Issue - meetings

Report for consideration by the Combined Authority Committee.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Mayoral Fund revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 1.

2. Note the WECA revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 2.

3. Approve the continuation of paying concessionary fares, in line with budgeted profile, to local transport operators up to 31 December 2020, and to Community Transport Providers and in respect of current Service Contracts with delegation for enabling these payments provided to the Head of Strategic Transport Integration.

4. Approve an internal virement of £150k from Treasury Management surplus and consultancy savings to establish capacity in the financial services team.

5. Approve a drawdown of £403k from the WECA Business Rates Reserve to fund the projected income shortfall in business rates for 2020/21.

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report setting out the revenue budget financial outturn information for the Combined Authority and the Mayoral budget for the financial year 2020/21 based on data for the period April to June 2020 (agenda item 14).

The Chair highlighted the following aspects of the report and commented as follows:

* A small underspend of £11k was forecast in relation to the Mayoral Fund, as set out in Appendix 1; also in relation this fund, a contribution of £396k would be made to an earmarked reserve, in line with budget, to meet the estimated costs of the Combined Authority Mayoral election in 2021.

* In terms of the Combined Authority’s revenue budget, a net surplus of £565k was forecast, as set out in Appendix 2, which was due to higher income received from cash balances.

* The report set out various transport grants received from the government to support local bus operators through the Covid period, and also proposed that the committee should approve the continuation of paying concessionary fares, in line with budgeted profile, to local transport operators up to 31 December 2020, and also to community transport providers and to meet current service contracts.

The recommendations as set out in the published report were then moved by the Chair and seconded by Cllr Savage.

Given the ongoing Covid situation, Mayor Rees welcomed the continued financial support to local transport operators and community transport providers.  He also welcomed the fact that payments to Adult Education providers had been made in line with the budgeted profile to maintain the stability of the provider base.

The Chair then moved to the voting on the recommendations. Voting took place as per constitutional requirements.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Mayoral Fund revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 1.

2. Note the WECA revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 2.

3. Approve the continuation of paying concessionary fares, in line with budgeted profile, to local transport operators up to 31 December 2020, and to Community Transport Providers and in respect of current Service Contracts with delegation for enabling these payments provided to the Head of Strategic Transport Integration.

4. Approve an internal virement of £150k from Treasury Management surplus and consultancy savings to establish capacity in the financial services team.

5. Approve a drawdown of £403k from the WECA Business Rates Reserve to fund the projected income shortfall in business rates for 2020/21.