DRAFT Minutes – WECA Committee 1 June 2018 Minutes of the West of England Combined Authority Committee on st Friday 1 June 2018 Members: Mayor Tim Bowles, West of England Combined Authority Cllr Tim Warren, Bath & North East Somerset Council Mayor Marvin Rees, Bristol City Council Cllr Toby Savage, South Gloucestershire Council DRAFT Minutes – WECA Committee 1 June 2018 1. Welcome & Introductions The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting and introduced his colleagues around the table, he welcomed Cllr Toby Savage, the new Leader of South Gloucestershire Council. He drew attention to the evacuation procedure and reminded everyone that the meeting was being recorded and will be available on the website following this meeting. The Chair noted the Committee’s thanks to Matthew Riddle, former Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, for his contribution to this Committee since its formation in March 2017 and during the formation of the Combined Authority and its first year. 2. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE None were received. 3. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST UNDER THE LOCALISM ACT 2011 None. 4. MINUTES Decision: That the minutes of the meeting on 18th April 2018 be confirmed and signed as a correct record. 5. CHAIR ANNOUNCEMENTS The Chair extended his thanks to Bristol City Council for hosting this meeting in City Hall. The Chair gave an overview of the agenda for the Annual General Meeting and noted it would include the election of a Deputy Mayor for the coming year and consider the WECA annual business report. It would also consider the WECA Business Plan which includes a forward plan of the Committee decisions for the coming year. The agenda would also cover: - Proposals to strengthen the governance arrangements for the WECA Investment Fund and One Front Door arrangements - A proposal for match funding of £100k towards feasibility studies for our ambitious future suburban rail plans - Ratification of the appointment of a Statutory Monitoring Officer for WECA The Chair asked the Committee to defer the Adult Education Budget item to a later meeting, in order to give the members the opportunity to receive and consider the comments made by the Scrutiny Committee and to review the draft order from Government. 6. COMMENTS FROM CHAIR OF LOCAL ENTERPRISE PARTNERSHIP The Chair welcomed Professor Stephen West. Professor West announced he recently attended a national meeting with the LEP Advisory Board to discuss the long-term future of LEPs and the relationships it has with Combined Authorities. He explained that the LEPs are driving the response to the National Industrial DRAFT Minutes – WECA Committee 1 June 2018 Strategy to help form the local Regional Strategy. He noted how important it was that LEP Business Members engage with this process and drive it in partnership with Local Authorities and Combined Authorities. The LEP’s priority is to deliver sustainable and inclusive growth to the region. Professor West noted he would be attending a meeting with the Prime Minister later this month to discuss what the LEPs are focusing on and how they will be driving the economic growth strategy across the region. Professor West stressed the importance for the region to be driving the skills agenda and to ensure there is a joined-up way of approaching government to develop and support the skills agenda. He also raised his concerns regarding the review of the visa restriction in the UK, in particularly for the Public Health Sector as it will have an impact on its workforce. He was pleased to announce that Bristol has been short listed for Channel 4 Headquarters and Hub. Professor West noted this demonstrated joint up working between a number of key stakeholders and will lead the way to attract future investments for the region. Professor West noted the Business Community expressed their concerns that the removal of the tolls on the Severn Bridge will increase congestion and put pressure on the North Fringe and Filton. The Chair thanked Professor West and the LEP for all of their work so far and was delighted to hear regarding the Channel 4 announcement. 7. ITEMS FROM THE PUBLIC Two questions were submitted and have been attached in Appendix 1. The Chair confirmed that 6 statements had been received and invited attendees to speak in the order their statements had been received. All statements are attached in Appendix 2. 7.1 David Redgewell, South West Transport Network, stated that WECA should be focusing on the Bus Strategy, to ensure the quality of services is continued and improved. He raised his concerns that the interchange at Bristol Temple Meads is not fit for purpose and that buses were being moved further away from the train station. He expressed his disappointment for the lack of integrated travel cards for buses, trains and ferries for the region. 7.2 Christina Biggs, Friends of Suburban Bristol Railway, stated her support to David Redgewell’s statement. Ms Biggs stated that the ongoing problem with Portishead Line was very frustrating. She urged North Somerset and WECA to work together and resolve the ongoing problem as soon as possible. Ms Biggs also spoke of how important clean air should be to the region and WECA should be encouraging people to be more considerate of the environment. 7.3 Olga Taylor, Pilning Station Group, congratulated MetroBus for opening M3 route. Ms Taylor asked WECA to support Pilning Station Group with some ‘quick wins’ which they believe would make Pilning station more useful and increase passenger numbers. Ms Taylor stated that by improving Pilning Station it would reduce the number of cars on the road, and help improve the health of those living in the region. Ms Taylor asked for WECA’s support in asking Network Rail reinstating platform lights so evening trains can stop at the station. 7.4 Graham Ellis, TransWilts, asked WECA to implement and facilitate an enhanced bus partnership, with rail, for services that will cross boundaries into neighbouring authorities. Mr Ellis stated this would generate revenue by joining cross boundary transport elements to be DRAFT Minutes – WECA Committee 1 June 2018 more attractive and become an efficient network. Mr Ellis expressed his support for MetroWest project. 7.5 Anne O’Driscoll, North Bristol SusCom, spoke of her concerns that the removal of the Severn Bridge Tolls will create additional traffic for North Bristol and have an impact the environment and air quality. 7.6 Cllr Tim Kent, Bristol City Council, stated that the delivery and management of the MetroBus project has been very poor. He asked WECA to take responsibility for this project. Cllr Kent also noted he was unhappy with the delays of routes and removing of routes in his ward. 8 PETITIONS None 9. ELECTION OF VICE CHAIR / DEPUTY MAYOR The Chair explained that this is an annual appointment and extended his thanks to Cllr Warren for his support as Deputy Mayor during his first year in office. The Chair nominated Cllr Warren as Deputy Mayor. This was seconded by Cllr Savage. On being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously by the three Local Authorities. Resolved: Cllr Warren was appointed as Deputy Mayor. 10 ANNUAL BUSINESS REPORT The Chair introduced the annual business report explaining that it sets out the following: - three amendments to the constitution - updates the committee on the appointment of statutory officers - the process for appointment of Members to Scrutiny and Audit Committees - a calendar of meetings for the year The Chair moved the recommendation and it was seconded by Cllr Savage. The Chair moved to the vote, and confirmed that in line with the constitution, recommendation 1 required a unanimous vote by the three Local Authorities and the Combined Authority Mayor. On being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously by the three Local Authorities. Resolved: 1. Approve the amendments to the Constitution included at Appendix 1 to this report. The Chair moved to vote, and confirmed that, in line with the constitution, recommendation 2-4 required a majority decision of the three local authorities and the Combined Authority Mayor. On being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously by the three Local Authorities and the Combined Authority Mayor. 2. Approve the continued appointment of Tim Richens as the Interim Chief Financial Officer, DRAFT Minutes – WECA Committee 1 June 2018 3. Request from the Constituent Councils nominations to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Audit Committee from within their membership on a politically balanced basis as set out in paragraphs 6.1 and 6.2 of the report. 4. Approves the calendar of Meetings for 2018 /19 attached as Appendix 2. 11. BUSINESS PLAN The Chair introduced the WECA Business Plan report and explained that, following the WECA Committee meeting in April, it was requested a final version of this plan to be reported to WECA Committee for approval. In addition, an equalities impact assessment and risk assessment have also been completed. The Chair noted the business plan has been used to inform the forward plan of key decisions for this Committee which is appended to the report. The Chair moved the recommendations in the report. Cllr Savage seconded the recommendations. Mayor Rees stressed that this is an important plan for the region and WECA should be making a commitment to the equality assessment. The Chair moved to the vote, and confirmed that in line with the constitution for recommendation 1 required a majority decision of the three Local Authorities and the Combined Authority Mayor. On being put to the vote the motion was carried unanimously by the three Local Authorities. Resolved: 1. To approve the West of England Combined Authority Business Plan for 2018/19.