Decisions
Use the below search options at the bottom of the page to find information regarding recent decisions that have been taken by the Combined Authority’s decision making bodies.
Alternatively you can visit the officer decisions page for information on officer delegated decisions that have been taken by West of England Combined Authority officers.
27/03/2020 - Adult education - protecting learner continuity and provider stability ref: 190 Recommendations Approved
This decision was taken in light of the
COVID-19 pandemic and the very difficult challenges this presents
to the delivery of adult education across the West of England.
During this difficult time, the Combined Authority considers it is
critical to maintain as much ‘normality’ and continuity
of provision wherever this is possible. The Combined Authority
wishes to reassure adult education providers that it will take all
reasonable steps to ensure continuity of learning where this is
possible, and to protect the stability of the provider base.
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.
Decision Maker: Chief Executive, West of England Combined Authority
Decision published: 01/04/2020
Effective from: 27/03/2020
Decision:
In response to the current challenges, the
Combined Authority (WECA) confirms the following:
1. Payments: WECA will continue to pay providers in line with their
current payment profile (as set out in the Grant Funding
Agreements) for the remainder of the academic year unless the
provider asks WECA, in writing, to do otherwise. Some providers
have already verbally indicated that they would like payments to be
frozen. If this remains the case, providers are asked to confirm
this in writing as soon as possible.
2. In-year reconciliation: WECA will not seek to recover any
funding as a result of the mid-year review process that was
completed in February 2020 and the further review process scheduled
to take place in April / May will not proceed.
3. End-of-year reconciliation: WECA is not yet in a position to
fully confirm the authority’s intentions regarding any
potential end-of-year reconciliation of funding as this will depend
on a number of different factors. However, WECA is able to confirm
that the authority does not wish any provider to be financially
penalised or destabilised as a result of COVID-19 and therefore has
no plans to recover funds due to under-performance that may occur
as a result of the pandemic, on the condition that providers comply
with the Expectations of Providers set out below:
WECA’s position regarding end-of-year reconciliation may
however be shaped by wider government interventions and support
that may be accessed by providers in response to the pandemic.
Whilst wishing to protect the stability of providers, the authority
remains obliged to protect the public purse and therefore must
avoid the risk of double-funding arising from decisions concerning
end-of-year reconciliation.
WECA will continue to monitor the situation and will confirm the
precise approach to end-of-year reconciliation later in the year
once the actual impact on delivery and the wider context is
clearer. In the meantime, providers are asked to notify the
authority if they either apply for, or secure, other forms of
government support that relate to COVID-19.
Expectations of providers: The measures set out above are intended
to protect the stability of providers during the current crisis and
ensure that they are in a position to recommence normal delivery as
soon as it is reasonable to do so. In exchange for these measures,
providers are expected to commit to the following:
a. Protect learners: Although the authority is confident that this
will be the case, providers are asked to make best efforts to
ensure that learners are supported to continue their learning
during the current disruption. This includes both supporting the
retention and completion of existing learners and the recruitment
of new learners where it is possible to do so (not least as this
may be a highly effective means through which to support vulnerable
and disadvantaged residents during the necessary isolation brought
about by the COVID-19 situation).
b. Protect staff: The authority intends to protect the income of
all providers irrespective of the current situation in order to
ensure that a stable and secure network of providers is intact and
able to continue delivery once normality resumes. Given this,
providers are expected to take all reasonable steps to ensure that
their staff (including agency staff) continue to be paid throughout
the crisis and avoid lay-offs. For a provider who is exclusively
funded by WECA, this should normally be entirely possible given the
protections that are outlined though it is appreciated that
providers funded from a number of sources may face different
challenges. However, if a provider is considering any staffing
changes that are likely to impact on current or future WECA
delivery, this should be discussed with the authority in
advance.
c. Protect sub-contractors: Sub-contractors are a vital component
of the West of England Adult Education system and therefore the
measures set out above are intended to support both directly funded
providers and their sub-contractors equally. As WECA is committing
to continue to pay our providers in line with their agreed profile,
the authority’s clear expectation is that WECA funded
providers ensure that their subcontractors continue to be paid as
normal.
d. Keep WECA informed: As the situation appears to be changing
rapidly, it is important that effective communication is maintained
to ensure that the authority fully understands what is happening
and is therefore in a position to respond effectively. All
providers should already have performance monitoring meetings
scheduled. It is proposed to proceed with these meetings (via TEAMs
virtual meeting arrangements) but to predominantly focus on how
providers are responding to COVID-19. Providers are also asked to
complete and submit the new Monthly Claim Report and associated
risk-register. This may prove to be particularly important if
current challenges make it more difficult to rely on the
Individualised Learner Record. To avoid the risk of double-funding
it is particularly important that providers inform WECA of any
applications or grants of funding from central government or other
relevant organisations that may impact on their WECA adult
education delivery.
4. Allocations for 2020: WECA remains confident that the authority
will be in a position to confirm indicative allocations for 2020 on
10th April 2020 as was originally planned. The authority also
expects to be in a position to continue the implementation of the
2020/21 Planning and Allocations process broadly as planned (though
the authority will continue to monitor the situation and is willing
to consider any reasonable adjustment that providers may
request).
Lead officer: Patricia Greer
20/03/2020 - Appointment of an Independent Member of the Combined Authority's Audit Committee ref: 189 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. That Mr Mark Hatcliffe be formally appointed as an Independent Member of the WECA Audit Committee.
2. That the remuneration for the independent member be 1% of the Mayor’s salary and be set at £650 per annum as previously recommended by the Independent Remuneration Panel and endorsed by the WECA Committee at its meeting on 31 January 2020.
20/03/2020 - Adult Education Budget - approach and draft allocations for the 2020/21 academic year ref: 188 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. To approve the proposed approach for the management and administration of devolved AEB for the 2020/21 academic year.
2. To approve the proposed draft provider AEB allocations for the 2020/21 academic year.
3. To approve the request to provide delegated authority to the WECA Chief Executive, in consultation with the Chief Executive Officers of WECA’s constituent authorities to:
a. Confirm final provider allocations once agreed provider curriculum delivery plans are in place.
b. Make in-year exceptions funding decisions.
c. Make in-year growth funding decisions.
d. Make decisions on provider re-allocations at mid-year and end-of-year points.
e. Make decisions relating to distribution of funding for continuing learners.
f. Make decisions relating to procurement of WECA’s devolved provision.
20/03/2020 - Investment Fund ref: 187 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED
(unanimously):
1. To approve the Full Business Case for Wraxall Road Roundabout Signal Scheme and award of £5.199m subject to finalising the economic case and Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
2. To note the award of £548k of funding for the West of England Station Enhancements Project through DfT’s Access for All programme and the allocation of up to £552k match funding through the Investment Fund, subject to business case.
3. To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for the Bus Strategy Infrastructure Programme and award of £1.5m to progress a Full Business Case.
4. To approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Applications set out in Appendix 2 and award of £1m.
5. To delegate approval of the detailed scoping of the Strategic Rail Investment and Bus Strategy Infrastructure Programme development work to the WECA Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the Directors of the constituent councils.
6. To approve the change request and award of £585k of Love Our High Streets funding for the Keynsham Town Centre project subject to confirmation that all funding is in place and the Monitoring and Evaluation plan is extended to cover the additional outputs/outcomes.
7. To delegate grant giving for Workforce for the Future to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.
8. To decline the request for a further £300k of development funding for the Bath College Digital and Creative Innovation Centre.
9. To approve the change requests for schemes within the current programme as set out in Appendix 3.
20/03/2020 - Combined Authority & Mayoral revenue budget outturn report, April 2019 - January 2020 ref: 186 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED
(unanimously):
1. To note the Mayoral Fund and WECA revenue forecasts as set out in Appendices 1 and 2.
2. To delegate the award of grants to Community Transport providers for 2020/21 to the WECA Director of Infrastructure.
3. To approve a drawdown of £57k against the WECA General Reserve to fund the No.17 bus route between Southmead Hospital and Keynsham from April 2020 to February 2021; the reserve to be replenished upon the receipt of new revenue bus funding from government.
20/03/2020 - Adoption of Joint Local Transport Plan ref: 185 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. That the final version of the Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP4) be adopted subject to minor amendments as set out in the addendum to the report (the full detail of the addendum is set out below).
ADDENDUM - minor amendments to the Joint Local Transport Plan:
Changes to the final version of the Joint Local Transport Plan 4 (JLTP4) following its publication are set out below.
In respect of minor amendments relating to the Paris Agreement:
Amendment 1: The first minor amendment is to add a new paragraph on page 6 of the document into the opening section detailing ‘Climate Change and the Challenge Ahead’, to be titled:
JLTP4 and the Paris Agreement
And to read:
In line with and taking account of the Paris Agreement, the JLTP4 is fully committed to reducing carbon. The JLTP4 has a significantly positive role to play in meeting the UK’s international obligations through providing a well-connected and sustainable transport network which accelerates the shift towards low carbon trips, supporting sustainable development and the take up of Ultra Low Emission Vehicles to decarbonise transport. In many respects, with the commitment to be carbon neutral by 2030, the JLTP4 goes beyond the Paris Agreement. Looking ahead, the next JLTP as outlined above will serve to strengthen this role. As described in the following section, Central Government will be expected to play its role.
Amendment 2: The second minor amendment relates to the JLTP’s Strategic Environmental Assessment (the SEA). This is covered in Section 13: Environmental, equalities and health impact assessments of the JLTP4. A new paragraph to be added to the introduction section on page 147. This to read:
The SEA takes into account the requirements of the Paris Agreement through including climatic factors as one of the environmental baseline topic areas. Alongside this are the two SEA objectives to ‘Reduce transport related carbon emissions in line with national targets’ (SEAO3) and ‘Adapt transport network to effects of climate change and minimise the vulnerability of transport network to flood risk’ (SEAO4). For SEA03, the SEA noted that numerous policies within the JLTP4 will have a minor or potential major positive effect whilst for SEAO4 strategic and major transport infrastructure schemes will have to be designed to take into account the effects of climate change in line with national policy and best practice design.
In respect of minor amendments that were considered as part of the West of England authorities’ governance processes:
Amendment 3: The third minor amendment relates to the Case Study: South East Bristol Orbital Low Carbon Corridor case study. The following wording on p75 of the document to be deleted:
An orbital corridor to the South East of Bristol, which could connect the A4 to the A37 and further into South Bristol forms part of the JTS.
Amendment 4: The fourth minor amendment relates to Section 8: Local Connectivity
The current paragraph on page p87 of the document which reads:
We will work with key housing developers, employers, education providers and leisure sites from an early stage of planning to ensure that funding for walking and cycling infrastructure is considered from the outset. This will ensure that new developments prioritise walking and cycling.
To be amended to read:
We will work with key housing developers, employers, education providers and leisure sites from an early stage of planning to ensure that funding for walking and cycling infrastructure forms part of the design from the outset. This will ensure that new developments prioritise walking and cycling.
2. That delegation is given to the WECA Director of Infrastructure and WECA Director of Investment and Corporate Services to identify the resources required, through re-prioritisation of investment funding, to sufficiently progress the JLTP5 process; the anticipated breakdown of spend to be reported to the June WECA committee, prior to which all spend will be agreed by the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with constituent authority Chief Executives.
20/03/2020 - Local Enterprise Partnership One Front Door funding programme ref: 184 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED (unanimously):
1. To note the submission of the Healthy Ageing Challenge Fund Expression of Interest, and, should the outcome be successful, to delegate the use of funds received and the submission of the Stage 1 business case to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.
2. To delegate grant giving for Workforce for the Future to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England Chief Executives.
3. To approve the change requests for schemes within the Local Growth Fund programme as set out in Appendix 2.
4. To approve the Watershed development phase 1 and award of £500k subject to Bristol City Council confirming arrangements for repayment, securing all match funding and finalising the Monitoring and Evaluation Plan.
5. To approve the change requests for schemes within the Economic Development Fund (EDF) and Revolving Infrastructure Fund programmes as set out in Appendix 3.
20/03/2020 - Local Enterprise Partnership & Invest Bristol and Bath revenue budget outturn report, April 2019 - January 2020 ref: 183 Recommendations Approved
Decision Maker: Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Made at meeting: 20/03/2020 - Joint meeting - West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee
Decision published: 30/03/2020
Effective from: 28/03/2020
Decision:
The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED:
1. To note the LEP budget as set out in Appendix 1.
2. To note the IBB Budget as set out in Appendix 2.