Agenda item

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.

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 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.’

The amendment was seconded by Councillors Guy and Savage.

Mayor Rees welcomed the amendment as it was crucial to press forward with work through the Green Recovery Fund. He also reiterated his earlier point about the importance of Mayors and Leaders being able to maintain regular collaborative discussions on key strategic issues such as this moving forwards.

Councillor Guy welcomed the fact that it had been possible to secure support for this amendment, to enable the Green Recovery Fund to be approved at this meeting; this was critical to the region’s ambition to achieve net zero carbon by 2030; he looked forward to the detailed reports on specific proposals that would come back to the committee.

Councillor Savage advised that he was supportive of the amendment; he added that it would have been helpful if there had been an earlier opportunity for Mayors and Leaders to discuss these matters in detail in advance of today’s meeting, and that collaborative meetings of Mayors and Leaders should be held on a regular basis, and this could be an important lesson to learn moving forwards. It will also be critical to focus on project delivery that will make a real difference in terms of the green recovery.

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

The amendment having been carried, the Combined Authority Committee then voted on the substantive motion (i.e. the revised recommendations) and

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.