Decisions

Background / reason for decision:

This is an emergency decision taken in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. The West of England Combined Authority constitution allows the Chief Executive of the Combined Authority in cases of urgency or emergency, to take any decision on behalf of the Combined Authority (after consultation with the Mayor). This decision has been taken under this provision.

£100k of Investment Fund monies was approved as a feasibility and development application with the aim to maximise the utilisation of the apprenticeship levy within the region. The feasibility and development application sought to create relationships between the larger levy paying companies in the region, whose levy wasn’t in all cases being fully utilised, and smaller, medium sized enterprises in the region who would perhaps take on an apprentice if financial aspects could be addressed.

The SME aspect described above - support to take on an apprentice, overview of the levy and finances - is covered through one of the core strands in the Workforce for the Future (WftF) programme. The missing part is the linkage into the larger levy paying companies. Through the transfer of the £100k funds to WftF both parties outlined in the feasibility and development application – SMEs and larger levy paying companies – could be engaged and greater efficiencies and impacts would be felt than through duplicated delivery outside of WftF.

This would allow much needed support for apprenticeship placements at a time where C-19 is having a significant impact on numbers.

A change request was submitted as part of the August ‘20 Investment Fund/WECA Committee reporting cycle but was proposed to delay until the project proposal was received from the delivery partner leading on the apprenticeship strand of WftF. The reasoning for this was to make sure that the proposal adhered to the aims of the feasibility application. Now the proposal has been received, and through that confirmation that the aims of the feasibility application are met, it would be beneficial to tie the two apprenticeship strands together from the outset. The earlier decision would allow a joined-up recruitment process for resource on the project, allow for better project planning and co-ordination and lead to a more efficient, aligned and complete project that can commence imminently rather than after several months.

To agree transfer of the £100k Apprenticeship Levy funds into Workforce for the Future to enable a regional apprenticeship service, led by the Western Training Providers Network, to enable both parties outlined in the feasibility and development application – SMEs and larger levy paying companies – to be engaged with greater efficiencies and impacts.

Delegated authority has been granted to the WECA Chief Executive to take decisions on the award of Green Business Grants (through the Low Carbon Challenge Fund) in consultation with the Chief Executives of the West of England unitary authorities.

The key details of this Green Business Grant application were as follows:
Green Business grant applicant: Avon Industrial Doors Ltd
Sector: Manufacturing
Local authority area: South Gloucestershire
Project description: Based in Yate, Avon Industrial Doors are planning to replace their existing fluorescent lighting in their workshop and office areas with LED units, as well as install a 17kWp solar PV array on the roof of their warehouse building.
Project timescale: October – December 2020
Approximate annual savings analysis of the proposal:
Greenhouse gas emissions: 7.9tCO2e
Energy use: LED - 16% reduction in electricity; Solar PV - 59% of electricity use offset
Energy costs: £2,192 on electricity bills

The proposal was assessed by officers as meeting the required criteria in terms of value for money, deliverability and financial viability.

To award £8,863.20 to Avon Industrial Doors Ltd in relation to their Green Business Grant application (ref: GBG012).

Delegated authority has been granted to the WECA Chief Executive to take decisions on the award of Green Business Grants (through the Low Carbon Challenge Fund) in consultation with the Chief Executives of the West of England unitary authorities.

The key details of this Green Business Grant application were as follows:
Green Business grant applicant: Bristol Spaceworks Ltd
Sector: Real estate activities
Local authority area: Bristol
Project description: Owned and managed by Bristol Spaceworks, Redbrick House provides co-working space for small businesses with a capacity of up to 90 people. This project will replace the existing fluorescent lighting with modern energy-efficient LED units to reduce lighting energy consumption by around 60%.
Project timescale: October – November 2020
Approximate annual savings analysis of the proposal:
Greenhouse gas emissions: 3.3tCO2e
Energy use: 18% on electricity use
Energy costs: £1,030 on electricity bills

The proposal was assessed by officers as meeting the required criteria in terms of value for money, deliverability and financial viability.

To award £1,408 to Bristol Spaceworks Ltd in relation to their Green Business Grant application (ref: GBG030).

• Bus operators and transport providers are at real risk of going out of business before normality is resumed due to significantly reduced revenue income from fare box, grant awards, payments for contracted services and/or concessionary fare reimbursement for an extended period.
• Services may be reduced below an acceptable minimum level for the duration of the crisis potentially leaving some key workers unable to access work.
• Permanent loss of operators/providers would mean it would be virtually impossible to reinstate the full network coverage of bus operations and transport services after the Covid-19 crisis.
• Continuation of concessionary fare reimbursement and contracted service payments would cost no more than is currently budgeted within the Transport Levy (approx. £5m for these three elements for each quarter) but would provide immediate certainty of cash flow to all operators on a business as usual basis.
• In order to ensure the continued funding delivers appropriate services and support a number of conditions have been devised which operators will be required to accept before the funding is released – see background document. These conditions align well with other Combined Authorities across the country.
• This action would provide reassurance that operators have the support from the Transport Authority for their long-term survival and future role in the region.
• The Department for Transport has been actively encouraging Local Transport Authorities to take this step and subsequently wrote to local authorities again stating that the CBSSG restart payments had been calculated on the basis that LTAs continue providing the reimbursement and contract payments. on 25 March 2020 urging them to continue to pay operators in this way – see background document.
• This is a decision taken under the Scheme of Delegations approved by the WECA Committee. This decision has been taken under this provision.

• Pay operators from the 2020/21 concessionary travel budget the same as they would have expected to receive for Q3 Oct – Dec, irrespective of whether journeys are taken.
• Pay Community Transport providers their expected grants for Q3 Oct - Dec.
• Pay operators for the service contracts in place, irrespective of whether these are operated, again for a limited period to end of Dec.
• Payments to be offered immediately to provide certainty of cash flow, subject to the acceptance of conditions set out in background document.
• Review further payment position ahead of Q4 2020/21.