Agenda item

Overview report enclosed.

The Committee considered the reports that were due to be determined by the meetings of the West of England Committee and the Joint Committee on 8 April 2022.  The Committee made comments on the reports and these were summarised and circulated to the Committees for their consideration.  These comments are attached at Appendix A.

Part 1 - West of England Combined Authority

Item 9 Mayoral Budget outturn

The committee noted this report and understood the comment about reserves.

Items 10 & 11 – Investment Fund Report (Item 10) & Investment Fund Report – Change Requests (Item 11)

The Committee noted these reports. 

Items 13 & 14 - Climate and Ecological Emergency Strategy and Action Plan (Item 13) & Green Recovery Fund (Item 14)

The Committee were pleased to see this report and have been frustrated that what was originally planned to go through in October had been delayed. The report identifies the questions to be asked of government and the actions between now and 2030 to meet the net zero objective in specific areas of transport, the built environment, business, and energy policy. The plan breaks actions down to three timelines of immediate, medium term (2024-2028) and long-term vision (2028-30). There was also a need to address the Nature Recovery and specifically to reduce chemical use to avoid the harm to pollinating insects. It was also welcomed that the CA recognises it needs to work in collaboration with regional partners, residents, businesses and with Government. UAs could only achieve whatever was in their powers including review of their own estates but had roles in bringing the right people together.  The CA was urged to help lobby government to increase local powers in this field.

The Committee also stated that more ambition was needed when designing transport upgrades such as park and rides which could be used for instance as transport hubs and/or bus depots.  All aspects of infrastructure needed to be looked at together as a whole (housing, parking, roads, schooling, park & rides, rail etc). Several instances across the region were given where the cart appears to be before the horse-e. g building housing before the infrastructure was in place to get persons to work in a sustainable transport mode. Parking revenue could be used to subsidise public transport provision for instance.

The committee look forward to regular updates and intends to ask the UK climate change committee to benchmark us against other combined authorities later this year.

Item 15 - Regional Recovery & Adaptation Fund

The Committee welcomed the report with support for groups that faced barriers to access.  The Committee requested as much support for start-up companies as possible to enable them to grow.

Item 16 - Business Case - "The Courts"

The Committee welcomed the support for the creative sector. The committee asked that given one objective was to breathe new life into an old Victorian building whether other industries could be approached in delivering skills in this task, such as building/renovation skills.

Item 17 - Business Case - "West of England Careers Hub"

The Committee was aware of a booklet that contained details of local businesses and asked that schools and careers hubs in the area had access to such information.

Item 18 - Bus services - Transport Levy

The Committee stated that any policy would have to recognise additional pressures such as fuel price increases and inflation and further recognise that ‘hedging’ against these pressures would be an additional financial pressure.

Part 2 - West of England Joint Committee

Scrutiny reiterated the importance of collaborative working amongst the Authorities, and other bodies such as the Western Gateway (on matters such as the Maritime Strategy).  They requested an update at a future meeting regarding any plans for North Somerset to join the Combined Authority, including a clear timeline/roadmap if possible, and any affect this would have on the LEP activities as outlined in the recent White Paper.