably investments;

(iv)      £4.6m to be funded from constituent authority fees (fees to remain at the same level as 2023/24);

(v)      £0.4m to be funded from non-constituent authority and observer fees (fees to remain at the same level as 2023/24);

(vi)      use of £8.3m business rates retention income.

(4)      The Mayoral Office budget for 2024/25 of £7.0m, of which £0.9m to be funded from additional Mayoral Capacity Funding and a further £6.1m to be funded from reserves, was approved.

(5)      It was noted that there would be no mayoral precept during 2024/25.

(6)      The first year (2024/25) of the indicative WMCA capital programme, totalling £706.8m, noting the indicative onward programme thereafter, was approved.

(7)      The planned spend on the Investment Programme over the period was noted.

(8)      The advice of the Director of Finance & Business Hub in relation to the robustness of the budget and the adequacy of reserves was noted.

(9)      The WMCA’s ongoing commitment to work with the Mayor and Leaders during 2024 to discuss a sustainable funding solution for transport which would meet the scale of ambition for the network was noted.

(10)    Authority was delegated to the Director of Finance & Business Hub, in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Finance, to make any final changes that might result from the final Local Government Finance Settlement.

(11)    Authority was delegated to Executive Directors to progress expenditure within the budget that was in furtherance of WMCA Board-approved local policy.

(12)    The following policies and strategies, which contained items as required by statute, were approved:

(a)      Treasury Management Policy Statement;

(b)      Treasury Management Strategy, including the 2024/25 Investment Strategy and criteria for specified and non-specified investments;

(c)      Capital Strategy and Minimum Revenue Provision Statement; and

(d)      Pay Policy Statement.

(1)      The issues and recommendations arising from the Overview & Scrutiny Committee’s consideration of the report was noted.

(2)      The key messages and recommendations set out within the report was noted.

(3)      It was noted that the report would form part of the evidence base for the region’s economic development work as part of the regular review of the economic conditions in the West Midlands and forthcoming West Midlands Futures work programme.

(a)      Wayne Brown - Chief Fire Officer, West Midlands Fire Service

The Mayor and members paid tribute to Wayne Brown, who had recently died. The board observed a minute’s silence in his memory.

(b)      Transfer of Police & Crime Commissioner Powers

The Mayor reported that the Home Secretary had written to him to indicate that he was now satisfied to transfer the functions of the PCC to be exercised by the Mayor following the May elections. The Mayor had replied giving his consent, as required by the Levelling Up & Regeneration Act 2023. An Order would now be laid in Parliament to enable the transfer to take place.

Lee Barron (Midlands TUC), Councillor Shaun Davies (Telford & Wrekin), Councillor Susan Juned (Stratford-on-Avon), Councillor Abdul Khan (Coventry) and Councillor Derek Poole (Rugby).

That in accordance with Section 100A4 of the Local Government Act 1972, the press And public be excluded from the meeting during the consideration of the following items of business as they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information relating to the business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information).

1.    The Change Request (attached as appendix 1to the report) to support the ongoing delivery of the Department for Work and Pensions grant funded delivery phase of Individual Placement Support Primary Care Services (April 2023- March 2025 of £7,936,620 be approved and

2.    The information within the Change Request setting out the programme financial deliverables, commissioning activity and governance arrangements be noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Noted.

Agreed.