West Yorkshire Combined Authority - Thursday 16 October 2025, 11:00am - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Thursday, 16th October 2025 at 11:00am 

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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
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  1. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
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  1. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council)
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Cllr Peter Kilbane (York Council)
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  2. Cllr Carole Pattison (Kirklees Council)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Cllr Sue Holdsworth (Calderdale Council)
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  6. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  7. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  8. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  13. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  14. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  4. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  12. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  13. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  14. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  18. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Webcast Finished

Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:05
Fantastic. Thank you all so much for joining us.
And today is our combined authority meeting.
Can I take the opportunity to say that we also have a
substitute for Ben Still.
Simon is taking up the reins for Ben who is away.
You join us from Leeds City Council, I'm sorry we've stolen her, James,
where she was head of legal services and brings a wealth of experience.
Nicky.
For the years ahead as we continue to grow and strengthen our governance
and deliver for the people of West Yorkshire.
So, today let's get on with the business.
Miles, can you confirm any apologies, please?

1 Apologies for Absence

Thank you, Mayor. Apologies for absence have been received from Councillor Denise Jeffery,
attending as their substitutes respectively.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:01:15
I wonder, Miles, if you could just cheque with tech because we're having a bit of a problem with our intercoms, etc.
Thank you.
Oh, Natalie's gone. Brilliant, thank you. So moving on.
Item 2, declarations of interest.

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

No, thank you. I will keep projecting and work through the blank spots.
Item 3, exclusion of press and public.
Officers have advised that information contained in Appendix 1 to Agenda Item 10, boss franchising,
are treated as exempt under paragraph 3 of part 1 to schedule...
Because they contain information relating to the financial or business affairs of any
particular person, including the combined authority, and further that it is considered
the public interest in maintaining the content of the appendices as exempt outweighs the
public interest in disclosing the information as publication could prejudice current and
future
As wish to discuss the content of the appendices when we consider item 10
We've scheduled at the end of the meeting to help with the process. It's a substantial item
So I'm hoping we will have a good chunk of time to discuss it

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

item for minutes of the meeting held 18th of September 25

4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 18 September 2025

members any further comments or questions
No? Thank you all so much. And we're content...
Moving on to the mayor's update. I was deeply honoured to be invited by the Prime Minister

For Decision

5 Mayor's Update

to join him on his trade mission to Mumbai in India last week, alongside 125 business
leaders from across the country.
It was an incredible group of people,
and it was a privilege to represent West Yorkshire.
The mission helped to progress the UK -India free trade
free, the Free Trade Agreement signed earlier in the year,
and helped us to solidify the strong trade
links between our two nations.
And I was also really pleased that there
were three West Yorkshire businesses on that trade
Mission, Paxman Coolers, Brandon Medical, and Group Roads,
all have flying the flag for trade and investment
into West Yorkshire.
I also joined the prime minister's visit
to Yash Raj Film Studios, which I'd also
visited on my trip to Mumbai three years ago
to discuss the prospect of bringing Bollywood production
to the UK.
So I'm really thrilled the studios
have been able to commit to filming three new films over
here in the coming years.
I am making a very strong case that they come here to West Yorkshire.
I also spoke at the global FinTech Fest 2025, hundreds of thousands, it seems, of delegates
later addressed by Keir Starmer and Narinder Modi.
I was able at that panel to champion the development of the Northern Square Mile here in Leeds
and highlighted the opportunities for Indian tech firms to locate in West Yorkshire to
access UK and European markets.
And the government announced a series of investments
into the UK as part of the mission, including,
I'm pleased to say, some in West Yorkshire.
Maastec has confirmed two million pounds worth
of investment to upgrade the Leeds office,
creating 200 jobs.
And Algorithm Software announced a five million
pound investment in a new office in Leeds,
creating 53 jobs.
All of this bodes really well for the Great North
trade mission, which involves all the North's mayors going to
India in the autumn next year, planned, as I say,
for the autumn.
And at the end of last month, it was confirmed that West Yorkshire
will receive $25 million over the next three years from the
Creative Industries Growth Fund, which will help turbocharge the
growth of the sector in our region,
including contributions to one creative north that we have been
leading on.
a real vote of confidence in our plans, and I look forward to sharing details of how the
funding will help us to deliver on our cluster plans over the next few months.
And finally, a few weeks ago, I was so delighted to speak at the launch of the Turner Prize
2025 at the Cartwright Hall Art Gallery in Bradford, alongside Councillor Susan Hinchliffe,
the leader of Bradford Council.
It's the first time the prize has come to our region, and what a proud moment for Bradford
City of Culture 2025. Powerful works by four outstanding artists Nenekalu, Rini Matik,
Mohamed Sami and Zaidi Zaa and runs until the 22nd of February 2026. A brilliant opportunity
for the people of West Yorkshire to experience world class contemporary art right on our
doorstep. If you haven't been you must go, it was incredible. So enough from me, let's
progress with the rest of the meeting. Please, Councillor Lamb.
Thank you, Mayor. I think my invite to Mumbai got lost in the post. I was hoping you might
be able to provide an update on the White Rose rail stations. We were supposed to have
something in July and didn't. There was nothing in September, nothing today. So I'm hoping
perhaps you can commit that we can have an update for the next board meeting.
Thank you, Councillor Lamb. I can't tell you how frustrated I am. The public are frustrated,
I'm frustrated you're frustrated, but I just want to reassure the combined Authority
We are using every lever
every bit of effort to get to a point where we can go to the next steps and
I can commit to the next meeting. We will have more information for you, but I share your frustration
Transport is the key to growth in our region and it's going to be an amazing
Station and the public of West Yorkshire deserve that station. So I'm hoping that we can get rid of those blockages
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 0:07:34
Councillor Morley. Yes Mayor, I just want to say a massive thank you to you and all the
officers for your support in the name of the Rob Burrows train a couple of weeks
ago when it was unveiled in Castleford to see his family there and his children.
It was a fantastic event and a great honour for Rob and I know it's something
yourself and officers and other members of the combat authority have taken up and I
think it's just a really fitting tribute and it was a fantastic day so thank you
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:07:56
for your support on that. Thank you for raising that Councillor because it was
quite a moment wasn't it? It was also his birthday and it was really pleasing to
see Yvette the MP there as well. She'd come back from New York specially and
was saying to her team I cannot miss this moment it's so important to all of
us and thanks to Northern as well and it's a great design and inside the train
there is also a timeline of Rob's achievements which is always very
humbling and what an extremely powerful moment it was and what courage he showed.
And for those that may not have seen at Labour Party Conference, I also used his quote to
galvanise all of us, whatever political party we are, to lean more into ambition and optimism.
So thank you for that, Councillor Morley.
Also very quickly, just to say, on the 26th of October, we have a Reclaim the Night march
across the whole of our region. So please do look out for that in your emails, etc.
So that's the end of the town hall comments. But I'm very grateful that you raised that.
Thank you, Councillor. And thank you, Councillor Lamb. Rest assured,
we are on it. Okay. So moving on to project approvals, cross
cutting approvals. And this is item 6. The first item is proposing

6 Project Approvals

750 ,000 pound extension to my cost of living emergency fund, extending the delivery timeframe
to April 2027. The schemes had an incredible impact so far and will continue to do so over
the course of the next year, helping people in our region who need the most help at these
challenging times. The biggest success from the previous round
has been in support of benefits, advice and guidance, putting more money into people�s
often through the local Citizens Advice Bureau and really impactful.
And I know our local authority partners intend to continue with that support.
The fund generated two pound of impact for every one pound spent,
a clear demonstration of how targeted funding can make a real difference to communities.
I'm delighted we are able to extend the programme.
Can I invite Sarah Eaton, our Director of Strategy, Communications and Intelligence,
To take us through the recommendations, please Sarah
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:10:23
Thank you, man. And and as you've just rightly pointed out this is an extension into April 20 and 27
and an extension in funding of
750 ,000 pounds so I think
For an additional so it's targeting an additional five thousand four hundred beneficiaries
The previous programme had some really successful outcomes as part of the evaluation independent evaluation programme that that took part and we actually
targeted or touched around 61 ,000 people through that funding so the value for
money impact of investing that resource in communities has been
kind of well received. So I think essentially what we're looking to today

6 a) Project Approvals - Cross Cutting Approvals - Delivering Benefits to the People of West Yorkshire

to get that extension into April 2027 it's not really as long as the previous
scheme I think that's that's predominantly because we need to make
sure that this fund continues to kind of be responsive and reflective and also
kind of linking to other work that we take in place particularly around work
and health and other activity that colleagues and local authorities are delivering. The
money will be provided directly to local authorities who will then enter into agreements with the
voluntary community sector in their particular part. So lots of outputs from that particular
work, not only for the individuals within the schemes but also the voluntary community
sector as well who have benefited ultimately from that resource. So I'll stop speaking
there but obviously a really important scheme in terms of investing in local people.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:11:45
Thank you. And I think the numbers speak for themselves that the change will allow the
scheme to support an additional 5 ,400 beneficiaries targeting work less households and individuals
experiencing in -work poverty. And I'm hoping that our Healthy Working Life programme can
also then lean into that cohort of people who are struggling to support them to get
well and to get into a position where they're ready to look for work.
Thank you so much. Any comments? Thank you. Councillor Lamb.
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:12:25
Thank you, Mayor. I'm happy to support the paper and my only question is that I appreciate we're trying to make the report briefer, which is welcome.
But in this instance it would be useful outside the meeting just to get a bit more detail and some figures and numbers about what's worked well and what hasn't.
Because if things are working well, my view is let's do more of it.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:12:42
And I just want to thank my local authority partners for this, because they know their
communities better than we will ever know them.
And the outcomes have been very impressive.
And I think it was almost double the amount of people we thought we'd reach in the first
cohort.
So I want to thank everybody at local authority level for their commitment to particularly
around CAB and benefits advice and mental health support.
So thank you.
So with that, this is Nikki's first meeting and she's asked me to sharpen up how we make
and record decisions at these meetings.
So I'll be asking for a show of hands for those in favour, for those abstaining and for
those voting against the recommendations we're bringing forward.
So on each item in this Combined Authority meeting,
we will be going through that process.
So I think we've had a general consensus historically,
which is perfectly legitimate.
But I think Nicky has brought rigour from Leeds.
So we are going to be able to then record how people vote.
Whilst we do know that Council Lamb voted against bus
franchising, we do know that we will
be able to have more clarity about who does what.
So thank you so much, right so
With the recommendations we approve the change request to increase funding for the mayor's cost of living emergency fund by
750 ,000 to
3 .75 million and extend delivery to April
2027 we delegate the authority to the chief executive to enter into addendums to existing funding agreements with partner
councils we approve
future decisions follow the assurance pathway and tolerances outlined in the
report and note that no programme level risk or contingency allowance has been
established for this scheme. Can those in favour of the recommendations please
raise your hand in favour. Thank you. In favour, do I vote as well? I vote as well
yes. Thank you very much Nikki, thank you very much everyone. Those against. For all
those abstaining? Thank you. Brilliant. Moving on to project 6B, project approvals, investment
priority one, good jobs and resilient businesses. The next item on the agenda is a bit of a
complicated one and relates to a previous broadband infrastructure programme that predated
my morality. With that in mind, can I turn to Felix Kumeyampofo, our Director of Inclusive

6 b) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 1 - Good Jobs and Resilient Business (Including Entrepreneurialism)

economy skills and culture to take us through the recommendations please.
Felix.
Thank you, Mary.
Good morning everybody.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:15:28
As the mayor said, this is about a project – confusingly we refer to this also as gainshare,
but it's not the gainshare that we usually talk about.
This is about broadband dividend on the back of investment that was made a few years ago.
Earlier this year, we came to you for a decision which you were happy to give us for us to
be able to redeploy some of the money that has accrued back to our local authority partners
across West Yorkshire and York to make up for funding investment that they made at the
beginning of this process.
You were happy to give us that approval.
Unfortunately, going through the documentation, it became clear that we should have clarified
at the time that the funding can only be used for digital capital expenditure.
So we've come back, intentionally still the same funding will be deployed across our local
authorities but we need to just make sure it's used for the purpose that it was set
out at the outset.
There is always, as ever with these things, a risk of blowback.
We expect that we believe this is a very low risk but there's always that risk and so we
need to make sure the funding is used appropriately as the accountable body for this.
So that's why we've brought this back, just to clarify the decision that was made.
The intention remains the same.
Thank you. Councillor Scullion.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:57
Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council) - 0:17:03
Thank you. Important really that we hang on to the money that we do get distributed to us
and that we don't face the possibility of clawback.
I just wanted to say that I'm very strongly in favour of investment in our digital infrastructure.
I think it's as important as our highways.
We spend a lot of time talking about potholes, but actually we need to be modern and talk about the digital infrastructure.
In a place like Calderdale, semi -rural, in terms of businesses that people want to start up,
and they find themselves constrained because of uploading speech in particular.
I've used this example before.
Somebody with a business involving learning Japanese
has to walk to the next village in order
to find a place with the upload speeds
he needs to run his international business.
Now, Japanese learning in Codedale
are not worth using the same sentence very often.
But actually, if we want to be globally connected,
then we have to have that kind of digital infrastructure.
So yes, we welcome this.
and actually when we're talking about investment for the future, let's make sure that we give
in digital infrastructure as much attention as some of the other things.
Thank you, Councillor Scullion, and we do have lots of Japanese tourists that come to
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:18:15
Halifax, so there are connexions there. But I would also say we have a very good news
storey to tell about West Yorkshire with our digital speeds and our digital connectivity,
but it has to reach everywhere. So if you want, did you want to come back on that, Felix?
Yes, Councillor Kilbourn.
Cllr Peter Kilbane (York Council) - 0:18:38
And as a non -voting member of this body and with it reaching everywhere, I bring thanks from York.
I think this is a really good example of how the sum of the parts is greater than the whole and what we can all achieve together.
I know there's a review going on of lot 8, very happy to contribute to that review, but this really is making a difference on the ground where it matters.
So thanks again from York.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:19:02
In our white rose agreement with the mayor of York and North Yorkshire, we do work very
closely together.
So your connectivity is also our connectivity, so I'm pleased to hear that.
OK.
So with the recommendation, are the combined authority happy to approve the delegation
to the chief executive to authorise the use of 6 .3 million broadband gains share fund
for capital investment in digital infrastructure?
Those in favour of the recommendations, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
Those against?
Abstaining?
Thank you so much.
Moving on.

6 c) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 3 - Creating Great Places and Accelerated Infrastructure

Item 6C, this is now the item relating to our Brownfield Housing Fund programme and
our continued investment in bringing forward new development in our region.
The additional funding we've received from government will help us unlock even more homes
on those unused sites.
And this update includes a change to Bradford City Village phase one business case
It's going to help us ensure the funding agreement can be finalised and the scheme can move forward
Can I invite councillor Matthew Morley to speak to the proposals then Liz Hunter our director of policing?
Environment and place to take us through the recommendations councillor Morley
Thank you for that mayor really happy to introduce this report
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 0:20:19
I mean, there's the Bradford City Village phase one. You're gonna be a fantastic transformer
Scheme for Bradford. So really pleased with this. So can I please pass over to Liz will take us really poor. Thank you
Thank you
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:20:33
And also to say before Liz comes in that Bradford has recently won a couple of awards for your city centre regeneration
So congratulations to Bradford and Liz
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:20:45
Thank you. So as you've already pointed out may they for the Brownfield housing fund
This is welcome additional funding
And so this is a change request to the programme to accept the funding into the programme and also to extend the delivery timetable to
March 20 29 in terms of Bradford City Village. We brought before you and the different phases
This is a kind of minor technical change really to enable us to enter into a grant funding agreement
potentially the different
Organisation potentially the registered provider instead of ECF so that gives us that flexibility as we work through the through the detail if your mind
to give us that delegation today.
And then thirdly, in part of this paper,
there's also the National Poetry Centre,
which as the board will remember,
we supported the National Poetry Centre
putting in a funding as to government of 5 million pounds.
And we were grateful.
It was great that we then had that confirmed.
And we've been working with the National Poetry Centre
to bring forward the business case that you
see in front of you today.
This is to unlock some of the early phase development
funding in order for us to progress to the next stage in the decision points and so it's
enabling us to then pass that over to the National Poetry Centre to carry on the development
work and moving from Rieber stage 1 onwards. So those are the three recommendations for
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:21:58
this paper, Mayor. Thank you. Okay. Any comments on those? Yes,
Councillor Lamb. Sorry, it's been very pedantic, but there
are quite a lot of mistakes through the whole agenda pack today.
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:22:11
Clerical errors, I'll still be supporting the paper, but for example on 3 .14 when it
gives us a link to click more details of the scheme for the Bradford City Village, it takes
us to the National Poetry Centre and there are quite a number of spelling mistakes through
the paper as well, so just to flag that up.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:22:32
Thank you and certainly your diligence is very welcome.
Thank you and we will feed that back.
We try very hard to move at speed with these papers, so occasionally errors will occur.
But I'm sure my colleagues will be hanging their heads in shame that there were spelling
errors when we have spell cheque on computers.
But thank you and apologies for that.
Okay, so let's move on to the approvals.
can we approve the increase of Brownfield Housing Programme funding by 21 ,043 ,998 pounds
from 89 ,038 ,292 pounds to 110 ,082 ,290 pounds, extend the delivery time scales to the 31st
of March, 2029 and note that future business cases will be presented for project approvals
and funding agreements.
Those in favour of the recommendations, please raise your hand.
Those against?
Anyone abstaining?
Thank you.
And now moving on to approval for a change to the Bradford City Village Phase 1 Outline

6 d) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 4 - Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental Sustainability

Business Case to delegate authority to the Chief Executive to amend the grant funding
agreement entity name if required and note continued approval in principle for up to
£13 ,166 ,409 from the Brownfield Housing Fund, subject to conditions agreed on the 3rd of
April 2025. Those in favour of the recommendations please raise your hand. Anyone against? Any
abstentions? Thank you. And thirdly, approved progression of the National Poetry Centre

6 c) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 3 - Creating Great Places and Accelerated Infrastructure

£4 ,436 in development funding and entry into a funding agreement, approve future approvals via the assurance pathway,
subject tolerances and note potential CA funding of five million pound with an estimated total scheme cost of
22 million six hundred and forty three thousand five hundred and ninety five pounds. Those in favour of the recommendations, please raise your hand.
Those against.
those abstaining
Thank You councillor Holdsworth
And I hope that the the campaign group or they or the organisation for the National Poetry Centre
Will be delighted watching this and maybe will send us a poem of thanks
And so thank you moving on to item 6d

6 d) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 4 - Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental Sustainability

the next project approval relates to an extension of our
Renewable grants fund as we continue to provide local solutions to reduce carbon emissions and improve energy resilience
Some really brilliant projects have come forward so far and know there are many many more in the pipeline
Can I ask councillor scullion as chair of the climate energy and environment?
Committee to speak to the report and then to Liz hunter our director of policing environment place to take through the recommendations council scullion
Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council) - 0:25:42
Thank you, and I haven't got very much to say. Welcome this funding from DESNEZ,
departments have got very long names these days actually, and Great British
Energy Scheme for renewable power energy generation. And the key thing here I
think is about us getting our houses in order really in terms of councils that
you know we haven't quite I don't think got steam boilers but in some ways with
some of this work. We're actually moving from the 19th century jumping straight into the
21st century in terms of getting our own house in order. And actually it is planned that
it will cut costs, particularly once we stop having the link with gas, with gas prices.
So it's about future -proofing our buildings, getting our own house in order and actually
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:26:37
setting an example. Thank you. Thank you so much. Okay, anybody like to comment on this?
Councillor Lamb.
Thank you, Mayor.
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:26:45
Just around the battery energy storage facilities,
and we find frequently ourselves in a position where policies and agendas are at conflict with each other,
and this is one of them where we absolutely need more of this capacity,
but I'm sure I'm not alone, I know I'm not alone,
I know Councillor Lewis in a similar position in his part of the city where they're coming
up in places we really don't want them on green belt, green field sites and as much
as we need them they need to be in the right place.
So my suggestion is we insert a line in here that there would be no money from the Combined
Authority that would support battery energy storage or solar panels on what is currently
green belt or grey belt sites.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:34
My instinct is we can't do that.
Thank you, Nikki.
I think that would be really difficult.
You know there's a developing case law around this market
Nikki Deol - 0:27:43
and development of battery storage.
Leeds has faced this themselves as well.
I think the policy position needs to be developed locally from planning
and before the combined authority can confirm that position
as part of a recommendation here.
Thank you, Liz.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:28:00
Please provide a reassurance on this particular fund.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:28:04
Each of the schemes that have come forward have come forward via the local authority.
Just to provide that assurance that they have come from each of the places you represent
and that's what we put forward in this.
So again for the clarity of this particular fund I just wanted to add that.
That's incredibly helpful giving us clarity.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:28:20
Thank you.
Okie doke.
So can the combined authority approve the change request to increase funding for the
renewables fund grant scheme by 1 .38 million and delegate authority to the
chief executive to enter into funding agreements with partner councils subject
to government approval those in favour of the recommendations please raise your
hand thank you those against thank you those abstaining great okay let's move

6 e) Project Approvals - Investment Priority 5 - Delivering Sustainable, Intergrated, Inclusive and Affordable Transport

on item 6e these are project approvals relating to transport and an update on
two schemes in particular, Armley Gyratory and the Dewsbury -Claquitaine Sustainable Travel
Corridor. Could I ask Councillor Susan Hinchliffe as chair of the Transport Committee to speak
to report and then I'll move on to Simon Pope, our Transport Capital Programme Director, to
take us through the recommendation. Perhaps if Councillor Carol Paterson, Leader of Kirklees
Council, would like to comment on the Dewsbury -Claquitaine Sustainable Travel Corridor Scheme. Councillor
Hinchliffe.
Just to say this is the scale of projects being delivered by the Combined Authority.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:29:30
This is an example of just two of them but we were reflecting earlier how actually the
Combined Authority has grown massively in the last few years just because of the increased
funding that is coming through from governments so it's great that we can deliver schemes
like this now but obviously happy to defer to local members who are more attuned with
these particular programmes.
Councillor Paterson.
Thank you, Mayor. We're really pleased to see this. It contributes to active leisure,
Cllr Carole Pattison (Kirklees Council) - 0:29:57
travel, as well as improving congestion and ensuring that busses will be able to move smoothly
in that part of Kirkleigh. So really welcoming, this funding. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:13
Great stuff. And of course there is investment in Dewsbury Bus Station and branding with
the Weaver network so we're looking forward to that.
Any further comments?
Yes, Councillor Lamb.
I would be grateful if someone can talk us through why the costs have increased for the
armoury gyratory scheme and it's becoming a recurring theme of papers coming to ask for
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:30:35
more money for things we have already approved.
So what are we putting in place to be more robust in the initial estimates?
Thank you, Councillor Lamb.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:43
And this is a perfect segue to Simon to talk us through this paper. Thank you
Thank you, man
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:30:52
See our members will be aware from previous meetings that the new way of managing the transport capital programme
That was agreed last year does require custom programme certainty at full approval stage with subsequent changes during delivery only considered in exceptional
circumstances just to reassure members we've got
37 schemes in delivery at the moment totaling over 300 million pounds and request a lot of management mechanisms
92 % of which are currently delivering within their greed funding envelopes
But as you'll you picked up council alarm that the two schemes were seeking approval today are requesting additional funding after full approval
So just to briefly summarise some of the circumstances both in relation to the army scheme and the Kirkley scheme
So the army scheme is seeking additional 3 .1 million pounds, which is an equivalent 8 % uplift on the original scheme cost
The scheme, members will be aware, has been recently completed and includes highway improvements
plus priority and replacement walking and cycling bridges at a key junction for traffic
bypassing Leeds city centre.
The cost increase in this instance primarily relates to ground contamination discovered
during delivery that significantly exceeded that that was budgeted for.
Since extensive ground investigation works were undertaken by the promoter to inform
the original cost estimate and an appropriate risk allowance the level of
contamination encountered is felt to be beyond the promoters ability to
anticipate so therefore we are recommending approval in this instance
on the grounds of exceptional circumstances encountered during delivery
in the case of the second scheme the the a638 G to be Klakeet and corridor and
Kirk lees that schemes requesting a 1 .8 million pound increase in funding which
equivalent to an 11 % uplift on the original approval. It's also proposed to
reduce the scope of that scheme to avoid a greater cost increase of 6 .8 million
pounds that would otherwise result if the scheme was to be delivered in full.
For members awareness the scheme it's been constructed over three phases it's
currently in construction and includes improvements to the Spen Valley Greenway
on highway bus and priority bus priority and cycle facilities and minor crossing
and public realm improvements in Heckman, Wike and Clackie town centres.
The cost increase in this instance results from a lack of maturity in scheme costings
at full approval stage, impacting utility diversions, land acquisition, works delivery
and risk quantification.
Full approval of the scheme does predate the new approach to managing the capital programme
and the increased scrutiny of costs that have since been applied in response.
Kirklees Council has worked with the command authority to reduce the scope of the scheme
in order to limit the extent of cost escalation
whilst continuing to deliver those outputs
that provide the greatest contribution to scheme benefits.
So it's therefore proposed to de -scope phase three
which comprises the minor crossings and public norm works
whilst ensuring delivery of phases one and two in full.
Since the majority of the benefits will still be realised
particularly for bus and cycle users,
we're therefore recommending that the combined authority
approves both the cost increase and the re -scoping
of the scheme in order to maximise the return
on the investment to date,
but does note that lessons have been learnt by both this promoter and indeed all partners
to avoid similar issues arising in future.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:01
Could you reassure us, Simon, that the lack of maturity, we have put things in place where we're not going to be here again.
We've said time and again that projects need that robust evidence base about how much these projects are going to cost.
So, how can we make sure that this isn't something that keeps coming back?
Yes, indeed, Matt
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:34:25
We now have a much more rigorous approach to scrutinising costs at full approval stage and indeed won't be recommending anything for combined authority approval
until we've assured ourselves that promoters have
Undertaken robust exercise and are confident of being able to deliver for the costs that are quoted
I think these schemes that indeed are the schemes that have come for previous decisions have predated that more rigorous approach and
and therefore there is an element of some of these legacy issues being dealt with,
hence the decisions today, but I'm confident that we can move forward in a more constructive manner.
Yes, Simon.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:56
Thank you. Just to add to Simon's comments there,
I think there are two further points that I just wanted to highlight
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:35:03
to give members reassurance that we both see a better way forward
and are really scrutinising this very tightly.
So, looking forwards and of course later on the agenda we'll be talking about the devolution
settlement with government, the establishment of an integrated long -term settlement.
That will put us and indeed other combined authority areas in a much better position
to be able to forward plant pipelines than some of the historic approaches that we saw
over recent years of short -term funding competitions that can cause
initiatives to have to be brought forward at a faster pace than we might
necessarily advise. And then the second element is item seven on the agenda
which of course is now a standing item that provides the portfolio summary is
there so as to ensure that we are transparently reporting back to the
combined authority in terms of the impact on budgets of any decisions that have been
taken. Thank you Councillor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:16
Thank you Madam Chair. Three quick questions. Firstly just for completeness, what would
be the impact and implications of saying no if we set the budget and that's it. Two, where
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:36:28
does the money come from for this and what schemes is it taken from, what could we have
instead and the third bit is all of these schemes always come with a contingency. I
can never remember a time where the contingency got repaid because everything was tickety -boo
on schedule and delivered so have there been any occasions where the contingency wasn't
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:57
needed and was repaid? Thank you. I'll take Councillor Holdsworth
and then maybe Sam you come back on all the questions.
Councillor Holdsworth.
Thank you, Mayor.
Cllr Sue Holdsworth (Calderdale Council) - 0:37:06
Yes, it's a question about the army gyratory where the excessive contaminated land was
found that hadn't been discovered presumably with the contractors survey or whoever they
employed to survey the land.
Are they not insured to cover problems like this?
And my question really is why should the combined authority have to cover the additional cost
in total of dealing with the contaminated land?
Thank you.
Thank you, sir
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:37:31
Thank you, man
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:37:34
So in terms of the first question of council alarm and the impact is saying no
I think in the case of the army directory scheme that scheme has now been delivered
so those costs would need to be shouldered by the City Council and
In the case of the Kirk Lee scheme were advised by partners there that they will be forced to desco more of the scheme
particularly in terms of elements to
with the targeting benefits for bus users.
There will be a further reduction in scope from that
that's currently set out.
In terms of where the funding comes from,
to cover the cost increases,
it does depend on the funding mechanism
that's been drawn upon.
In the case of Armley -Gerator,
that's been drawn from the West Yorkshire Transport Fund.
That doesn't include a programme level
risk and contingency budget.
So effectively, that eats into the residual funding
left yet to be fully allocated
that's available for delivery of other schemes.
In the case of the Kirklea scheme,
that's been delivered to the Transforming Cities Fund, that does include a programme -level
risk and contingency pot for which we have notionally identified an allowance to be drawn
from, so there's a degree of the buffer or protection before it impacts other schemes
within that programme. There aren't any instances where risk and contingency budget has been
repaid by scheme promoters, but that's certainly something we're looking to explore in more
detail to get a better handle on how we're managing risk and contingency pots going forward,
because you would hope that there would be opportunities to pull back in instances where
that's applicable.
In relation to Councillor Holz's question on the army
directory, so all of the supplies
involved have the appropriate insurance is in place.
There aren't any products on the market at the moment that
protect either scheme promoters or contractors from discovery
of issues in excess of what has been budgeted for as part
of risk budgets.
I think the only insurance that would be applicable
And with a supplier acting negligently and we don't believe that's the case in this instance
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:39:28
That's very helpful information. Thank you. Any further comments? Yes
Briefly it applies to all the reports today and the next one as well
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:39:37
We don't seem to be having a risk section in these reports
You've got a long number of other statutory sections over effects on equality's executives
I'm not against but I think we should be starting to set out in these reports what the risks are
So that people can understand you
In some cases you've explained that there is a risk but that wasn't set out in the report
So I mean you've explained it clearly here
So every decision being made here today has been made with the knowledge that you've given
But to the public outside
They've not seen any risks being set and if something was to go wrong further down people
Why didn't you bring it up to our attention in the first place? So it's not specific at this report
It's generally on the mall and also on the next report as well
We're not got a risk section in them in Paul suffered last time when I was clearing about some of his
Costings on the bus franchising. I just think we need to start highlighting risks more clearly
Thank you. Risk is in the business assessment, isn't it, Simon?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:40
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:40:43
Yes, indeed. There is a little bit more detail in the business case summaries that are linked from the main papers,
but we take your point, Councillor Anderson, and can ensure that it's teased out more centrally as part of the main paper itself.
Thank you. Okie doke. No further comments.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:55
So are we happy to approve the change request for the armly gyratory scheme to increase funding by three million?
148 thousand to a total of forty five million one hundred and eighteen thousand and enter into an addendum with Leeds City Council
including
341 thousand ring fenced for monitoring and evaluation with future approvals subject to assurance tolerances in
favour the recommendations, please raise your hand
against
Abstaining.
Thank you.
Okay.
Approving the change request for the Duesburg, Tlaquita and sustainable travel corridor to
de -scope phase 3 and increase funding by 1 ,760 ,282 to a total of 17 ,562 ,259.
Enter into an addendum with Kirklees Council including 100 ,000 ring fence for monitoring
and evaluation with future approvals subject to assurance tolerances and two million eight hundred ninety two thousand one hundred and
65 pounds assigned for risk and contingency in favour of the recommendations
Against and
Abstaining

7 Portfolio Summary

Thank you moving on. Thank you so much to the portfolio summary that Simon just mentioned
It's a report that gives us a clear picture of the funding landscape across our
invested
Programmes and can I invite Kate Taylor? Where are you Kate? I'll go you there
It's the end our director of finance and commercial services to take us through the report. Thank you Kate
Thank you, ma 'am
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:42:40
So this report is for no decisions required and is effectively a summary report summarising
As Mary set out the position across our programmes the most significant programme within there is the transport capital programme
Which is 2 .5 billion pounds multi -year programme, which is the largest area funding being managed by the combined Authority
We have made active decisions
To over programme both the transport fund and the transforming cities fund
in which while wise decisions to make sure that we are able to maximise funding and not have to return funding back to
central government does highlight the need for prioritisation careful
prioritisation in the future. Currently we have a 69 % of the West
Yorkshire Transport Fund and 71 % of the Transforming Cities Fund have been
through this board and approved for projects with significant spend
committed across both of those programmes. As Simon has just outlined previously
the Transport Fund does not have a dedicated contingency pot which means
that cost increases do further strain the budget and affect projects that can
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:43:42
And there's also the active travel fund as well.
There's a good list of funding streams in there.
And it is quite something to see the complexity of funding streams.
And I am looking forward to that integrated settlement moment where this may be a bit
more straightforward for us.
So are the combined authority any comments?
Thank you, Councillor Lamb.
Yeah, it's just a quick comment.
And I think it's really helpful to have this and grateful that it's here.
It's just a constructive comment, I hope, that as someone who's used to looking at these
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:44:16
reports, I expect everyone around the table is, I find it a bit hard to navigate and,
well, it's the first stab, very helpful, but just kind of putting a member of the public's
layperson's hat on.
It could just do with a bit of a presentational work for future iterations. Thank you counsel. Okay
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:44:38
Thank you. Yeah, you know, it's a report that has I think come in the last three months
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:44:45
We are working on that and I think particularly as we move forward into integrated settlements and getting hopefully a more streamlined
Function and looking at things like graphics and a way so except that feedback and we could well
Thank You cancer and
Is there anywhere?
that there is a list to look to see what schemes are left still to be funded it
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:45:04
talks about that there's 29 % just picking it random there's 29 % of the
funding still available 133 bit ones if you've got over provision you've already
got schemes that are worth say for example 160 million to be funded so is
there anywhere that that information is recorded so anybody wants to see it you
see whether or not there's over or under provision.
We absolutely do have a list of all of the schemes.
I'm looking kind of at the table at Simon because Simon has literally kind of list those
off probably by scheme that sits there.
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:45:40
Obviously, financially you will be aware that I cannot allow schemes to proceed once we
have a certain limit.
Legally, I cannot allow us to then enter into approvals for schemes without money that is
in there.
Simon wants to say anything.
Thanks, Kay.
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:45:54
The original programme for each of the main funding mechanisms I believe was published
on the combined authorities website but I think we can certainly ensure that that's
a little bit more transparent as part of this paper in future so you can see the schemes
yet to be brought to fruition.
Thank you.
Councillor Hinchliffe.
Just to make a point as well that what I've learned over the years is if you have to work
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:46:13
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:46:16
schemes up to deliverable quality because invariably government finds money to push
down to combined authorities and then we have to be ready to go. And if you're not ready
with schemes, then you can't take advantage of that. So I don't think it's quite a zero -sum
game. It's not quite as straightforward as that. We all need to make sure we continue
powering ahead with all our schemes, because there will be more money coming through with
the enhanced evolution, and we do need to be ready to take advantage of that. So just
to provide that context, I think, is what I said.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:46:47
And that's why you see often we're talking about overprogramming, because we need to
be ready and prepared if governments say this is a new funding pot.
Simon, did you want to come back?
You took the words out of my mouth.
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:57
So, yeah, there has been a tactical approach to overprogramming to ensure that we are able
to hit the ground running with silver -ready schemes as funding opportunities arise.
Thank you.
Councillor Anderson?
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:47:14
The logic of it is just for public, it's what does the person outside, we all understand
it, but what about the person outside?
That's only just for transparency. I'm not critical of anything that anybody's doing here at all
It's just what happens if a member of the public wants to find out why scheme a has been brought forward
And why scheme B has been suspended albeit temporarily we heard in the last item that
Had to adjust one of these schemes so somebody there in that in that community might have been expecting something
No, they're not going to get it. So they need to understand why it's not coming forward
That's all I'm doing. It's not complaining about that we were doing things. It's just
It's a good point well made. So thank you for that
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:47:57
We'll note that approach
Okay, so can we approve that we are noting the portfolio summary information outlined in the report all in favour
Against

8 Devolution and Integrated Settlement Update

Abstaining no super. Thank you. So moving on to devolution and the integrated settlement. We've just been discussing it
We've talked here about the importance of the English devolution bill to the future
of our region and the importance of us becoming a mature and established strategic authority.
The integrated settlement, which gives us greater flexibilities and freedoms over the
resources we have, is going to be an absolute game changer for our region.
And we're making a lot of progress with government and developing our outcomes framework, which
will help drive that integrated settlement.
Can I invite Sarah Eaton, our director of strategy, to take us through the recommendations.
Sarah.
Thank you, Mayor.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:53
So this report, I think, is going to be a regular report on the agenda, particularly
given the kind of work programme that is evolving.
And I think particularly this quarter, as you'll see in the report, the focus is around
kind of integrated settlement and the outcomes framework.
What you'll see in the paper now is in the appendix is a programme plan which kind of sets out the key milestones that we're working towards.
And obviously I think just in terms of that programme there are a number of other work streams which as they are coming on stream and we're developing work,
we'll be fetching updates to the combined authority so that you're aware of kind of how we're progressing with some of that activity.
I think for this period, I think just to give a little bit more information, we were hoping,
particularly around the funding scope and quantum, that we might have more details to share with you
today around that particular item. We know that we'll get interim quantum information in October
and the final information at the end of November. We've not had anything yet and there's a little
bit of slippage in that timetable which means that we're going to have to work a little bit
harder towards the end of this period, particularly around matching the funds in
scope of the quantum against against the outcomes framework and obviously the
next report will hopefully be bringing a better update around around what that
actually means. There's been some slippage in the overall timetable as
well we were expecting that everything would be signed off by the end of the
year and we think that that's gonna move into mid -january now although there'll
be some mitigating actions in place I think from the government in terms of
giving us some kind of assurance and and that is really important as you'll see
the programme plan. There's a lot of alignment here with our business and budget planning.
It's really critical, and Kate's looking at me across the room, how this kind of integrates
and works well with the work that we're doing around the budget. And we're doing a lot of
work, which is why that programme plan is there, to kind of look at the interdependencies
of these particular activities. So just to give reassurance that we will be fetching
more back on that kind of update soon. In terms of the readiness cheque, I gave a little
bit of an update last time around.
PwC have now been appointed as the government's
candidate in that work.
So between now and the end of the year,
again, there's quite a lot of work to do
to make sure that we're contributing to that.
And again, that will report towards the end of the year
in terms of that piece of work.
And then finally, around the outcomes framework.
The outcomes framework, the Combined Authority
has already developed its own outcomes framework.
And this is really to ensure, based on feedback
that we got, for example, on the Gateway Review,
that we've got a really consistent set of measures which help us evaluate and
monitor impact for the future really really important. The government as we've
said previously requires us to develop an integrated settlement outcomes
framework and that will be part of our wider outcomes framework. We are working
with government on this piece of work and we've submitted as you'll see in the
reports some high -level outcomes and some draught metrics to them in early
September, early October sorry, and obviously over this coming period we've
got a lot of work to do with them to refine those metrics now. It's important
that we understand what the quantum is before we finalise the metrics. Obviously
what we don't want to do is signing up for something and then realising that there's
no actual resource to kind of deliver. So there's quite a bit of work to do now
between now and the end of the year to kind of develop this piece of work.
Because of the timelines and because of the some of the challenges around timing
I think the report is seeking some delegated authority
to kind of negotiate with government over that period
and to kind of do those iterated kind of submissions.
So we're just seeking that delegated approval there.
And then obviously the timeline there is set out in the paper
so that colleagues can be aware and assured of kind of the work
that we're doing to hit that kind of milestones moving
forward.
I think the next pieces of work will become more apparent
as the devolution bill passes its way through parliament.
and obviously as soon as we get more information around that we'll be bringing that to the
combined authority. But I'll stop there, and I'll hand back to you.
Thank you, and it's a testimony to you and the team how quickly you've worked on this,
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:53:03
because it's a massive piece of work, and my ask of you to be as ambitious as possible,
and particularly around new burdens when it comes to the seven competences, you've really
lent into that so thank you to you and your team and it's frustrating that
there's been a slippage in in time when everybody's been working towards
particular deadlines but just thanks it's quite a seismic moment for us as an
organisation we want to get it right for the future. Any comments? Thank you
Councillor Lec. Yes thank you Mayor. It's just a quick comment and a question so I think
where I have some criticism I'm going to level it at the Treasury rather than the government
of any particular colour because you could have levelled exactly the same issues at the
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:53:54
previous government as the current one. So I think it's the culture of the Treasury that's
the issue with asking the combined authority on those to work at great pace and then not
giving them the information that they need to do it, which is the same for local authorities
is releasing budget figures just before Christmas and things like that is really not very helpful
and I note that representations have been made along those lines so absolutely support
that. On 3 .14 it says we should have had an indicative quantum of funding by mid October
so I think 16th October is reasonable to say that's mid October so have we had that indicative
quantum of funding? So we're expecting some of that information
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:54:38
this week, so obviously we have another day or so to get that information. So there is
still time to meet that deadline. But that will be an indicative, it will give us some
information that will help us progress with some of the work on the outcomes framework,
the final one will be the end of November. And I think both Greater Manchester and the
West Midlands also were in the trenches with this as well, when they got their integrated
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:55:01
settlement about what is valuable, what's in, what's out, how much a project's worth,
et cetera, and responsibility's worth. So rest assured we've been bold and ambitious
in our ask of government and we will continue to be so.
Any further comments? No? Thank you so much again, Serafy, the team's work. Thank you.
So can we recommend that we note the progress on preparations for the English Devolution
and Community Empowerment Bill and Programme Plan Appendix 1.
Note the work underway to prepare for receipt and delivery
of the integrated settlement from April 2026,
and delegate to the chief executive in consultation
with myself and director of strategy
to submit further draughts and the final outcome framework
to government in line with the timetable.
In favour of the recommendations, please raise your hand.
Those against?
Anyone abstaining? Thank you so much.

9 Recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee for consideration

Moving on, Item 9, recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee for adoption.
As ever, thank you to the Scrutiny Committee for your work.
And can I ask Councillor Barry Anderson, as chair of the Scrutiny Committee, to speak to the report and take us through his recommendations please. Thank you.
All I wanted to say is thank you to the learners for bringing it here today.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:56:27
Hopefully you've all had a chance to have a look through them and if there's any
questions and queries, I'm quite happy to try and answer them. Not guaranteed I will
be able to answer them but I'll do my best and we'd hope that we can get on with this
and work with governance and audit as well.
Thank you. Any comments on the scrutiny paper? If I could hand over to Nikki
please to advise of how we're handling these recommendations.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:56:55
Thank you, Mayor. As the recommendations before you on the appendix 1, they are advisory in
Nikki Deol - 0:57:04
nature, so you've got a range of options before you as the Combined Authority voting members.
You can accept them in full, amend them or refuse them. If you do take options B and
C, it would be legitimate for reasons to be provided to accompany those so that they can
be returned to scrutiny. Thank you. Our approach is that we are going
to approve the recommendations to accept them from the
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:28
scrutiny committee. All those in favour of accepting these
recommendations from the scrutiny committee. All those
against. And anyone abstaining. Thank you. Thank you for your
work Councillor Anderson and Nicky will be in touch with the
next steps on on this report. Thank you.
I just say it's very unusual for me to win a vote.
Maybe switch parties, Councillor Anderson, but there we go.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:57:58
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:58:03
Right, moving on to the substantive item on the agenda, the bus franchising update.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:58:08
And it's so exciting to be at this point with our bus franchising journey
and the delivery of our Weaver network.
The report in front of us sets out the outlined business case for new bus procurement and
the busses that will be the first to have the Weaver branding on the road.
A major milestone and thank you to all the officers for the detailed work that's gone
into getting us to this point.
And really important that the proposals include a public consultation to shape the final specification
of the new fleet.
We know we want to make sure the busses that we have are going to meet the needs of the people of West Yorkshire
Can I first invite councillor Hinchcliffe chair of the transport committee to comment on the report and then hand over to Paul Matthews?
Our director of bus franchising to take us through the recommendations councillor Hinchcliffe
Thank You mayor. Obviously, this is a decision you took some time ago now. There's huge amounts of work going on with this and
And with a very changing marketplace in busses all the time as well.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:59:11
So we already have the Weaver brand, but of course, it's more than just a brand.
It's the busses and the network that goes behind it.
So I'm just happy to pass over really to Simon or Simon or Paul.
Simon, thank you. And Paul.
Paul.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:59:28
Thank you, Catherine Inchcliffe.
Thank you, Mayor.
So the paper is really in two parts.
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:59:36
There is clearly a core paper, which I will talk to,
and then there's more detail, which is the business case
summary, which is in the appendix.
It was a private appendix.
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:59:46
Clearly, the papers are interlinked.
But if there are detailed questions,
then probably we'll need to take them in the private session.
But thank you very much indeed.
The combined authority approved the fleet strategy
for bus franchising back in May.
And within that paper, it contained a range of options
as to how we would go about making sure we had the right
fleet for day one.
And since that time, what we've been doing is working
up our plans as to what the shape
of that fleet would look like.
Really to do a number of things,
one is to make sure we have the right fleet for day one,
we have enough fleet for day one.
Secondly, that it meets the fleet, the entire fleet meets the specification that we have
set out and determined in terms of higher standards, particularly around emissions and
in terms of accessibility.
And then thirdly, obviously working towards the zero emission goal, fleet goal that we
have over time and the resulting air quality improvements that will actually bring as well.
What we've clearly been having to do when we've been working it up is be cognizant of the network strategy,
which the authority approved last time, and also the lotting strategy.
So lots of parts which work into another here.
What we've resulted conclusion of that, it was that we do need to procure some new fleet
of vehicles alongside other routes
to make sure we hit those objectives.
And in August, we did launch the first stage
of a procurement tendering process for manufacturers
because we were very keen to ensure that manufacturing slots
were booked at an early stage, given
that there is a competitive market for manufacturers
and lots of other authorities going down the same route.
So the paper before you has a number of recommendations, really in two parts.
One is around the business case, the outline business case, to release the deposit for the funding of new zero emission fleet, a substantial number.
So one is the case for funding new vehicles.
and the second part of the paper as the mayor has outlined is a
Request that the authority approves a public consultation in terms of bus design
Because we believe that's very important that as part of the new Weaver brand that customers do have the opportunity
to shape that what
the look and feel of the inside of the bus particularly and particularly seeking the views of
Protected characteristic groups which is very important to make sure we capture as well
So I'll stop there, I think, but obviously bear in mind the business case summary would
be in the private paper.
Thank you so much, Paul.
And it's such a great opportunity for us to get the busses that we deserve.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:02:54
And certainly as I travel on busses, people tell me about the challenges they face with
the busses that are already there, that some of them are old, they don't have – you can't
charge your phone, there's only space for a wheelchair or a buggy.
So this is a chance for us to really set the standard for the people of West Yorkshire
Because isn't it about time we had something that was fit for the 21st century as we have some boss
We do have some like the flyer. We do have some electric busses already, but this is going to be really impactful on the fleet
Any comments? Yes councilman is turning into one man show, isn't it today?
I'm only here to help
So if I can ask my make my points in two parts if I may so the first ones around the the design and the
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:03:39
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:03:43
involvement of the public and it picks up on your point about the experience that some some people have and I think
It's one of the options we should be floating is to have a flexible fleet of
Busses because the experience is different depending on where you are depending on how frequent the busses are
So if I can give an example of Boston Spa
in my part of the world where the demographic is
much older than normal, we've got two special schools.
So a lot of younger people with wheelchairs, mobility issues,
quite a number of housing units for people with special needs
and mobility issues.
And the bus service is not very frequent.
And I don't think that's going to change anytime soon.
I would like it to.
But it's an hourly service at the moment when the bus comes
Once an hour and someone in a wheelchairs waiting at the bus stop and there's already someone in the wheelchair space
The bus goes and they have to wait for the next one another hour
and
Or if there's a buggy there if there are three people as I see on a regular basis
they have to decide which one of them is going to get on the bus and
fulfil their plans and which two are going to
Go home and give up and try again another day
So my suggest we should have some flexible busses. So if the bus is coming every 10 minutes
It's still not ideal but you can manage that. I appreciate it would be a lot more expensive
To have busses that would have capacity but perhaps fold down seats and things like that and in certain locations
Could we have at least look at the option of having some busses that could accommodate?
More for the for those places where there's less frequency and more need
If I may say, Councillor Lamb, this is what franchising gives us, which is a good news
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:33
storey about being able to get the busses that serve our communities. And I'm hoping that
you will be leading the campaign to feed in to the consultation on the busses that your
community need and deserve. Thank you. Any further comments before we go into a private
session? Councillor Lamb, you do have a second point.
I do have a second point.
So absolutely, I'll be encouraging people
to get involved in the consultation.
And as you were keen to point out at the beginning,
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:06:00
I did vote against franchising.
So far, I still think that was the right decision.
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:06:03
But I really genuinely hope that time will prove me wrong.
And I will gladly come here and eat my humble pie
if and when that time comes.
However, having read a lot of these reports over my 19 years
as a Councillor, I've learned to read what the reports don't say and what I'm seeing
this report not say is the costs are going up. It's going to be a lot more expensive
than we anticipated. One thing I understand is the new government have unexpectedly taken
away the grant funding for electric busses so it will cost us an extra £150 ,000 for
each bus that we need to buy over the coming years.
That's a, I'm not sure I can put the number on it.
Without being in the private session, it's a lot.
It's a big number and the costs generally are going up.
Now, I appreciate, we've been told several times
the work is being done and the financial position
will be set out in due course, I accept that.
What I think would be helpful, and it is important
for the public to know is what your position is on what your priorities would be because
there are only so many places the money can come from. Maybe government will have something
to announce in the autumn, that would be lovely. If not, then fair payers will have to pay
more or council tax payers will have to pay more or you would have to introduce a mayoral
preset or you would have to cut services. I'm assuming the latter just isn't an option,
We want services to be better. We all want that
So what would your priorities be if it's going to cost a lot more than we expect as I suspect it is going to
Thank You councillor lamb and as you know transport is the key to
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:08:02
Growth in our community and is one of the most important things that we are dedicated to deliver and as you will imagine
Work is underway, but regarding
the zebras
Whilst we are always trying to get away from funding streams that are dedicated to one
particular thing, this is now rolled into the transport fund.
So we are looking at the budgets going forward, and I would encourage you to look at the previous
decision we made many, many months ago around bus franchising, that we didn't have all the
numbers because the bus companies were holding onto data.
So we were making a decision knowing that some of
Some of the landscape was unknown but rest assured my priority is better busses for the people of West Yorkshire
Thank you so much. So if we could move into a private session if we want to move on to the
The more specific data I would encourage
Members of the public and press if you don't mind if you could please leave and we will stop the live recording. Thank you so much

9 Recommendations from the Scrutiny Committee for consideration

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:09:15
Okay, so we are now back live. Thank you all so much. So we are now going to take our recommendations
The combined authority has been asked to note the updates provided in the report, to delegate
authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with myself to lead the consultation process,
approve progression of the BOSS Reform Fleet Provisions Scheme through Decision Point 3,
the outline business case, and commencement of Activity 4, full business case.
Approve development funding of £85 ,007 to progress the scheme to decision point four,
increasing total development funding to £1 ,206 ,514,
to approve release of £29 ,972 ,552 for delivery of round one bus fleet provision,
increasing the total scheme approval to £31 ,179 ,070,
approve future scheme approvals in line with the Assurance Pathway and Approval Route,
subject to tolerances outlined in the report,
and to note the Combined Authority's potential funding commitment
of up to £100 million for Round 1 Fleet provision.
Wow, that is a lot and quite a moment. Can all those in favour of the recommendations
please raise their hand. Thank you. Those against, those abstaining. Thank you all so
much as we move on to the next item on the agenda which is just the minutes for information
and the minutes are for noting. Thank you all everyone for attending and also for your
lively contributions and remind you the date of the next meeting, the 4th of December.
There might even be mince pies. And I'd like to herewith close the meeting. Thank you.