Agenda, decisions and minutes

Venue: The Space community room, Keynsham Civic Centre

Contact: Ian Hird  07436 600 313

Link: webcastvideoisavailable

Media

Items
No. Item

1.

Welcome and introductions

Minutes:

2.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

3.

Declarations of interest

Members who consider that they have an interest to declare are asked to: a) State the item number in which they have an interest, b) The nature of the interest, c) Whether the interest is a disclosable pecuniary interest, non-disclosable pecuniary interest or nonpecuniary interest. Any Member who is unsure about the above should seek advice from the Monitoring Officer prior to the meeting in order to expedite matters at the meeting itself.

Minutes:

4.

Minutes of previous meetings pdf icon PDF 174 KB

a. Minutes - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee - 25 June 2021

 

b. Minutes – Extraordinary Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee - 21 September 2021

 

To confirm these minutes as a correct record insofar as they relate to the West of England Combined Authority Committee.

 

 

Additional documents:

Minutes:

a. Joint meeting – West of England Combined Authority Committee & West of England Joint Committee – 25 June 2021

 

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the joint meeting of the West of England Combined Authority Committee and the West of England Joint Committee held on 25 June 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair insofar as they relate to the Combined Authority Committee.

 

b. Extraordinary Joint meeting – West of England Combined Authority Committee & West of England Joint Committee – 21 September 2021

 

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the extraordinary joint meeting of the West of England Combined Authority Committee and the West of England Joint Committee held on 21 September 2021 be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chair insofar as they relate to the Combined Authority Committee.

 

5.

Chair's announcements

Minutes:

The Chair referred to the key item for discussion at this meeting regarding the Green Recovery Fund. He pointed out that the proposal now was to create a fund with a view to leveraging £50m through it on priority projects that target the climate and ecological emergencies, including allocating £30m from the existing Combined Authority Investment Fund headroom to contribute to the Green Recovery Fund.

 

6.

Items from the public (Questions; statements; petitions) pdf icon PDF 150 KB

WRITTEN PUBLIC QUESTIONS (written procedure)

1. Any member of the public can submit a maximum of two written questions in advance of this meeting.

2. The deadline for the submission of questions is 5.00 pm, at least 3 clear working days ahead of a meeting. For this meeting, the deadline for questions is 5.00 pm on Monday 29 November.

3. Questions should be addressed to the Chair of the meeting and e-mailed to democratic.services@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

4. Under the direction of the Chair, wherever possible, written replies to questions will be sent to questioners by the end of the working day prior to the meeting.

5. Please note - under the Combined Authority’s committee procedures, there is no opportunity for oral supplementary questions to be asked at committee meetings.

6. The written questions and replies will be circulated to committee members in advance of the meeting and published on the Combined Authority website.

 

PUBLIC STATEMENTS

1. Any member of the public may submit a written statement (or petition) to this meeting.

2. Please note that one statement per individual is permitted.

3. Statements must be submitted in writing and received by the deadline of 12 noon on the working day before the meeting. For this meeting, the deadline for statements is 12 noon on Thursday 2 December. Statements should be emailed to democratic.services@westofengland-ca.gov.uk

4. Statements will be listed for the meeting in the order of receipt. All statements will be sent to committee members in advance of the meeting and published on the Combined Authority website.

5. Please note: If any member of the public wishes to attend the meeting to orally present their statement, they are asked please to notify the Combined Authority’s Democratic Services team of this at the point when their statement is submitted and by 12 noon on the working day before the meeting at the very latest. Statements to be presented physically at the meeting will be listed in the order of receipt of notification. The total time available for the public session at this meeting is 30 minutes.

 

All members of the public attending to present statements are requested please to take a Covid-19 lateral flow test 24 hours before the day of the meeting.  Due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions, it may be necessary to limit the number of people who can physically attend the meeting.

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Chair advised that 4 questions had been submitted in advance of this meeting on the following subjects:

1. David Redgewell - Bus survey / consultation

2. David Redgewell - Rail services

3. Kim Hicks - Green belt review

4. David Saunders - Solar Together group purchase schemes

 

The Chair then confirmed that written replies had been sent to all questioners in advance of the meeting. The questions and replies had been circulated to committee members and were available to view on the Combined Authority web site.

 

The Chair then advised that 8 statements had been received in advance of the meeting.  The statements had been circulated to committee members and were available to view on the Combined Authority web site. The statements received were on the following subjects (statements were presented by those in attendance):

1. Kim Hicks - South Bristol wrong road

2. Stuart Gardner - Green Recovery Fund & green skills

3. Councillor David Orme (Dunkerton & Tunley Parish Council) - Supported bus services consultation

4. David Redgewell - Transport issues

5. Councillor Erica Williams (South Gloucestershire Council) - Statement and petition - no. 18 bus service

6. Katrina Billings - Green Recovery Fund

7. Tony Lloyd - Portishead line and Portway park & ride

8. Pete Travis - Bus services

7.

Comments from the Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership

Minutes:

Richard Bonner, Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership Board commented as follows on behalf of the Board:

* The proposed £30m allocation to the Green Recovery Fund was welcomed as a vital first step in taking forward work to tackle the climate emergency; the fund would help create a platform for future activity.

* The proposals being brought to this meeting to support projects under the UK Community Renewal Fund were also welcomed in terms of supporting businesses and promoting local opportunities.

* He also welcomed the report proposing investment in the Bristol Temple Meads eastern entrance, recognising that the Temple Quarter area is a vital asset for the region.

* The importance of retrofitting the region’s housing stock was also recognised as a key element of the region’s response to the climate emergency - securing funds for the region to achieve retrofitting targets will be a key ongoing issue.

 

8.

Comments from the Chair of the Combined Authority's Overview & Scrutiny Committee pdf icon PDF 86 KB

Minutes:

9.

Green Recovery Fund pdf icon PDF 220 KB

Decision:

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

 

1. To support the creation of the Green Recovery Fund to leverage £50m

 of resources on priority projects that target the climate and ecological

 emergencies, including allocating £30m from the existing Combined

 Authority Investment Fund headroom to contribute to the Green Recovery

 Fund.

 

2. To agree that specific proposals for expenditure from the Green Recovery

Fund be developed in collaboration with the unitary authorities and brought

to committee for approval.

 

3. To approve an initial award of £300k from the Green Recovery Fund to

expand the Innovate Housing Retrofit Scheme, as part of the Low Carbon

Challenge Fund project.

 

Minutes:

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report which sought approval for the creation of a Green Recovery Fund (agenda item 9).

 

The Chair advised that, in his view, it was vital for the committee to approve this report today to take forward action on tackling the climate emergency.  He was aware that an amendment to this report was to be proposed by the other authority Leaders. He expressed concern about the content of the amendment as from his perspective, the proposals put forward were inappropriate and he could not support the amendment as some elements of it referred to unrelated projects which did not have any connection to climate change / environmental issues. He suggested it would be appropriate for the other Leaders to withdraw the amendment. He also drew attention to the financial implications of a further delay in a decision to approve the Green Recovery Fund.  He suggested that an adjournment of this meeting should take place so that members could consider these issues.

 

Mayor Rees responded by stating that in taking forward the work of the Combined Authority, it was critical to ensure that appropriate time was set aside to enable Mayors and Leaders to develop effective relationships and collaboratively discuss strategic priorities.  This should include full co-production of proposals across the authorities, including committee reports.  This in turn would contribute to informed decision-taking and to building a reputation, credibility and confidence across government and private sector decision takers in the Combined Authority’s leadership and ability to deliver for the region.  In terms of the Green Recovery Fund, it was crucial to ensure robust governance of the fund to maximise its effective use in tacking the climate and ecological emergencies, also avoiding any duplication of other activity in this area. 

 

Councillor Guy stressed that he was determined that a decision should be taken at today’s meeting on the Green Recovery Fund – he was disappointed, however, that it had not been possible for time to be set aside by the Metro Mayor to enable Leaders to engage with him in a collaborative conversation in advance of this meeting, given the significance of this issue. He agreed that an adjournment of the meeting should now take place.

 

Councillor Savage advised that he had comments/questions in relation to the report but agreed that it would be appropriate for the meeting to be adjourned at this point.

 

The meeting was then adjourned at 1.08 pm

 

The meeting reconvened at 2.42 pm

 

 

The Chair then moved the report recommendations.

 

This motion was seconded by Councillor Guy.

 

The Chair then moved an amendment as follows:

 

That the Combined Authority Committee approve the following revised recommendations:

 

‘1. To support the creation of the Green Recovery Fund to leverage £50m

 of resources on priority projects that target the climate and ecological

 emergencies, including allocating £30m from the existing Combined

 Authority Investment Fund headroom to contribute to the Green Recovery

 Fund.

 

2. To agree that specific proposals for expenditure from the Green Recovery

Fund be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

10.

Green Skills and Advice prioritisation in response to Budget and Spending review pdf icon PDF 196 KB

Decision:

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To ringfence £3m of the £30m Green Recovery Fund towards a Retrofit programme subject to business case approval.

2. To allocate £200k from the Green Recovery Fund to create a Retrofit Step-Up programme and delegate the approval of a Feasibility and Development Funding Application to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.

Minutes:

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report which sought approval to ringfence £3m of the £30m Green Recovery Fund towards a retrofit programme (subject to business case approval) and to allocate £200k from the Green Recovery Fund to create a retrofit step-up programme (agenda item 10).

 

The Chair stressed that the region has the clear ambition to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and become net zero by 2030 – this must include driving forward action on the highest sources of emissions, including those caused from buildings.  It was essential to increase the pace of retrofitting properties to make them more energy efficient and move them away from gas heating; achieving this would save thousands of tons of carbon as well as creating jobs and business opportunities for residents. The report summarised the positive action already being taken forward on developing a retrofit programme and sought specific next-stage funding approvals to progress work in this area.

 

The Chair then moved the report recommendations.

 

This motion was seconded by Councillor Savage.

 

Councillor Savage welcomed the proposals as set out in the report and looked forward to the collaborative action that would be taken forward to make the biggest possible difference in this area.

 

Mayor Rees also welcomed the report, drawing attention to the place-based practical interventions that would be actioned to deliver the required action in terms of retrofitting buildings.  It would be important to deliver at pace and move ‘up to scale’, and to target action at those communities most at risk of being left behind by economic restructuring.  In terms of recommendation 2, which referred to delegating the approval of a Feasibility and Development FundingApplication to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the ChiefExecutives of the constituent councils, it was important to be clear that the term ‘in consultation with’ means that such delegations must be exercised in the spirit of full collaboration between the authorities.

 

Councillor Guy concurred with the above comments and stressed the importance of ensuring that people on the lowest incomes were not left behind as climate change action was taken forward.  It would also be important to continue to lobby government to increase funding to support retrofit.

 

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To ringfence £3m of the £30m Green Recovery Fund towards a retrofit programme subject to business case approval.

2. To allocate £200k from the Green Recovery Fund to create a Retrofit Step-Up

 programme and delegate the approval of a Feasibility and Development Funding

 Application to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief

 Executives of the constituent Councils.

 

11.

Bristol Temple Meads eastern entrance - funding pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Decision:

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

 

1. To approve the inclusion of the full cost of £23.65m for the Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance in the Investment Fund programme.

 

2. To allocate £2.226m from the Investment Fund to the Temple Quarter Regeneration Programme and delegate the approval of a Feasibility and Development Funding Application to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.

 

3. To approve the Outline Business Case for Charfield Station and the award of £2.923m to develop the Full Business Case, with provision in the programme retained for the capital tail until 2022/23 and the balance to be met through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and local contributions where possible; and to delegate approval of the Full Business Case and viability of operational services to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the unitary authority Chief Executives.

 

4. To undertake a review with the constituent authorities of the Investment Fund and all other funding streams available to the Combined Authority to ensure effective deployment of resources to maximise opportunity in delivery; the beginnings of this work to be presented to the West of England Combined Authority Committee in January 2022.

 

Minutes:

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report which sought approval for the full cost of £23.65m for the Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance in the Investment Fund programme (agenda item 11).

 

The Chair commented that Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance represented an essential component of the infrastructure that would help facilitate successful delivery of the urban regeneration of land around Temple Meads rail station. The scheme would also overcome existing and future operational issues at Temple Meads. The station had passenger capacity constraints, regularly reaching capacity during peak periods, and this problem was likely to be exacerbated in future years as demand for rail travel grew as a result of significant investment in an improved station, and new passenger rail services become available (for example, through the introduction of MetroWest services).  It was anticipated that the region will receive government funding for this vital project but this proposed allocation for approval today would ensure its delivery.

 

Mayor Rees then moved the report recommendations.

 

This motion was seconded by Councillor Guy.

 

 

Mayor Rees then moved an amendment as follows:

 

That an additional recommendation 2 be added to the report as follows:

 

‘To allocate £2.226m from the Investment Fund to the Temple Quarter Regeneration Programme and delegate the approval of a Feasibility and Development Funding Application to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.’

 

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Savage.

Voting then took place on the amendment.  All 4 members present voted unanimously in favour of the amendment.

 

Councillor Savage then moved an amendment as follows:

 

That an additional recommendation 3 be added to the report as follows:

 

To approve the Outline Business Case for Charfield Station and the award of £2.923m to develop the Full Business Case, with provision in the programme retained for the capital tail until 2022/23 and the balance to be met through the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement and local contributions where possible; and to delegate approval of the Full Business Case and viability of operational services to the West of England Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with the unitary authority Chief Executives.’

 

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Guy.

Voting then took place on the amendment.  All 4 members present voted unanimously in favour of the amendment.

 

The Mayor then moved an amendment as follows:

 

That an additional recommendation 4 be added to the report as follows:

 

‘To undertake a review with the constituent authorities of the Investment Fund and all other funding streams available to the Combined Authority to ensure effective deployment of resources to maximise opportunity in delivery; the beginnings of this work to be presented to the WECA Committee in January 2022.’

 

This amendment was seconded by Councillor Savage.

Voting then took place on the amendment.  All 4 members present voted unanimously in favour of the amendment.

The above amendments having been carried, the Combined Authority Committee then voted on the substantive motion (i.e. including the additional recommendations)  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

UK Community Renewal Fund pdf icon PDF 147 KB

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

 

To approve grant giving to the successful UK Community Renewal Fund projects, as set out in the report.

 

Minutes:

The Combined Authority Committee considered a report which provided an update on the outcome of the UK Community Renewal Fund submission and sought approval for grant giving to the successful projects (agenda item 12).

 

The Chair commented that the bids that were approved for funding by Government were announced in November, totalling £2.4m for this region

 

The Chair moved the report recommendations.

 

This motion was seconded by Councillor Guy.

 

The Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

To approve grant giving to the successful UK Community Renewal Fund projects, as set out in the report.

 

 

The Chair then closed the meeting at 3.03 p.m.