Agenda item

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 Tuesday 17 January 2023.

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 Friday 20 January 2023. 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.

For those presenting their statements at the meeting, up to 3 minutes ‘speaking time’ is permitted for each statement. The total time available for the public session at this meeting is 30 minutes.

Four questions had been received from two members of the public in advance of the meeting.  These questions and replies had been published on the Authority’s website and had been circulated.

In addition two statements had been received from members of the public in advance of the meeting.  These two members of the public attended the meeting to submit their statements in person: David Redgewell, South West Transport Network and Railfuture Severnside and Robbie Bentley, Bristol Disabled Equalities Forum.  The statements had been published on the Authority’s website and had been circulated.

The Metro Mayor Dan Norris attended the meeting and participated in a question and answer session with members of the Committee.  During the session the following matters were discussed:

• Members referred to the volume of papers they were required to read in the brief period of time following publication of the agenda and papers for the Combined Authority and Joint Committee meetings.  Concerns were raised that Members were unable to consider the reports in sufficient detail due to their length and complexity and given the time constraint.  It was noted that further consideration as to how this issue could be addressed would be undertaken subsequent to the meeting.   
• The Metro Mayor acknowledged the importance of scrutiny and encouraged the work of the Combined Authority to be challenged.  He further indicated his support for the introduction of a process that allowed a vigorous and honest exchange of views.
• The Chair commented that Scrutiny Committees in the other Combined Authorities appeared to be more proactive and selective in the issues considered and suggested this would be a positive approach to adopt.   Other suggestions put forward which could aid the Committee included: providing a precis version of the reports; providing links to the business cases in reports; include additional information regarding the effects on individual Council Wards,  and; consider introducing a case management system which might help with the perception of openness and transparency at the Combined Authority.   
• Members had seen and endorsed the action plan relating to the Auditors’ Governance Report, in particular the section on relationships. They invited the Metro Mayor to comment on whether, in his view, working relationships with the leaders of the constituent Councils had improved.  He responded by noting that relationships were complex and that it was important to be honest about disagreements and about how to get things done.   He also acknowledged the importance of adopting a strategic approach to regional government.
• Members expressed concern regarding the Equalities Impact Assessment and consultation for the Bus Services Improvement Plan (BSIP).
• Members felt it would be important to support Direct Response Travel (DRT).
• The Committee referred to the increase in staff at the Combined Authority as a result of it becoming an Integrated Transport Authority.  The Metro Mayor advised that the anticipated transfer of Transport Officers from Bristol City Council to the Combined Authority upon its creation had not occurred, resulting in the Combined Authority having to recruit to fill those important roles.       
• Cllr Riddle invited the Metro Mayor to comment on the large number of vacancies in PR and Communications currently being advertised by the Combined Authority.  The Metro Mayor confirmed that they were all required.
• Members noted that there were challenges in spending the CRSTS award of £0.5 billion quickly as many of the projects were still in the business case development phase.
• Members expressed concerns in relation to the Benefit Cost Ratio (BCR) with respect to utilising remaining funds within the Transforming Cities Fund (TCF) and whether the BCR is still sound when transferring funds. 
• Members queried whether the Combined Authority’s treasury management supported environmental and social aims. 
• Members queried whether Overview and Scrutiny meetings could be broadcast live and recorded as per the Combined Authority Committee and Joint Committee meetings.  Officers confirmed that in future Scrutiny meetings could be held at the Combined Authority’s new offices at 70 Redcliff Street where there would be conference facilities to enable them to be broadcast.    
• The Committee asked for earlier dialogue with officers on the budget construction and assumptions in November 2023. They also asked for an additional session in January 2024 to scrutinise the budget.     
• Members also requested that a work programme be put in place which would help to decide in advance the items that they would like to focus on.  This should include the setting up of working groups, especially with the expansion of the Combined Authority functions.
• Councillor Steve Smith asked about the possibility of constitutional changes with, for example, the Metro Mayor not having a vote on the Combined Authority’s budget. The Monitoring Officer confirmed that constitutional changes required unanimous agreement at committee meetings and changes to the Order would require parliamentary time to make necessary statutory changes.

The Chair thanked the Metro Mayor for his attendance at the meeting.