Decisions

The board received an update from Deborah Cadman, WMCA Chief Executive, on the devolution deal announced by the Government on 22 November 2017. This included the funding that had been announced for the delivery of the Wednesbury - Brierley Hill metro extension, along with funding for skills and housing workstreams. Deborah Cadman undertook to provide a breakdown of specific funding allocated to each work area to members of the WMCA Board.

David Jamieson, West Midlands Police & Crime Commissioner, noted that the announcement included an expectation that the Mayor of the West Midlands would become responsible for the powers currently exercised by the Police & Crime Commissioner from May 2020, and he committed to work with the Mayor to help implement an orderly transfer of powers and responsibility.

Councillor Bob Sleigh also welcomed the support given within the devolution agreement for the region’s homeless strategy, including access to funds to help deliver the strategy.

Resolved:

The update on the devolution deal announced by the Government on 22 November 2017 be noted.

The minutes of the meeting held on 10 November 2017 were agreed as a correct record.

The board received the minutes of the Strategic Economic Plan Board held on 16 November 2017.

In respect of minute no. 86 (‘Local Sector Strategies’), Jonathan Browning, Chair of the Strategic Economic Plan Board, reported that the board was working with the region’s Local Enterprise Partnerships to make the most opportunities that would be offered by the Local Industrial Strategy.

The minutes of the Strategic Economic Plan Board were noted.

(i)         The Mayor congratulated Coventry on having been awarded UK City of Culture 2021 and thanked all those that had been involved in the successful bid.

(ii)        The Mayor welcomed Gareth Bradford, the new Director of Housing & Regeneration who would formally take up his post on 18 December, to the meeting.

The board received the minutes of the Investment Board held on 30 October 2017.

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2017 be noted.

The board received the minutes of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 21 November 2017.

Councillor Peter Hughes, Chair of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, reported that the committee was currently looking at the staff resources being allocated to the scrutiny function, and how this compared with other combined authorities across the country.

In respect of minute no. 5 (‘The Role of the Combined Authority in Air Quality’) Councillor Bob Sleigh suggested that a discussion be held with Councillor Patrick Harley as Portfolio Lead for the Environment on the remit of the committee in respect of air quality matters.

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 21 November 2017 be noted.

The board received the minutes of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee held on 17 November 2017.

In respect of minute no. 24 (‘Combined Authority Leadership Team Priorities’) David Lane, Chair of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee, reported that it would be considering a ‘governance map’ at its next meeting to help identify the relationships that existed amongst the WMCA’s boards/committees.

In respect of minute no. 29 (‘WMCA Arm’s Length Companies Checklist’), David Lane reported that a checklist was being developed that would be used by the committee on an annual basis to seek confidence in the assurance arrangements for arm’s length companies related to the WMCA.

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 17 November 2017 be noted.

The date of the next meeting was noted.

The forward plan of items to be considered at future meetings of the WMCA Board was noted.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe presented a report that provided an update of the WMCA finances as at the end of October 2017. The report provided a summary of the revenue and capital financial positions against the approved budget, along with a summary of the Investment Programme and its current commitments and a summary of the balance sheet.

It was reported that the budget forecasts showed a favourable variance of £941,000 to date in the WMCA’s operational budget due to a number of posts remaining vacant, and the Mayor’s office spend was now in line with the budget due to an increased amount of work being undertaken in-house.

Resolved:

The financial position for October 2017 be noted.

Councillor Izzi Seccombe presented a report setting out the rationale for recommending an amendment to the WMCA’s constitution that would allow for the delegation of the approval of the statutory accounts to the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee.

The WMCA was required to prepare and approve its annual statement of accounts and an annual governance statement. The Audit and Accounts Regulations required that the final version of these audited documents were considered and approved either by members of the WMCA as a whole or by a delegated committee. It was considered that the approval of these documents fitted closely with the terms of reference of the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee, whose members already had a good understanding of the regulatory approval process. Any issues of concern that the committee might have could then be raised with the WMCA Board as necessary.

Resolved:

An amendment to the WMCA Constitution, to enable consideration and approval of the WMCA’s statutory Statement of Accounts to be delegated to the Audit, Risk & Assurance Committee be endorsed.

The board considered a report on the emerging dashboard on Productivity & Skills measures for the WMCA, to be used as a tool to monitor and improve outcomes for local people.

The Productivity & Skills Commission was examining in depth the detailed indicators relating to productivity and skills and would be reporting its initial recommendations on what the WMCA and its partners could do to have maximum impact upon them early in the new year. Programme level indicators would be identified that captured the impact of WMCA activity to be included in future iterations of the dashboard.

Resolved:

The proposed approach to the dashboard performance reporting for the Productivity and Skills Portfolio be agreed.

The board received the minutes of the Transport Delivery Committee held on 6 November 2017.

In respect of minute no. 55 (‘Safer Travel Update’), Councillor Richard Worrall, Chair of the Transport Delivery Committee, noted that Walsall Metropolitan Borough Council was now utilising the Transport for West Midlands CCTV Control Centre and he encouraged authorities who were not currently using this excellent facility to consider doing so.

Resolved:

The minutes of the meeting held on 6 November 2017 were noted.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor George Adamson, Lee Barron, Councillor Sean Davies, Councillor Steve Eling, Councillor Paul Moore, Councillor Peter Nutting, Tim Pile, Stewart Towe and Graham Wynn.