Combined Authority Board - Thursday 25 June 2026, 11:00am - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

Combined Authority Board
Thursday, 25th June 2026 at 11:00am 

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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  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 Stephen Place
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  10. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  11. Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
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  1. Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance
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  1. Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance
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  2. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  4. Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council)
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  6. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
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  9. Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  3. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  5. Cllr Stephen Place
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  7. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  8. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  10. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  11. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
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  2. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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  2. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  5. Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council)
  6. Cllr Dan Sutherland
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  8. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  10. Cllr Stephen Place
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  12. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  14. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  4. Cllr Dan Sutherland
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  6. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
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  8. Cllr Stephen Place
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  10. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
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  12. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
  13. Cllr Karl Johnson
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  5. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
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  1. Webcast Finished

1 Membership of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority Board

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:00
.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:34
At appendix 1, can I ask Nicky Deall, our Assistant Director of Legal Governance and
Compliance to take us through the recommendations.
Nicky, thank you.
Thank you, Mayor.
This is the first item on the papers for governance papers.
There's quite a lot on the agenda as you have seen.
This sets out the establishment of membership for the combined authority for the new municipal
year and the appendix sets out those nominees in relation to those received from the constituent
councils. Just so that you are aware, these arrangements
are in compliance with the statutory order and it prescribes how the composition of the
board should take place. The mayor is the chair by virtue of office and then we have
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:01:17
five members of constituent councils representing. You will note that three political balance
members are vacant today and this is because we only have four constituent
council leaders around the table. There is therefore one leader
spot for Kirklees vacant and accordingly under the order we're unable to take the
calculus as to what political balance membership should look like. On that
basis that will remain vacant and once that is filled we will arrange for the
calculations to take place and balance members to be appointed at that moment in time.
That is a principle of law, it's not a discretionary arrangement, so it's important that that is clearly set out.
The papers also set out the appointments to the Business Board as well as the arrangements for substitutes as well.
It's important to note that there are changes to voting as well and the
representations for the non -constituent council, i .e. York and also the business
board member will not have voting rights going forward in this municipal year and
they form part of the amendments to the Constitution which are later in the
paper. On that basis, Mayor, their recommendations are set out within your
papers on page two for you to consider. Thank you. Thank you. Any comments?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:02:43
No? Thank you. Okie doke. Are we happy to note the position of the mayor
as chair of the combined authority board, the ongoing appointment of the deputy mayor,
the appointment of the constituent combined authority board members, their substitutes,
the appointment of the non -constituent council board member and substitute by York City Council
are set out in appendix one to the report. Two, to appoint the council of the West Yorkshire
business board member of the combined authority board and substitute member.
And three note that the appointment of political balance members must be deferred pending Kirkley's council
Appointing its constituent council member to the combined Authority Board. Can we vote on the recommendation those in favour?
Please raise your hand
Sorry, do I need to modify the change to my substitute not at this point
Cllr Stephen Place - 0:03:37
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:03:42
Thank you. So are we happy to vote on the recommendations? Please raise your hand.
Thank you.
Those against, please raise your hand.
And those abstaining, please raise your hand.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:03:56
Abstaining, please raise your hand.
Nicky?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:04:04
So can we just clarify that you are not partaking in the votes?
because we need to record for the purpose of legal minutes whether you're
voting for, against or by default abstaining or recording that you're not
voting for the item on membership to the board for the combined authority.
But you are going to be members of the board?
Thank you.
Well, it's important because under the voting arrangements and constitutionally, if you
vote for it, it's by show of hands.
If you vote against, it's show of hands.
And if you abstain, it's by show of hands.
Can I just remind you, Councillor Sutherland, that this relates to your appointments and
your substitutes?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:04:57
We will run that vote again. We are all learning every day is a school day. Let's run the vote
again. Those in favour of those notes as myself as chair, we appoint the council of the business
board and political balance members going forward. Those in favour, please raise your
Thank you so much. Those against, please raise your hand and those abstaining.
Thank you so much. Good stuff. Let's move on. The recommendations have been carried. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:05:32
Any apologies, Sarah. Thank you.
Thank you, Chair. We have no apologies.

2 Apologies for Absence

Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:05:39
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:05:40
Thank you. Declarations of interest. Any members of declarations of interest they would like to declare on any item on the agenda?
No, thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:05:47
Okie dokie.

4 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

Moving on, item four, exclusion of press and public.
Officers have advised that information contained in appendix one to agenda item 16 are treated
as exempt under paragraph three of part one to schedule 12A of the local government act
1972.
This is because they contain information relating to the financial business affairs of any particular
particular person, including the combined authority, and further that it is considered
that 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 decision making.
If we agree, the press and public, and it is a really busy public gallery today, will
be excluded should members wish to discuss the content of the appendices when we consider
Item 16. We will now vote on the recommendations. Can I see all those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you. And those against. And those abstaining. Thank you so much.

5 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 12 March 2026

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:07:05
Okay, thank you. That item is passed. Thank you so much. Moving on to item five, minutes of the
Turning to Councillor Lewis, as much as anyone given that you were present, are we content
to confirm these as an accurate record?
Councillor Lewis.
Thank you, Chair.
I'm happy to support that.
Thank you so much.
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:07:24
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:07:25
Those minutes have been approved.
Moving on to item six, the Mayor's update.

6 Mayor's Update

Well, a lot has happened since we last met as a combined authority in March.
We have new members and new faces around the table with leadership changing in four of
of the five local authorities in the region in May's local elections, and congratulations
to those members on your elections.
We've already heard about the reasons why Kirklees isn't represented around the table
today and why we've been unable to appoint our three political balance members as a result,
and I am really hopeful that colleagues in Kirklees will be able to find a solution to
this when they meet again in the coming weeks.
and it's welcome to see Councillor Lamb and Councillor Paulson continuing to engage in
these meetings from the visitor seats.
I know we're all keen to continue working on a cross -party basis for the good of our
region and it's something I hope you know I've done consistently since I've been mayor,
working alongside political balance members on the Combined Authority.
Of course there will be times that we do disagree, but it's part and parcel of politics.
We've all been elected by the people of the region to deliver improvements.
The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act has now received its royal assent, granting
deeper devolution and greater freedoms to mayors and combined authorities.
It formalises a new tier of government, Mayoral Strategic Authorities.
There's much more on this throughout the agenda, but it requires us to make adjustments
to our constitution and to our governance.
The act also enables the creation of established
mayoral strategic authorities, of which I am
pleased to say we are one, which gives us our
integrated settlement and greater freedom and
flexibility in how we use the money we have.
There's a decision later in the agenda which begins to
set out how we're going to do this, and this deeper
devolution, I have to say, will be a key legacy of
Keir Starmer's time as prime minister.
He attended the latest mayor's council, which
took place last month to discuss devolution by default.
And I am confident that his successor will continue
that approach.
I believe there's a candidate who's got some
fairly strong views on this in the running.
So, I'll finish there and we'll crack on with the
rest of the meeting.
Item seven, committee arrangements and appointments.

FOR DECISION

This paper enacts the new governments governance

7 Committee Arrangements and Appointments

arrangements the combined authority has agreed in March.
These changes were necessary to ensure we reflect the new powers
under the English devolution bill to get us ready to manage
and oversee the franchise bus network,
and to ensure we are effectively managing our integrated settlement.
Members are advised that since the papers were published,
there's been a number of changes and additions to the nominations
set out in the papers before you as follows.
So I'll just read them out just that they are minutered the governance and audit committee
Councillor Steven Dransfield from Kirklees and substitute John Hardy to switch places
Councillor Hardy is now the member
Councillor Dransfield the substitute of Christiana Mirasanu Kirklees political balance member nominated to
governance and audit and Councillor Martin Haye a
substitute member to Councillor Dews. Scrutiny Committee, Councillor John Hardy,
Kirklees replaced by Councillor Jane Barrowclough. Councillor Mark Smith from
Kirklees replaced by Councillor Chris Kennedy. Councillor Steve Ashton from
Wakefield nominated as member. Councillor Jacob Padgett a substitute member.
Councillor Jane Barrowclough, Kirklees the nomination has been withdrawn.
The Weaver board, Councillor Ian Walker -Kirklees nominated a substitute member to
Councillor Andrew Judson. Councillor David Pringle from Wakefield nominated as
substitute to Councillor Anderson and we'll need to make an amendment to the
recommendations to reflect these changes before we approve them. Can I ask Nicky
to introduce the report please. Thank you Mayor. As the Mayor set out this
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:11:50
really operationalizes, the paper operationalizes how the committee
structures are going to operate for this municipal year. As a consequence of the
March decision that followed a hugely comprehensive governance review, we
have revised the terms of reference in line with the Act because it was in draught
form, it was in bill form at the point of March and it has now received rural
assent and therefore those terms of reference have been finalised and they
are set out in your paper. There are also clarifications in relation to the
operation of each committee, namely in regards to the governance and audit, the statutory
committees that were required to appoint to and the changes to those terms of reference.
It's also important to note that there are voting rights provided for independent members
in the governance and audit committee. There are statutory voting rights arrangements for
scrutiny and there are voting arrangements for those co -opted members to the Weaver Network
board and also the investment board. Members, as the Mayor has set out there are a number
of amendments that we have received overnight. If you are minded to approve the recommendations,
those amendments should form part of those if you're minded to approve as per your nominations
from constituent councils. I hope that makes sense and I'm happy to take any questions.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:13:17
Thank you. Just to double cheque, as some of these changes came in last night, do we need
to have an amendment and second that amendment before we vote on this or are we content to
take a vote directly on what I've just described?
Technically you should be setting out all of the amendment to the original recommendation
that's been published and then you take a vote on that, that becomes the substantive
motion and then you take a final vote so that everyone's clear that that is what's been
passed as a resolution.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:13:44
Super so this is an amendment, could I have a seconder?
Thank you I'll second.
I will second that, Chair.
Thank you.
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:13:50
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:13:51
Can we vote on the substantive amendment that we have set out?
So all those in favour, please raise your hand.
Gentlemen, thank you.
All those against?
All those abstaining?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:14:08
Thank you.
So that is passed.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:14:14
Thank you so much, gentlemen and the Board.
Thank you.
Okay moving on, superb thank you to item 8. Thank you so much.

8 Representation on External Bodies

Representation on external bodies. This next item on the agenda is a report on
our representation on external bodies. Can I hand over to Nicky to take us
through the report and recommendations. Thank you Nicky. Thank you Mayor. So
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:14:45
So this report sets out the requirement to appoint to the external boards for Transport
for North and also the ICB.
You'll note that there are statutory requirements in terms of those appointments and each of
these boards have their own governance arrangements.
The papers have set out why we are required to appoint to these particular boards.
I would sort of underscore that there is a huge amount of advantage to the combined authority
in having representation to that board,
given that they make significant decisions
for transport within the region,
and also make strategic decisions.
So having membership to that board
is both advantageous to us as a combined authority,
but also Transport for North and also the ICB.
The ICB also relates to the health outcomes for the region,
and the changes to the devolution act
in relation to health duties sort of encompasses into that.
They're set out within your papers
as to the recommendations.
You'll note that there are a number of nominees that will
come forward through the Scrutiny Committee system
and also the Governance Committee system,
of which there are blended membership,
and members are invited to approve those recommendations.
Thank you so much.
Any commentary?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:00
Okey -doke.
Are we happy to approve the appointments to external bodies
for 26 -27 municipal year as set out in appendix 1.
Let's turn to vote on the recommendations.
Those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you. Those against.
Those abstaining. Thank you.
Okey -doke, that has carried. Let's move on. Officer delegation scheme item 9.

9 Officer Delegation Scheme

Nicky, if you could take us through the report and recommendations.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:31
Thank you, this report seeks approval of an updated delegation scheme. This is really
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:16:39
composite if you update the constitution generally you update the delegation scheme. The delegation
scheme is a fundamental component of our governance arrangements, it ensures that routine and
operational management decisions can be made without delaying operation of the authority
but reserving those strategic decisions for you as members and leaders of the combined
authority. The amendments are largely technical in nature this year, really
around those changes to the committee structure and providing additional
clarity around officer responsibility and internal controls. There's no
fundamental change in the approach but it just ensures that officers are acting
within the clear and robust framework in discharging effective decision -making
and delivery. The recommendation, Mayor, is to approve the delegation scheme as
set out in appendix 1. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:17:31
Thank you. Any commentary? Thank you. Are we content to approve the officer delegation
scheme in relation to non -meral and mayoral general functions attached at appendix 1?
Those in favour, please raise your hand. Those against, any abstentions? Thank you. The recommendations
have been carried.

10 Constitutional Arrangements

Moving on to item 10, constitutional arrangements. This item is a report on
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:17:57
our constitutional arrangements, many of which we have had to adopt because of
the English Devolution and Community Empowerment Act. So Nicky, if you could
take us through the recommendations. Thank you, Mayor. This will form part of
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:18:15
the majority of your papers if you've printed them out or scrolling down.
You'll see that this review is particularly significant,
given the major legislative changes and the governance
review that was undertaken in March this year.
It's important to set out that the actual amendments relate
to new constitutional provisions,
as well as the consequence of the legislation.
And in terms of picking up on the key headlines,
you'll note that a new article has
been submitted in regards to mayoral commissioners.
This is a new arrangement under the Act,
whereby the mayor may appoint a commissioner
and may expressly delegate functions to that commissioner
if she so wishes,
and the mayor will retain full accountability for that person
if they come into the organisation.
The financial regulations have also been updated.
They've been done so comprehensively
through the statutory officer, and this improves clarity
and it aligns with the current legislation
and the organisational functions.
It makes sure that we as combined authority
are complying with the regulations appropriately
and discharging our fiduciary duties correctly.
There's also governance review alignment to make sure that the Constitution now has proper
reflection in the new committee structure and the decision -making framework that was
approved earlier in the year.
It's also worth noting that we've removed all the obsolete provisions that no longer
are applicable.
And then I'll move to one of the biggest changes, that is the voting changes.
The voting arrangements have been revised through the Devolution Act.
They have introduced a standardised framework by which there must be a simple majority,
of which the Mayor must be part of that simple majority for any recommendation to pass.
In the event that that recommendation does not receive a simple majority, that decision
is effectively not made and will be returned to the Combined Authority at a later date,
taking into account any comments members may have made in regards to that item.
What I'd finally end on is that all of these reviews have been taking place through a real critical lens.
They're entirely lawful and proportionate and they're consistent with the Combined Authorities existing statutory framework and that going forward.
Mayor, the recommendations are set out within your papers and I'd invite you to vote on those.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:20:41
And it is an exciting time for devolution across the country.
And it is great that the Devolution Community Empowerment Act is finally through.
Any commentary?
Thank you.
So are we happy to approve the amendments to the constitutional arrangements, including
minor and major amendments set out in the appendices, the removal of specified provisions,
Associated delegations to the assistant director legal governance and compliance and the continuation of all remaining
Constitution documents for the forthcoming
Municipal year all those in favour, please raise your hand
Thank you against and any abstentions. Thank you. The recommendations have been carried. Thank you all

11 Assurance Review of the Mayoral PCC Function

Okay, moving on 11 assurance review of the mayoral PCC function this next item
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:21:35
is a report on the assurance arrangements supporting the mayor's
policing and crime commissioner functions. If I can hand over to Liz
Hunter, Executive Director of Transport Services, to take us through the report
and recommendations. Thank you Liz. Thank you Mayor. So as the report sets out we
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:21:54
currently have a joint independent audit committee. This covers both our West
Yorkshire internal team here who support the mayor on her police and crime
Commissioner functions and also looks at the police.
And the proposal here is to restructure that so that
the corporate assurance responsibilities for the
team that sits in the CA are transferred to the
existing Governance and Audit Committee.
And that means that we can then have an independent
Audit Committee which will focus solely on the
oversight and assurance of West Yorkshire police,
giving them more focus on that particular part
of their agenda.
This hopefully changes, the changes here will create
greater separation between the corporate assurance of
internal team here and then the policing assurance.
So today you're asked to both agree these are changes and then the consequential amendments
to the governance and audit committee terms of reference.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:22:45
Any questions or comments?
Thank you so much.
So can we agree the proposed changes to the governance and assurance arrangements relating
to the mayor's PCC functions and secondly agree the consequential amendments to the
including the Governance and Audit Committee terms of reference. In favour
please raise your hand. Thank you. Against? Any abstentions? The recommendations have

12 Corporate Governance Code and Framework

been carried. Super. Item 12, Corporate Governance Code and Framework. This is
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:23:16
definitely your meeting, Nicky, isn't it? This is a report on the Corporate
Governance Code and Framework. Nicky, can you take us through the report? Thank you.
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:23:29
Thank you, Mayor. So a lot of members may be familiar with this. This is a code that
a lot of local authorities adopt. It sets out the recognised standard for assurance
by the combined authority. It sets out specifically how we are discharging our responsibilities
lawfully and transparently and ensuring that we have got proper accountability to various
aspects of the framework and the seven aspects are set out in your papers at paragraph 3 .5.
This code doesn't sit in isolation, it directly informs how the annual governance statement
is shaped, and that's the next item on your agenda.
It sets a standard and it sets out a framework under which we operate and the code under
which we as an organisation comply with various aspects of assurance, committee structures,
operation and stakeholder engagement, as well as reflecting how access to rule and information
is governed within the combined authority and its decision -making is considered lawful.
So the framework really is set out there, it was updated in February, it was endorsed
by the governments and audits committee. The change is really sort of quite small and minor,
but the framework templates the change, hence why we brought it to you, just as a revision
so that you can see it. Mayor, the recommendation is to approve the code.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:24:52
Thank you so much. Any questions or comments? Thank you. Are we content to approve and adopt
the revised corporate governance code and framework? All those in favour, please raise

13 Draft Annual Governance Statement

your hand. Thank you. Any against? Any abstentions? Thank you. Okay, item 13, the draught annual
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:25:10
governance statement. This is another item for yourself Nikki, thank you.
Thank you Mayor. So this is the draught annual governance statement. We are legally
required to submit this to you alongside the statement of accounts which Kate
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:25:25
Taylor will be taking you through later in the agenda. This as I've set out is
matched against the code and it sets out how we have reviewed our position in
operations against the code that we just approved for the past financial year.
It's a holistic approach, it ensures that our formal assessment of governance is properly
transparently reported to the combined authority and it takes on a range of assurance sources
across the organisation, namely internal audit and those audit opinions that we gather, risk
management and performance management, governance reviews and compliance monitoring and also
it benefits from input from all of the directorates and scrutiny officers.
As I said, it provides a balanced view and it concludes that we are operating with sound
governance arrangements and they are operating effectively, but with us as an organisation
that is growing at breakneck speed and having integrated settlement and being recognised
as a strategic combined authority, it's important that we look forward as to how we can improve
our governance arrangements in this annual statement.
There are some improvement and action plans set out in the back of that paper
And that's for us to reflect on and report back to you throughout the year
Now this paper hasn't yet gone to the governance and audit committee. They will be reviewing it next year just for comments
So we'll hold it in draught form and this stays in draught form until February next year when there are another set of accounts
And it adjoins that and the corporate leadership team name and also
The persons that are responsible for signing off is the mayor and our chief executive Ben Still
That will be submitted formally next February and met that is that's concludes my presentation
The recommendations are set out within the papers
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:18
Thank you so much Nikki any questions or comment
Thank you
Are we content to consider and approve the draught annual governance statement are set out at appendix one?
for publication as part of the annual accounts. Those in favour please raise
your hand. Thank you. None against and no abstentions. The recommendations have

14 Members' Allowances Scheme

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:42
been carried. Moving on to item 14, members allowance scheme. This is a report
on the members allowances for the coming year. Hand over to Nikki to take us
through the report and recommendations. Nikki. Thank you Mayor. So this report
sets out the updated member allowance scheme. It's been informed by an
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:27:58
independent remuneration panel which is the legal basis on which we are required to independently
assess allowances that are paid to our members. The report has been quite thoroughly and robustly
reviewed. It's a statutory requirement of you as a combined authority board to make
sure that you take into account those recommendations that have been set out in there. They are
material and it's a statutory requirement that you review that allowance and consider
it evidentially against payments that have been recommended. Now that allowance scheme
that has been analysed by Dr Declan Hall who is an eminent professional who does a number
of independent remuneration reviews across the UK and indeed many of your constituent
councils have appointed Dr Declan Hall to undertake these reviews. The approach of why
we have independent renumeration panels convened is so that we are operating in a transparent
way and that the allowances are set in a very consistent fashion. The report itself sets
out the methodology that's been adopted and it sets out the specific responsibilities
that have been analysed and role profiles. So in my view, legally, these are consistently
and objectively assessed, they've concluded the allowances set out within the paper and
by adopting this it's a transparent approach for you as a board and ensures that there's
accountability going forward in terms of how those allowances are paid to members undertaking
significant regionally important roles for the Combined Authority, in addition to the
ones that they undertake for the constituent councils.
So just for the context, that scheme reflects the revised committee structure this year
and it's an evolution of the governance arrangements.
Mayor, the recommendations are to approve the recommendations set out by the Independent
Renumeration Panel within the papers.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Any thoughts, comments?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:05
Yes, Councillor Sutherland.
Thank you, Mayor.
Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council) - 0:30:14
Having read through these papers in detail and given them very serious consideration,
there is a significant concern that I and I believe my colleagues also share.
Representatives coming from the constituent councils, the cabinet members, the leaders
are paid an allowance by their own local authorities.
We do not request further allowance from the West Yorkshire Combined Authority.
There is a concern here that we are approving what seems to be disproportionate allowances
for a select group of people.
I don't believe the case has been made that that is appropriate nor proportionate and
as such I do not feel able to support this recommendation.
Thank you so much.
Any further comments?
Councillor Lewis.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:56
Thank you, Mayor.
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:31:01
I am leader of Leeds Council.
We have an independent renumeration panel which studies all our allowances in great
detail.
We have always had an approach in Leeds where we have asked them to do the work on allowances
and then council has accepted their independent view on allowances.
So in terms of recommendations and on the basis of the independence of the panel and
respecting the process laid out, I shall be supporting the recommendations.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:31:28
Shall we take a vote on the recommendations?
The recommendation is to approve the recommendations of the independent remuneration panel on remuneration
for members as set out at paragraph 3 .3 and appendix 1 and 2 to adopt the members' allowances
scheme as set out at appendix 2 as amended for the 26 -27 municipal year.
Let's vote on the recommendations.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
Those against?
Thank you.
No abstentions.
that recommendation has not been carried and Nikki that rolls over to the next July board is that correct?
That's correct in relation to the new rules that have been enacted
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:11
we are required for a simple majority to pass. At the moment we had two
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:32:17
votes for as a recommendation to adopt the
the comments made by the ILP. We have three against and because the mayor was not in the majority
against the recommendation that does not pass that means the decision is left
undecided and the comments that you have made Councillor Sutherland and indeed you
Councillor Lewis will be minutered and will be returned at a later date.

15 Calendar of Meetings 2026/27

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:44
Thank you moving on item 15 calendar of meetings 26 27 Nicky can you pass us
take us through the report and recommendations thank you. Thank you Mayor
this is the last item that I will be presenting this morning and it's very
Nikki Deol Assistant Director Legal, Governance & Compliance - 0:32:57
straightforward. It's the calendar of meetings for the combined authority for
the forthcoming municipal year. You're invited to approve the calendar. Thank
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:07
you so much. Any commentary on the calendar? No, thank you. Are we minded to
approve the calendar of meetings for the combined authority and its committees
for 26 -27 are set out in Appendix 1. All those in favour please raise your hand.
Thank you. None against, no abstentions. The recommendations have been carried.
Thank you so much, Nikki, for the detailed,

PART 2 - Other Business

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:30
authoritative work that you've done to get us through the

16 Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)

majority of the meeting, which has been the AGM.
So I really am grateful for your expertise.
Thank you so much.
Okay, moving on to part two of the meeting.
The next item is the local skills improvement plan.
We've got to wait for our offices to come,
so we're just going to get the offices to come down.
So if I take just a short pause, we'll pop off camera and we'll bring our officers down.
Thank you.
Maybe I was slightly too swift in the early part of the meeting, so time for a cup of
tea.
Thank you.

16 Local Skills Improvement Plan (LSIP)

Welcome back to part two, which is other business.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:17
So item 16, the local skills improvement plan.
We all know that investing in skills is one of the most
powerful things we can do to support our residents into good
jobs and to help our businesses to grow and to thrive.
And building on the wider progress we're making through
our region of learning and creativity strategy,
which was successfully launched at Bradford College yesterday,
and brilliant turnout, some amazing young people.
So really proud of what you've done over there in Bradford.
and our adult skills plan.
We are today seeking endorsement for the local
skills improvement plan, which has been developed by
the West Yorkshire and North Yorkshire Chamber
of Commerce.
The Chamber is the government's identified
employer representative body to develop the plan
in our region.
The draught plan hasn't been published today, as it will
go forward to the Minister for Skills to approve, and
we don't have the permission to make it public
ahead of this.
This is why it's been shared as an exempt appendix.
Frankly, it is my strong view that the combined authority
should be responsible for developing the local skills
improvement plan, and we've made representations to
government on this via the right to request process.
That said, I'm really pleased to see the level of
partnership working that's gone into developing the
plan, bringing together the Chamber, the CA, and the
wider range of stakeholders.
There is a commitment from the chamber that the roadmap in the plan will remain live and iterative
So that we can continue to be so it can continue to be developed in partnership
I'll hand over to Felix Kumi and Pofo our director of inclusive economy
skills and culture to take us through the report and
Recommendations Felix if you'd like to present it. Thank you
Thank you, ma 'am
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:36:14
As you've just heard, this is not a report or a plan that the Combined Authority itself
has developed.
It's a requirement on the employer representative body in each region.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:36:27
For us, it's the Western North Yorkshire Chamber to develop this.
Nonetheless, we've worked very closely with them and with all our partners, and a couple
of key points to make.
The mayor mentioned the local growth plan.
That sets the North Star for this paper and the plan that has followed.
So when you go through it, you will see the key sectors that we identified when we worked
through the local growth plan are the same sectors that are being focused on in this
plan.
Employers have looked at this and they are working very closely with the Combined Authority
and with partners.
It's important for anyone reading this to probably see
this as two sides of the same coin.
The region of learning and creativity strategy that was
launched yesterday focuses quite heavily on the supply
side of the labour market.
Where, by supply side, I mean the supply of labour
into the labour market.
People acquiring the skills and the training and the
qualifications they need to be able to achieve
their potential.
This plan looks at the demand for labour.
What the employer voice is articulating what employers are saying they need and how they
How are they working with us or proposing to work with us to be able to meet their needs?
So the two together and sure that we've got a plan that brings
Approach to the labour market together in one in one piece
This is the second
local skills improvement plan that we've developed
We don't know yet what comes on the back of this one,
but for the first one, there was some funding that went
to colleges to enable them to deliver this,
and each of our seven colleges received funding,
which they put towards the abbot of the delivery of the plan.
We hope and expect that the same will happen this time,
but we cannot be certain.
Your endorsement today, if you mind it to do so,
will allow the Secretary of State to consider ours,
West Yorkshire with all the other regions so that when that is approved by the government,
anything that comes from government will be eligible to receive to deliver this.
I'll end that there if that's helpful. I'm happy to take any comments or questions.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:38:51
Thank you. Thank you so much Felix and certainly as a member of Alan Milburn's Youth unemployment
unemployment board this is critical we get this right but we are saying to the
young people of West Yorkshire we're not going to write you off and this is this
work is part of that pledge to those young people as well as others across
West Yorkshire. Any thoughts? Yes, Councillor Place. Thank you I support the draught plan
Cllr Stephen Place - 0:39:18
I'm just concerned that it is a regional plan it doesn't really delve much into
local economic developments such as we need in Bradford.
So going forward, hopefully we can maybe put some more into that.
That's all.
My point to government exactly.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:39:33
We want to be able to develop it ourselves because we know our businesses, we know our young people, we know our colleges, and we have that knowledge.
Anything to comment on that request, Felix?
Thanks.
Thank you.
The comment is well noted.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:39:56
If there's any reassurance, it will be that in the delivery of this plan, we work very
closely with the Chamber and the other employer representative bodies and we ensure, we will
ensure that the delivery has a local face.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:40:08
As I said last time, the funding that came went to colleges.
So there was a local response in that respect.
The local colleges were able to articulate what they are able to do,
what their specialism was, and on the back of that they received funding
to be able to do that.
So we'll continue to work with partners to make sure we can meet local leaders.
Thank you.
Mandy?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:39
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:40:40
We're really welcome and planned because I represent the West Yorkshire Business Board
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 0:40:43
and we know that for businesses the issue that comes up time and time again is access
to skills and talent so it was brilliant to be at the event yesterday at Bradford which
was a fantastic step forward in terms of how we get more young people into work.
The West Yorkshire Business Board consists not only of the steering group but also it
within the cluster groups goes down to lots more businesses and every single district
is represented in those cluster groups and so it's really important that those businesses
that sit in those economic areas feed that into those cluster groups and then that comes
up to the business board so that we can help to push forward on this and accelerate the work that this
LSIP is describing. Thank you. Thank you. Any further comments?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:41:35
No, thank you so much. Okey -dokey. So
Are we happy to approve the draught local skills improvement plan? All those in favour, please raise your hand. Thank you
Thank you.
No non -against and no abstentions.
The recommendations have been carried.
Thank you.
Moving to Item 17, year -end out -turn finance report.

17 Year End Outturn Finance Report

This is, as it says, the out -turn finance report.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:42:01
Really pleased to see the overall financial position of the last year set out here, our
balanced books, and the bolstering of our financial resilience in what you will all
be aware as local authority leaders around the table in
what continues to be a challenging financial
environment.
This provides a good level of assurance around how we
are managing public money while continuing to deliver
on our priorities for the region.
What's particularly important is that this
funding is supporting delivery on the ground,
including through our local authority partners helping
to deliver key projects and priorities for communities
right across West Yorkshire.
So if I could hand over to Kate Taylor our director of finance and commercial services to take us through the report and recommendations
Kate thank you. Thank you chair
As you set out this is the final report for 25 26 financial year
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:42:59
So previously our financial reporting used to go to our finance resources and corporate committee under our previous governance structure
So this is the first time the report has come to the CA and going forward
you will receive the quarterly forecast reports into to this committee. So as I
said this report closes out our year it's kind of the final chapter of the
book. It presents the revenue position and the capital positions for the
combined authority which includes spend that will have been delivered within our
districts for those years and also covers off the Treasury management
regulations as well, so just setting out our compliance against our Treasury Management Prudential indicators
for that. In terms of the revenue performance, we are pleased that we have
balanced for this year. We have a surplus
of 15 million for the year, which is in line with what we were reporting at the quarter three report that went through to the FRCC.
So the committee was aware that we were in that position and for the reasons why.
$8 million of that is proposed to go into our general earmarked reserve for operational
risk, with the balance of that being returned to the gain share reserve, the gain share
being our devolution deal money that supports projects across the combined authority region.
I'm asking you as a committee to approve that transfer into those earmarked reserves and
that will bolster our resilience, we say, to support future financial commitments that
we have, particularly against thus franchising and other programmes that we need.
I'm pleased to report that the prudential and treasury indicators for the period are
outlined and we are within those and we have met no breaches of those.
Finally for that, I have asked you to note and approve some changes to the 26 -27 budget.
So looking forward, that budget was approved by this committee in January.
Since that budget was approved, we have had some new awards of funding from government
for the financial year.
We are looking to just take those into the budget so that we are not reporting significant
variances against that budget throughout the year, and they would be quite substantial
variations.
So there is no effect on the bottom line in there, so matching income and expenditure.
And of course, all spend plans will be subject to the assurance framework that combined authority
runs.
Then very finally, just to note, there is a small correction to the Treasury Management
Strategy Statement that was presented in March, which is set out in paragraph 3 .6.
And also, so we have the Treasury Management Statement, so I am responsible for Treasury
management for the police and crime commissioner function as well, under our regulations at
the moment.
That statement has traditionally gone through the Joint Independent Assurance Committee
that you will have seen the report earlier today in there. That committee has reviewed
that statement in March and we are now incorporating that in part of the statement
that was approved by this committee previously in March of this year. In going forward those
two will be brought together into one comprehensive statement so we will not have two statements
coming forward. So that's the same air.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:46:31
Thank you so much. Any questions or comments? No, thank you. Okeydoke. Are we happy to note
the financial position as 31 March 2026 as set out of paragraph 3 .1? Note the anticipated
revenue surplus of 15 million for 25 and 26 and approve its transfer to earmarked reserves
to support financial resilience.
To note the Treasury and Prudential indicators for the period ending 31st March 2026 as set out in Appendix 6,
approve the outline budget changes for 26 -27 as set out paragraph 3 .4, and approve the correction to the Treasury Management
Strategy Statement 26 -27 as set out paragraph 3 .6, and following presentation of the West Yorkshire Police
TMS to joint independent audit committee.
This will be incorporated into the overarching group strategy for West Yorkshire combined
authority.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
And no, none against and none abstaining.
The recommendations have been carried.
Thank you.
Moving on.
Devolution and the integrated settlement update.

18 Devolution and the Integrated Settlement Update

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:47:41
This is a really, really significant moment for
West Yorkshire and encouraging to see the
progress being made following the passage of
the new act and the move into the delivery of
something we have been banging on about for the
last five years, which is the integrated settlement.
This gives us a real opportunity to bring
funding and decision -making closer to
our communities, working with partners across the
region to deliver on shared priorities.
I'll hand over to Sarah Eaton, our Director of Strategy, Communications and Intelligence
to take us through the report and recommendations.
Thank you, Mayor.
So you've already received a paper today that talks about some of the constitutional amendments
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:22
that have been made as a result of the Devolution Act and as the Combined Authority will know,
we've been charting the progress of this Act right from its inception as a white paper
through to the bill and now the act which was passed on the 29th of April this year.
One of the fundamental elements of the act is about creating strategic authorities as
a new category of local government and there are several tiers of strategic authorities
as part of that category. West Yorkshire has the most broadest powers as an established
mayoral strategic authority and that means that we can access the greatest level of powers
that are available.
The integrated settlement is a really good example of that,
which kind of puts us ahead of some of the other
mayoral combined authorities that are in that space.
As part of giving mayoral strategic authorities
kind of functions and responsibilities,
it's much more clear now in the act around
those responsibilities that are passed down
to strategic authorities.
And you'll see that around the nine competencies
that have become available.
And they're set out in the paper.
They started off at seven.
There have been two additional ones that came through at late stage amendments through the
House of Lords which are predominantly around culture and rural and coastal communities.
They are new and we are working through what they might mean and the implications for the
combined authority at the moment.
The government is consulting on some of those activities at the minute in terms of how they
might be implemented given that they are relatively new.
The Act also gives additional duties to strategic authorities and the Mayor in being able to
point commissioners and it's also extending the general power of competence which local
authorities already have to strategic authorities and duty to collaborate and duty to convene
and that's about trying to ensure that the right people are sat around the table and
are involved in some of the decision making. For example when we're developing a local
growth plan that we've got the right people that are involved in the development of that
local growth plan and we can bring them around the table. And again the government's looking
at how that might work at the minute and consulting on the bodies that would be required to form
and that's a very important part of that.
In addition, the act, as you referenced, Mayor,
gives us the ability to kind of add to the powers
and functions that we've got,
so it's not a static framework.
And part of the remit of the act
has been around deepening and widening the evolutions
as part of that deepening what are those additional powers
that could come forward.
We've got the ability to do that
through the right to request process,
as you'll see in the paper.
That's been operating in shadow form now since September.
We're already seeing some of the successes of that with the government kind of consulting on the overnight visitor levy
But also for West Yorkshire, we've we put an amendment
In there to try and get a provision to kind of fully devolve local innovation funds
Which I'm pleased to say we're successful that will come comes during the next spending review
But but this gives us a real remit to kind of expand and to look more broadly around what devolution can bring to West Yorkshire
is quite an important element that we'll be looking at over the coming period.
In addition to that, there's also additional functional responsibilities which are set
out in the paper which will significantly change the shape of the combined authority
moving forward.
You'll see in there that we reference it in the transfer of powers from the fire and rescue
authority to the combined authority and again, those functions will mean that we're moving
into a different era once that happens.
you'll see in the paper that that's not expected to happen fully until 2028.
But again, lots of work to do to kind of prepare for that as we move forward.
And separate to that, there's also work taking place to look at
whether future devolutions should focus on bedding local resilience
much more closely to the way that strategic authorities operate,
which would give the mayor, you know, responsibility really
for having, responding to kind of emergencies
and what are described as catastrophic events.
So that's the kind of the devolution element of the paper.
The paper is also just giving a little bit of an update following on from the kind of
discussion that we had at the last combined authority around looking at the integrated
settlement and you'll see there that the integrated settlement was agreed and published on the
25th of March of this year.
We're now in the second iteration of that integrated settlement and the development
of the integrated settlement outcomes framework, particularly looking at bringing in funding
from city identification and a new retrofit outcome which will bring additional funds
into the area which is to be welcomed.
We're now transitioning from that kind of negotiation and looking at what the settlement
targets are into now translating some of the investment programmes that we've brought to
the March combined authority, looking at how we now move into detailed delivery.
and we will have to report to government around the integrated settlement targets on a six -monthly basis.
The first submission of that report is in November.
We will then have a meeting probably December, January to work with the government on looking at that,
so that we will be reviewed and we'll be held to account for the targets that are in the integrated settlements
as we progress and move forward.
Because this is a significant piece of work, the paper is also just giving a little bit of an update on the programme
that we've got in place to make sure that we are hitting a key milestone and that we're delivering on track.
As I said, some of the transfer of functions to the combined authority will involve a significant amount of work.
We've got to make sure that we're geared up as an organisation to be and to get those kind of new functions in place by agreed deadlines.
I'll stop there, Mayor, but that just gives a bit of an overview around the work that we've done to date.
Thank you, and we've always said we know more responsibilities without resource.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:54:02
So that's really important, that integrated settlement as well, and
It's noted that we will also be reporting in six monthly cycles back to government on
our outcomes.
Any comments on this?
Yes, Councillor Sutherland.
Thank you, Mayor.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:54:22
Really welcome the furthering and deepening of devolution.
Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council) - 0:54:28
What I would hope is that devolution doesn't stop at this building.
Over the Pennines you have the Manchester combined authority but we are different at
this side.
We are the West Yorkshire combined authority not the Leeds combined authority and that's because our constituent councils have their very own distinct identities
agendas priorities
too often though
Particularly on transport decisions
Our area feels like we are being held back and slowed down by decisions that need to be made here in Leeds
And that is a frustration and there is also a view that
again on transport as though Leeds may be an outpost for the Department for transport and
areas like mine
being forced into having
cycle lanes in rural or hilly areas
Cllr Dan Sutherland - 0:55:17
Rather than the things that they really need which are the roads resurfacing and basic infrastructure being sorted
So I would ask and request that this cut authority
commits to devolving down to the constituent council so we can make
decisions on what actually matters for local people. Thank you so much and one
of my most favourite projects is Halifax bus station and maybe you and I will go
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:55:39
and have a visit because I'm just so proud of what we've achieved there. I
wonder if we could come back to you Sarah on how we make sure that we have
equity across the region.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:55:56
So I think the paper that we brought in March around the kind of high -level investment programmes
that we're looking to take forward over this coming period, we did a lot of work with our
local authority partners to try and get to a point where we're looking at how we can
both develop regional schemes but also schemes that are I think really important for our
local partners.
and I think that work will obviously continue as we move forward into the coming year into
delivery and I think that is important around us continually making the case also to government
around that devolving kind of responsibility down.
I think the integrated settlement is a really good start at doing that.
It gives us that ability to kind of look across now rather than having specific funding streams
that are geared up to delivering specific outcomes.
We've got more flexibility in that space but that doesn't mean that we shouldn't be asking
and government for more.
I think this is a new way of working,
and obviously as we're working with our local authority
partners over this coming period,
that's something that we will be kind of looking at
and testing the approach.
I think it would be remiss of me to say
that we have signed up to a number of targets,
so getting the balance right between that agility
and flexibility and also testing how we kind of deliver
priorities that are important for this region.
We will need to balance that against us kind of
actively trying to hit the targets that we've been given.
That's really important because what we don't want to do
is not deliver because we want to be making sure that as that integrated settlement process
rolls forward over future years and we get into fiscal devolution that we can show that
we can deliver. So that's kind of work that we'll be doing obviously with our partners
over this coming period.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:31
Thank you Sarah. Just to cheque with Ben, I think it would also be useful to have briefings
on the pipeline of projects, what are coming through for all regions. So if we could make
we could get that in the diary as well then. So everybody's reassured that there
is an enormous amount of work ongoing and particularly bus franchising is
really important for our region and that's going to impact the whole of our
region. But yeah let's do that as a takeaway. Councillor, please.
Thank you, Mayor. I understand I'm reading this under Culture, Libraries and obviously
Cllr Stephen Place - 0:58:08
obviously sometimes very contentious issue. Does that mean local authorities are going
to lose the control of them?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:58:17
No, I don't think so. You will know that we've got libraries for primaries as a project that
we initiated here and is now a national programme, but I'm with you, Councillor Place, that libraries
are incredibly important to our communities. Sarah, that's not part of the devolved...
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:58:34
The functions here are to sit and complement local authority functions, which is why it's
really good that they've published something about competences. There's always been a fear
that strategic authorities, combined authorities would be trying to take over the responsibility
of functions that local authorities do. We've very much been in a position, particularly
in this region, that that's not what we're here to do. I think this is just reflecting
that kind of broad cultural offer across regions and communities. We haven't seen anything
that is suggesting that any functions the libraries would pass through to us.
Thank you so much. Ben.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:59:09
Thank you, Mayor. Just two points really. The first two to pick up your point about
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:59:13
offering a briefing on the integrated settlement and the pipeline, we would like to do that
because I think as in explaining that we can also explain that within the integrated settlement
we've got varying amounts of flexibility as a place more so on some parts than
on others and so for example active travel booking and cycling funding is
one of those that's got more more controls around it than some of the
other some of the other parts so we can explore and explain that situation and
that influences some of the some of the programmes as a consequence and secondly I
just wanted to kind of complement what Sarah's saying about a letter that mayor
you've had this morning from Steve Reid, the Secretary of State for Communities, confirming
the status of this command authority as an established MSA.
Yay! We're the winners!
Thank you, I hadn't seen that because of this meeting, but thank you for that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:00:14
And how many are there in the country, Sarah?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:00:22
I'm delighted that we're part of that.
Good stuff.
As we're pretty new in comparison, I'm very proud of that.
Any other comments?
Thank you so much for that.
Brilliant.
So are we happy to note the update on the English devolution community empowerment act
to 2026 and the programme to support implementation.
To note the update on the West Yorkshire integrated settlement including progress on the outcomes
framework and transition into delivery.
Are we happy to, all those in favour please raise your hand.
Thank you and none against and no abstentions.
The recommendations are carried.
Moving on to project approvals, transport and local infrastructure.

19 Project Approvals - Transport & Local Infrastructure

The first is the highways asset management programme.
Probably everybody knows it as the pothole fund.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:01:14
The approval adds an extra 15 million to top up our road maintenance programme to more than
300 million, all delivered through our local authority partners.
Can I ask Simon Pope, our Transport Capital Programme Director, to set out further details
of the scheme.
Simon.
Thank you, Bair.
This is a five -year programme across all five West Yorkshire districts that's been funded
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:01:38
by the Combined Authority through to 2026 -27.
Programme supports all highway maintenance activity, so that includes both preventative measures
such as carriage way resurfacing and reconstruction, as well as reactive pothole repairs, as you
suggest.
It also covers maintenance to structures and bridges, drainage, streetlights and signage.
Two hundred and fifty -one million pounds of funding was originally provided by government
for the five -year period from 2022 -23 under the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement.
Allocation of funding to districts for years four and five, the final two years of the
programme, was approved by the Combined Authority in April last year.
The original five -year funding allocation represented a 57 % increase on equivalent allocations
that were previously received directly by West Yorkshire authorities, but it has not
been sufficient to arrest the decline in the condition of highway assets that we've seen
nationally due to previous levels of underinvestment.
The government has therefore made available a series of top ops to this funding, the most
recent being the award of £15 .6 million to West Yorkshire and the local highway maintenance
fund, ring fenced to be spent on maintenance activities in the current financial year.
This approval seeks to accept this additional top -up funding from government and to allocate
it to each district using the same formula adopted across the programme to date, which
which is based on the length of highway asset in each authority area.
The additional top -up funding for 2026 -2027 is more than that received through top -ups
in previous years and will increase the total value of the programme as you say, Mayor,
to £300 million.
The original programme allocation for year 5 was principally directed towards highway
renewals.
The majority of this top -up funding is to be directed towards pothole repairs.
The economic benefits of the programme to business and society are expected to be significant
Due to reduce congestion a lower cost of motoring improve safety and enhanced perception of the network
So subject to your approval existing funding agreements will be amended to increase the level of project project expenditure that can be claimed by each
District authority in line with the recommendations set out in the report
Thank you so much any comments. Yes councillor Johnson
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:03:47
Say I welcome this it's much needed especially in Wakefield. We've got a lot of highways and polls issue
Cllr Dan Sutherland - 1:03:52
So yeah, I do welcome it and yeah, so it's much needed.
Thank you, Councillor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:04:02
And also I think it is Leeds that has the super machine
that fills potholes super fast.
I don't know how much it costs or whatever,
but it sounds like you're very nimble over there
on pothole filling.
Is this true, Councillor Lewis?
Thank you.
Obviously, we're allocating the money here,
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:04:25
but it's also, again, some of the work to try and get
some up -to -date methods of trying to fix the roads
before they become potholes and prevent it
in using lots of technology.
I know different councils around the country
are really pushing ahead now in terms of how councils can assess
the road network.
Preventative measures.
I could get really boring about the properties of tarmac, but I won't
And but also I say how when potholes occur
They can be fixed quicker. So I think again the overall headline figure is important like cancer Johnson. I welcome the resources
I think it shows
the combined authority and ourselves working
working together
Well, but like I say there is also
Work as well about how it could be sort of really on top of up -to -date technology on
maintaining our
maintaining our road network, it's really important to the success of the
success of the
West Yorkshire
moving forwards
Thank You a counsellor place
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:39
Yeah, I just like to say thank you on behalf of Bradford three point million pounds allows us to
Cllr Stephen Place - 1:05:45
explore to GCB super pothole repair machines and we've set through councillor Judson who has the
The
Detail for it. He's set a target 20 ,000 potholes before the end of this financial year
So that's a bigger big target, but we will achieve it. Thank you
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:06:05
Also a lot of jobs there. So that's that's excellent good stuff any further comments. Thank you. Okie doke
can we move on to approve the recommendations for the Highways Asset Management Programme,
the combined authority.
So we approve additional funding of £572 ,950, a million pounds, increasing the total cost
of the Highways Asset Management Programme from £285, I will round up these numbers if people
don't mind.
I am sure you don't want to hear me stumbling over numbers.
from $285 million to $300 million,
approves the combined authority entering into funding agreements
with partner councils for the additional funding allocations
from the $15 .5 million for the High -Wiz Asset Management
Programme up to the amount set out below.
And you will see, I can refer colleagues to page 524 in the
papers for the more detailed numbers,
but it is an expenditure of
over three million to Bradford Council over
Nearly two million for Colton our council over three million for Kirk Lee's
nearly five
4 .8 million for Leeds and two and a half million for Wakefield Council
Also, can we approve the future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway and the approval route
outlined in this report and this will be subject to the scheme remaining within
the tolerances outlined in this report. All those in favour please raise your
hand. There is none against and no abstentions so that has been approved.
Thank you so much. On to the second project approval the Leeds Inner Ring Road
retaining wall. I wonder if Councillor Lewis would like to say anything in
introduction before I hand over to Simon. Thank you, thank you Mayor. I mean people
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:08:02
have read the papers but just to emphasise the Inner Ring Road is a
really important piece of infrastructure not just for Leeds but the wider region in
terms of the amount of traffic it carries that is not just about serving
Leeds but about crossing West Yorkshire. It's really important that it's
It's a safe and secure piece of infrastructure we don't have.
We fix it first rather waiting it to fail and having loads of unplanned work on it,
which would be really chaotic.
It's also looking at just what isn't in the papers, but I'll just touch on a little bit
there, is our wider ambitions for growth, things like projects like the New Town, projects
like the work we're doing on bus franchising to really make the bus network efficient,
to have a good route for through traffic to be outside those routes that have heavy bus
traffic so the busses can run reliably and hopefully on time is really important.
And again, to be able to deliver thousands of new houses and thousands of square feet
of new commercial space in the city centre, we need that infrastructure to get road traffic
in and out and and although may look like a big figure for maintenance
actually it is a really important piece of infrastructure be really difficult to
see how we could have economic growth in the city centre without it and it's
certainly one I recommend to the combined authority. Thank you so much
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:09:44
Councillor Lewis any comments? Yes Councillor Douglas. Thank you Mayor and I
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:09:49
I just wanted to back up what Councillor Lewis has just said.
Cllr Karl Johnson - 1:09:52
Can't be underestimated the importance of these levels of infrastructure for not just
Leeds but it's for the wider region and you know, West Yorkshire over into the councillors
across the table, your areas, but also over into North Yorkshire and York and then over
into East Yorkshire and the Hull and the Humber because we all move across this corridor,
of the north and it opens up economic opportunity for millions of people in
fact and so it's really important that we collectively across the whole region
keep our infrastructure in good condition and taking opportunities that
are in front of us to do that so thank you for bringing this forward.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:10:42
I appreciate the comments thank you so much. Okay are we happy to approve the
recommendations for the Leeds Inner Ring Road retaining wall.
Approve that the Leeds Inner Ring Road retaining wall scheme proceeds to decision point four
to the full business case and work commences on activity five, which is delivery.
Approves the combined authorities funding of £25 ,355 ,000.
The total scheme value is £25 ,355 ,000.
Approves that the Combined Authority enters into a funding agreement with Leeds Council
for that amount of £25 ,355 ,000.
This includes a ring -fenced amount of £50 ,000 for monitoring and evaluation, release of
which is delegated to the Combined Authority Chief Executive in consultation with myself.
Approves that future approvals are made in accordance with the assurance pathway, approval
routes and tolerances outlined in this report.
This would be subject to the scheme remaining within the tolerances outlined.
Note that the total scheme cost includes £6 ,085 ,000 for risk and contingency and £1 ,450 ,000 for
inflation.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
There is no one against and no abstentions.
The recommendations are carried.
Thank you so much.
Moving on to another brilliant item and a big

20 West Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund

item for us here in West Yorkshire is the housing
investment fund.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:17
Really important step forward how we deliver
housing across our region, bringing together a
significant level of devolved investment
through our integrated settlement into a single,
more flexible programme, which is responsive to the
housing and regeneration priorities of our five
local authority partners.
We have massive ambition for our region when it comes to housing. We continue to
be focused on unlocking brownfield sites and getting development moving where it
might otherwise stall. As we all recognise there is a significant and
urgent need for housing across West Yorkshire. Far too many children are
growing up in temporary accommodation and we need to solve this problem. The
approach we're taking here responds to learning we've drawn down from
previous programmes and will be key to building and maintaining market
confidence in our collective housing and regeneration priorities. This West
Yorkshire Housing Investment Fund has the potential to drive positive and
transformative change in all of our places across West Yorkshire. So if I
could hand over to Ruth Davison, Interim Director of Environment and Place, to
take us through the report and recommendations. Ruth, thank you.
The paper before you today seeks the approval to create the West Yorkshire Housing Investment
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:13:43
Fund as a programme. So that fund will be up to £334 ,620 ,000 and that comes from our
integrated settlement funds. So as described, this really supports our ambition to create
vibrant places and it's about building the right homes in the right places for our residents.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:14:00
The fund will come from two strands of our settlement funding, our national housing delivery
fund and an element of our city densification funding.
What we have set out in this paper is the ambition that this will deliver thousands
of homes, over 4000 homes for West Yorkshire and it will also attract significant private
investment.
The paper sets out in more detail the targets we have set ourselves to deliver over the
next three -year period which is specifically linked to the National Housing Delivery Fund
element of the pot.
So the programme is actually made up of two separate business cases that you have before
you today.
The first sets out a capital programme and you're asked to approve the programme business
case to a decision point two of the assurance process.
So that is where we've set out a programme of delivery.
But what that will allow us to do is to start working from today on the business cases for
individual sites and this is about how we start to generate pace and delivery across the whole of West Yorkshire.
So as part of the development work
you're asked to agree that up to 10 million pounds can be released to fund activity that will facilitate the business cases on
individual sites progressing to decision point.
So we have been working really hard with your local authority officers to produce a pipeline of housing projects that would benefit from this funding
and it's our intention to bring a further paper to the Combined Authority in July that
will set out the pipeline and details of what sites will be the forerunner sites to be funded
from this approach.
As we have been building that pipeline, we've heard both from local authority colleagues,
developers and investors to pick up on the point that the Mayor has made that West Yorkshire
Combined Authority needs to ensure that it's more attuned to market timeframes and build
more efficiency into our processes. We have researched good practise in other areas and
we have brought forward in the paper today an approval that asks you to delegate to the
chief executive for projects of up to 20 million in line with consultation with the mayor.
We have also built significant safeguards into the paper in terms of democratic oversight
and also risk safeguards in terms of the type of project that those delegations will be
used for.
Those are set out in detail in paragraph 3 .22 and 3 .23 of the report.
What that means is that you will have sight of the indicative pipeline before that delegation
is implemented and also it is limited to projects that require either grant viability funding
or forward funding of infrastructure only at this stage.
So moving on, and I'm going to come back to Sarah's paper, integrated settlement policy
means that when we have capital funding from government, we are allowed to convert an element
of that into revenue.
So under the National Housing Delivery Fund, we can convert up to 10 % of that funding into
revenue.
The paper before you today asks for an agreement to convert 4 ,600 ,000 into revenue funding
and that actually adds to an amount that was previously agreed in January through the budget
process.
So that will take us to about 4 % transfer of capital to revenue under that funding pot.
Those costs are going to pay for two things.
one to cover the staff costs linked to the programme but also to establish a housing
enabler fund and there is a second business case before you today about that enabling
fund and I will come on to that shortly. What this paper also does in terms of the capital
programme though is it does seek delegation for the chief executive to be able to sign
grant funding agreements but they will align to the business cases as they are developed.
So the second business case establishes the housing enabler fund and this is the revenue fund that supports early pipeline work.
So sometimes sites become locked as a result of the fact that there are issues that prevent them from moving forward to a business case and prevent them moving to delivery.
So this enabler fund creates five million and a half, sorry five and a half
million to de -risk sites to support them to the market and you're
being asked to approve that to the point where it can move into delivery, so
decision point four. You're being asked to approve that that funding will be
delegated to the chief executive for decision in line with consultation with
the mayor, but there is an element that is 55 ,000 that's ring fenced for monitoring and
evaluation.
So, this approach replicates delegations that were in place under the previous Brownfield
Housing funding and again through that part, signing of grant funding agreements will be
delegated to the chief executive.
So both programmes, both capital and revenue programmes again will only be released, funding
will only be released when the process of our assurance process has been followed so
that relevant safeguards have been followed through.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:19:36
Thank you so much Ruth and it's so important that we move faster on house building. We
must do more because even when we build more affordable homes than any time since the economic
crash it's still not enough so these are really welcome amendments and an
opportunity for us to be actually best in class any comments on this paper yes
councillor Lewis and then councillor Douglas thank you mayor really welcome
the paper one thing I just want to highlight in particular is a forward
funding of infrastructure around new housing developments I think that's
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:20:09
Some think that will be a step change in many areas and some think that I know residents
will really welcome.
So it's a good paper overall.
You're absolutely right about our need to really crack on with house building, certainly
in Leeds.
We are growing all types of housing, including our own council house building programme.
I won't give an advert for Leeds Council here but certainly I don't think that forward funding
of local infrastructure is something that will be really welcome.
And I think it's also given us the opportunity for innovative funding in the way that we
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:20:49
are with Bradford City Village and I know that each local authority leader has enormous
fabulous plans for their regions when it comes to house building and Wakefield and Castleford
is also another example and I know there are projects in Calderdale as well.
Councillor Douglas.
Cllr Karl Johnson - 1:21:10
Thank you, Mayor, and I just wanted to say how fantastic I think this is.
This is an awful lot of money coming out of central government into West Yorkshire that
will benefit all of us around the table here and it cannot be underestimated for the people
across the north and particularly in the east of the north, which is how we have that relationship
between York and North Yorkshire, combined authority, South Yorkshire and also West Yorkshire,
the economic benefit that that brings.
But at the end of the day, this is about people and secure homes that they can afford to live
in with the infrastructure that they need around that to make sure that we build fantastic
places to live in.
And I'm really glad to see our government investing in that, that it's coming through
and the people benefit at the same time, which is hugely, hugely important, and building
those communities and lives for people off into further generations. So it's fantastic
to see and thank you for everything you're doing.
Thank you, Councillor Douglas. It's also very welcome that the National Housing Bank is
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:22:21
in West Yorkshire, which is incredibly useful. But also, having an integrated settlement
from being a mature strategic authority means we can team and ladle monies so we have more
flexibility in a way that some others don't.
So I think it is really welcome.
We're grabbing this opportunity to get on and build.
Yes, Mandy.
Thanks, Mayor.
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:22:48
And we really welcome it from the business community as well because not only does this
create homes for residents, this creates work for residents and opportunities for business
themselves.
and whilst we are attractive, we want to attract investment and we want to grow business in
the region which is what one of our aims is, then we need to make sure that we have got
the workforce and the homes of the workforce that help that growth. So we really welcome
it. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:23:14
Super, thank you. Oki -doke. Are we happy to approve the progression of the West Yorkshire
Housing Investment Fund and endorse the investment of up to £335 million? Approve progression
of the capital programme including up to 10 million for development and business case
work, delegate authority to the chief executive in consultation with myself to approve individual
projects of up to 20 million within the parameters set out in the report, approve the conversion
of capital funding to revenue, taking the total to around 7 .5 million and delegate authority
to the chief executive in consultation with myself to enter into funding agreements with
partners, to approve the housing enabler fund, to
proceed with investment of five and a half million
pounds, delegate authority to the chief executive in
consultation with the mayor, myself, to enter
into agreements for the housing enabler fund, and
to approve that future decisions are made in line
with the agreed assurance process.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
None against and no abstentions.
That recommendations have been passed.

21 Staffing Update

Thank you so much.
Okay, moving on to something a little bit more prosaic,
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:24:24
the staffing update.
Hand over to Ben Still, our Chief Executive.
Ben, thank you.
Thank you, May. I don't quite know how to follow that.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:24:36
So this is a short paper that brings members and new members up to speed
with some of the changes that we've been making to the office of complement
over recent months, first flagged in a paper that we brought
to the command authority last autumn.
Cutting to the chase, it is,
and this refers back to the paper
that Sarah presented on devolution.
In the context of the growth areas
as set out in the mayoral competency areas,
we've had a proposition to develop
and move towards the appointment
of an executive director for economy.
This paper, therefore, seeks endorsement
for the creation of that post to be paid for by dissolving a post at the same grade, the
chief operating officer role that has been vacant for a number of months.
We also, in the context of bus franchising, want to create a director of transport commercial
activities, and effectively that is from the dividing of duties because of the expansion
of those duties between our current Director of Transport Services who will become a Director
of Transport Operations. And this is about managing the cost model and the commercial
aspects of the bus network as it comes under public control. So those two things set out
in the recommendations and the resulting senior team structure is set out in the diagram on
And the paper is seeking your endorsement for those three things, please.
Thank you so much.
Any comments?
No.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:26:17
Okeydoke.
Are we content to endorse the creation of the executive director for economy role and
the removal of the chief operating officer post, endorse the creation of the director
of transport commercial role, and to endorse the resulting changes to the senior leadership
structure as set out in the report?
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you so much.
None against and no abstentions.
That has been carried.
Phew, we got through that.
Okey -doke.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:26:45
So item 22, minutes for information.
This is all the minutes from committees,

FOR INFORMATION

as well as summaries from formal meetings

22 Minutes for Information and Summaries of Committee Meetings

that have been published on the CA's website
since the last meeting.
Thank you so much for attending.
Thank you to our new members.
And I thought it was a good conversation.
And just to end, can I remind members of the day to the next meeting, the 30th of July
2026, so no one book a holiday on July the 30th.
Thank you so much and I close the meeting.
Thanks very much.
Thank you Sarah.