Decisions

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Approve the change requests for schemes within the Local Growth Fund programme as set out in Appendix 1.

2. Approve the change requests for schemes within the Economic Development Fund and Revolving Infrastructure Fund programmes set out in Appendix 2.

3. To delegate grant award decisions for the Research and Innovation Challenge Fund to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England UA Chief Executives.

4. To conditionally approve the £500k application to the Low Carbon Challenge Fund from Ambition Community Energy Ltd. 

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) revenue outturn as set out in Appendix 1.

2. Note the Invest Bristol & Bath revenue outturn as set out in Appendix 2.

3. Approve the net underspend on core LEP activities of £163k to be transferred to the LEP general reserve.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Endorse the Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (at Appendix A).

2. Endorse the proposed arrangements for the Environment Officer steering group (as set out at para 4.6).

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Endorse the Joint Green Infrastructure Strategy (at Appendix A). 

2. Endorse the proposed arrangements for the Environment Officer steering group (as set out at para 4.6).

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

- To note this update report on climate emergency planning and development of the Climate Emergency Action Plan.

The West of England Combined Joint Committee RESOLVED:

- To note this update report on climate emergency planning.

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to:

- Agree the Memorandum of Understanding at Appendix A.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To agree the Memorandum of Understanding at Appendix A.

2. To agree the proposed draft Spatial Development Strategy (SDS) programme subject to ongoing review, draft at Appendix B.

3. To note the funding request to support the strategic evidence base work required including the transport modelling work (as referenced in the Investment Fund report elsewhere on the agenda).

4. Agree the process for progressing the WECA Statement of Common Ground and the cross-boundary issues to be considered. Officers are asked to work through the detail of the Statement of Common Ground with the Planning & Housing Board and to report back progress to a future WECA/Joint Committee (an example structure/contents page for a Statement of Common Ground was set out at Appendix C).

5. That officers work with the Planning & Housing Board and Transport Board to develop and agree the ongoing non-statutory engagement programme for the SDS and report back progress to a future WECA/Joint Committee.

6. To agree the proposed officer support for the SDS process.

7. To agree the governance and decision-making process for the SDS.

8. To note and support the North Somerset update on progress with their local plan.

9. That the following wording be added to the report narrative (section 1 of the report):

‘The ambition to achieve a better and more sustainable future for all in the area will take account of UN Sustainable Development Goals. Using the framework of the Sustainable Development Goals will help to recognise the interdependence of social issues, for example hunger (SDG 1); health (SDG 3); education (SDG 4);  gender equality (SGD 5); decent work and economic growth (SDG8); strong infrastructure (SDG 9); sustainable cities and communities (including housing) (SDG 11), sustainable environment (climate change, life in the sea, life on land, and responsible production and consumption) (SDGs 11, 13,14,15). This will support the commitment to promote and ensure clean and inclusive growth so that everyone shares in the future opportunities for growth and renewal.

The UN SDGs will inform work on the cross boundary strategic issues as worked through in the Statement of Common Ground (see section 6 below).’

10. That as officers work through the detail of the Statement of Common Ground with the Planning & Housing Board, they will report back progress to a future WECA/Joint Committee which will include an update of how the SDGs have been incorporated as part of the development process.

1. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to endorse the change to scope (extension to Westbury to be progressed) for MetroWest 1a on the condition that the business case is produced and approved; and to delegate responsibility for approving the business case for this to the WECA CEO in conjunction with UA CEOs.

2. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate the responsibility for signing the Implementation Agreement for MetroWest 1a with Network Rail to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with UA CEOs, subject to funding.

3. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate the responsibility for signing the MetroWest Phase 1a Inter-Authority Agreement to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with the UA CEOs, subject to funding.

4. The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to delegate the responsibility for agreeing procurement strategies for MetroWest 1b for detailed design and construction to the WECA and NSC CEOs, subject to funding.  

5. The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for signing Implementation Agreements and Asset Protection Agreements for MetroWest 1b with Network Rail to the WECA CEO and NSC CEOs, subject to funding. 

6. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to endorse the change to scope for MetroWest 2 (extension to Gloucester) on the condition that the business case is updated, approved and represents good value for money.  

7. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for signing a revised Inter-Authority Agreement for MetroWest 2 to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with UA CEOs, subject to funding.  

8. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for signing the novation of the MetroWest Phase 2 Network Rail Development Services Agreement to the WECA CEO, subject to funding. 

9. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for signing Implementation Agreements for MetroWest 2 with Network Rail to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with UA CEOs, subject to funding. 

10. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for agreeing procurement strategies for delivery of the Access for All (AfA) station enhancements to the WECA CEO. 

11. The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to delegate the approval of the Bristol Temple Meads Eastern Entrance Full Business Case to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with UA CEOS, to a maximum value of £26.645m (which includes the £2.5m already awarded).

12. The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to delegate responsibility for agreeing the programme of schemes for the 10 Year Delivery Plan for rail investment in the West of England to the WECA CEO, in conjunction with UA CEOs and Strategic Rail Board, should new Department for Transport funding for rail become available during 2020.

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED:

1. To agree the West of England Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan for adoption as the first step to develop a more detailed local cycling and walking strategy.

2. To note the summary of feedback from public consultation.

3. To note linkages with, and impacts of, the Covid-19 lockdown on cycling and walking strategy and delivery.

4. To delegate the agreement of any subsequent minor changes to the adopted Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan to the WECA Director of Infrastructure.

5. To agree the delegation of decisions on the final content of route plans for the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan document to the WECA Director of Infrastructure in consultation with the relevant Directors of the West of England Councils. 

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To agree the strategic criteria for initial prioritisation.

2. To agree the prioritised corridors.

3. To agree to the principles set out in Section 7 for progressing Operator Agreements. 

4. To note progress on the Mass Transit project and Bath Transport Study.

5. To agree to the creation and funding of the Bristol to Bath Strategic Corridor programme and agree the suggested delivery approach.

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED:

1. To agree the West of England Bus Strategy for adoption.

2. To note the summary of feedback from public consultation.

3. To note linkages with the programme of bus infrastructure (as per the separate report on the agenda).

 4. To note linkages with, and impacts of, the COVID-19 lockdown on bus operations and strategy delivery and alignment to the bus recovery report (as per the separate report on the agenda).

5. To delegate the agreement of any subsequent minor changes to the adopted Bus Strategy to the WECA Director of Infrastructure.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

- To note the report.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To note the current position on bus network recovery.

2. To approve the continuation of concessionary fare reimbursement payments to bus operators at pre-Covid levels for a further 3 months to the end of September 2020.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Allocate £5m to support West of England businesses during the 2020 early phase of economic recovery advised by the Covid-19 Economic Recovery Taskforce and, where there is urgency, to delegate the approval of the business case(s) to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils.

2. Approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for Spatial Development Strategy/Local Transport Plan Evidence Base and award of £2m and delegate the award of contracts to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent Councils.

3. Delegate the approval of a Feasibility and Development Funding Application for £300k for the development of Green Infrastructure projects to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the Constituent Councils.

4. Allocate £3m from the Opportunities and Challenges allocation to underwrite Department for Transport Emergency Active Travel Funding to be repaid on receipt of these funds.

5. Allocate £10m for walking and cycling infrastructure and to delegate approval of Feasibility and Development Funding Applications up to £1m to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the Chief Executives of the constituent councils.

6. Approve the Feasibility and Development Funding Application for North Keynsham Masterplanning and the award of £250k.

7. Conditionally approve the I-START Outline Business Case and the award of £300k through the current Feasibility and Development Funding Application to continue to progress the design and development.

8. Approve the Careers Hub and Enterprise Adviser Network Full Business Case and award of £174k subject to the conditions set out in paragraph 32 of the report.

9. Delegate grant award decisions for the Research and Innovation Challenge Fund to the WECA Chief Executive in consultation with the West of England UA Chief Executives.

10. Approve the change requests for schemes within the current programme as set out in Appendix 2.

11. Amend the approved capital programme for individual project approvals agreed at the 20 March 2020 Committee and within this report.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Treasury Management Report to 31st March 2020, prepared in accordance with the CIPFA Treasury Code of Practice.

2. Note the Treasury Management Indicators to 31st March 2020.

3. Note that in order to assist West of England Unitary Authorities with cashflow challenges as a result of Covid-19, WECA will be implementing a ‘short term loan facility’, within the parameters of the approved Treasury Management Strategy, as detailed in Appendix 8.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to:

1. Note the Mayoral Fund revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 1.

2. Note the WECA revenue outturn as detailed in Appendix 2.

3. Approve the carry forward of £77k net overspend against the 2019/20 revenue transport levy in to 2020/21 to be set against the Transport smoothing reserve.

4. Approve the transfer of £500k from the 2019/20 revenue surplus to a specific reserve to address the estimated shortfall of business rates retention in 2020/21.

5. Approve the transfer of £51k from the 2019/20 revenue surplus into the WECA General Reserve.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED:

1. To agree the changes proposed to the Authority’s constitution.  

2. To approve the calendar of public meetings shown at Appendix 1. 

3. To approve the Pay Policy Statement at Appendix 2.

The West of England Combined Authority Committee RESOLVED to note:

1. The progress in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

2. The financial implications of the pandemic on the Combined Authority.

3. The emergency decisions made by the WECA CEO in consultation with the Mayor of the West of England on Adult Education Budget provider funding and Bus operator funding.

4. The next steps for the Regional Economic Recovery Taskforce and discussions with Government.

The West of England Joint Committee RESOLVED to note:

1. The progress in responding to the Covid-19 pandemic.

2. The financial implications of the pandemic on the Combined Authority.

3. The emergency decisions made by the WECA CEO in consultation with the Mayor of the West of England on Adult Education Budget provider funding and Bus operator funding.

4. The next steps for the Regional Economic Recovery Taskforce and discussions with Government.