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Combined Authority Board
Thursday, 24th September 2026 at 11:00am

 
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  2. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  8. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  9. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  10. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  11. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  12. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  13. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
  14. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Cllr Cllr Andrew Judson Bradford Council
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Cllr Cllr Andrew Judson Bradford Council
  21. Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson
  22. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  23. Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale
  24. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  25. Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council
  26. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  27. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  28. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  29. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  30. Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson
  31. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  32. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  33. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  34. Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale
  35. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  36. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  37. Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  38. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  39. Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  40. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  41. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  42. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  43. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  44. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  45. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  46. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  47. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  48. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  49. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  50. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  4. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  2. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  5. Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson
  6. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  22. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  23. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  24. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  11. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  12. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  15. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  16. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  22. Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council)
  23. Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale
  24. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  25. Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer
  26. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  27. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  28. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  29. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  30. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
  31. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  32. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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1 Apologies for Absence

Fantastic. Thank you, Sarah. Good morning, everybody, and welcome to this Combined Authority
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:09
meeting. Before we start, I would like to say a few words about Ben Still, our chief
executive who sat next to me, who will hate this because he's so modest and he will hate
this moment. But Ben is moving on to a new challenge with the Thames Freeport after more
than a decade here in West Yorkshire,
the combined authority.
He has been at the helm of this organisation from its infancy,
as a transport authority, and then preparing it for mayorality
and then with a mayor, and led it to be one of the leading
established strategic authorities in the country.
Ben's impact on the region has been significant,
leading negotiations to secure multiple devolution deals,
which have enabled us to build thousands of homes,
build new railway stations, and pave the way
for the introduction of the Weaver Network next year.
He's been an ally and an advocate
for expanding devolution across England
as chair of UK Mayors Chief Executive Network
over the last four years.
And I am personally really genuinely grateful to you,
Ben, for everything that you've done.
Someone who really supported me
and guided me in my first five years as mayor,
helping to establish my role and navigate us through some quite challenging moments and situations.
So I know all of you around this table would like to wish Ben and his family all the best for the future.
I wonder if Ben, if you'd like to say anything before we begin?
It's like I know it's hell, but please do.
Yeah, you're absolutely right. Thank you, thank you, Mayor, for those kind words.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:01:54
And you're absolutely right, this is not my usual comfort space.
I guess I just wanted to say three things really.
One is to thank all the officers in the combined authority over the years who have made all
the things that you've just described happen.
Leadership is about creating the conditions for success but it is the teams that deliver
and I particularly wanted, partly because I missed the meeting with them yesterday,
just to single out the head of service in the organisation who do a fantastic job at
making things happen while all above them is changing and we often need to remember
them and praise them more.
We're a kind organisation and compassionate one and I'm really pleased about that and
again that's not me, that is the people in the organisation and the welcome that they
give to new members of staff and the way that we work in partnership.
So thanks to everybody who is kind of on whose shoulders we have stood to make those achievements.
Second thing is I just want to thank members as well.
This is my, broadly, my 75th Combined Authority meeting.
Wow.
When I started in 2016, we had a board, in fact, when I started in 2016 under,
when one of the local authorities chaired the Combined Authority,
officers didn't speak in those meetings and they lasted about 15 minutes.
So that was much better.
Since that time, the composition of the Kombaya Authority has changed.
The members that led the Kombaya Authority when I started in 2016 were not the same as
the ones that then were doing the devolution deal in 2020, 2021, and are not the same as
the members sat around the table now.
But what has remained throughout is that sense of working together collectively for the best
interests of the communities of West Yorkshire and I don't see any signs that
that's changed with the new members and that's really pleasing to see. So
thank you members here and members of PAST who have been so constructive in
their working at a West Yorkshire level. And then finally I just wanted to just
thank all of our partners. I sent out a bunch of emails last week when I
announced that I was going to go and I've been really bowled over with all the
partnership responses that I've had back and it just really makes it absolutely
clear just how we work best and we achieve things through partnership. Nobody does it
alone. And when we're aligned as a partnership, we're unstoppable. When we're not aligned
as a partnership, things come up really, really quickly. And I'm sure my successor will absolutely
have that in spades. 75 meetings in the CA is enough for anyone, but can I just say thank
you all and thank you to Tracey for everything that you've done for me as well. Thank you.
Thank you so much Ben, 75 meetings and as the longest standing member, Councillor Lewis,
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:04:43
I wonder if you would like to say a few words. He's going to the south, so we're not happy
about that. Thank you, I won't take your invitation to
Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council - 0:04:54
wind Ben up, but just again, I was trying to work out which leader it was at chaired
meetings that lasted 15 minutes and I probably can guess. I'm guessing the
leaders at the time but just you know we've worked here since the Combined
Authority started since we've seen that really strong relationship developed
between the five West Yorkshire councils and York for a while as well and really
seen the benefits on the ground and obviously the work of yourself and the
Combined Authority has formed a big part of Lee's being the fastest growing city
in the country, one of the real economic successes in the north of England and I'm sure you'll
take that great experience down to the south where they really need our help and assistance
down there. So thank you for everything you've done Ben, I'm sure we'll have another opportunity
to say a few words but I'll just say thank you for everything and really enjoyed working
with you over the years and look forward to seeing what you do next.
Thank you so much James. Okay moving on to the agenda, thank you so much Ben and I am
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:05:57
I'm very proud of being a compassionate and kind organisation.
Thank you for those words.
OK, apologies, Sarah.
Thank you, Mayor.
We have apologies from Councillor Place with Councillor Judson attending a substitute.
Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:06:11
Super, thank you.
Declarations of interest.
Any members have interest they wish to declare an entity item on the agenda?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:06:17
No, thank you so much.
Exclusion of press and public.
There are no exempt items today, which means we can press on.

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

Minutes of the meeting held 30th of July.
Any questions or comments on the minutes?
No?

4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 30 July 2026

Thank you so much.
Okay, moving on to the mayor's update.

5 Mayor's Update

Wow, a lot has happened, hasn't it, since we last
met with several exciting announcements in relation
to devolution.
The rewiring the state cabinet statement, setting
out an entirely new vision for how the country can be run.
There's a paper summarising this in the next item, so
Obviously, I don't want to preempt that conversation.
I do think that the new model of government it sets out is the
right one for the country with the ambition to empower mayors
and local leaders to drive growth and improve
public services.
We all want more power locally.
Whilst I agree there are lots of things we will agree with in
this agenda, I also realise we won't always have shared views
around this table.
I received a letter last week from some of the leaders around
the table setting out their opposition to the overnight
visitor levy.
I've since responded.
But I wanted to be clear here that whilst I think it's a good
idea, no decisions have been taken here in West Yorkshire.
The ability to introduce a levy is subject to legislation and we
will continue to engage with government on what that looks
like, whilst also speaking with local people and local
businesses so that we choose the right way to introduce
a levy and that we get it right.
But as I say, we won't always agree.
I'm also aware that the government's decision to
introduce mayoral call -in powers in the planning
system haven't been met with universal support by
colleagues around the table.
It should be noted that the biggest proponent of this
approach amongst mayors is the Conservative mayor for
the Tees Valley, he's absolutely been thriving,
this change from the centre.
Obviously, any change like this needs to be properly
worked through, and I know the officers at the
Combined Authority and your councils are working on
this together.
I would say, though, I think we are really
fortunate here in West Yorkshire.
We have five authorities who are mostly excellent at
taking planning decisions.
It's therefore a power I'm not expecting to use
regularly.
There is a democratic process in the planning system that
generally works well.
I think the purpose of mayors having call -in powers is to
enhance that local accountability,
as it will mitigate the occasions where the Secretary
of State may feel the need to use their powers.
But the important point is it's something that needs to be
worked through properly with our teams as we make progress
for the whole region.
So the changes over the summer meant that I joined the National Economic Council at
number 10 north, chaired by the Prime Minister, where I was able to make the case for key
growth projects in our region, including mass transit, Leeds South Bank, and the new rail
station in Bradford.
And the good news is that I understand the first business case for the Bradford News
Station was presented to the Department of Transport earlier this week, and I am delighted
To see progress being made and my thanks to all of those who've made that work and particularly
Councillors in Bradford Council Thank You councillor Johnson. There's loads more updates
I could make but I don't want to delay the rest of the meeting and there is one final
Sad update to share with the group that Keith Wakefield the former leader of Leeds City Council passed away over the weekend
following a short illness. I didn't know Keith but he was a founding member of
the Combined Authority back in 2014. He later served as chair of the West
Yorkshire Transport Committee between 2015 and 2018 and I know that our
thoughts from everyone around the table are with his friends and family at this
sad time. I know he was a close colleague of yours, a ward colleague, Councillor
Lewis, is there anything you'd like to say?
Thank you, Mayor, yes.
Thank you for your words about Keith.
He achieved a lot in the region
Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council - 0:10:38
and a lot in Leeds as well.
And I don't know how many people
he taught at Wakefield College
when he was a college lecturer in that part of the region.
But certainly a sad loss for a lot of us.
Like you say, I was his war colleague for 16 years,
as well as everything else.
Whereas all the other work I did with Keith,
like I might not have heard a lot of the same jokes
over and over again from him but certainly saw his dedication to people in West Yorkshire
and some of the comments we've had from people living in Kippox and the area show what a
popular local council is as well and of course we can talk about all the things we achieve
as council leaders and as the combined authority but it's also the work that we do as councillors
in our ward for the people that directly elect us as councillors is really important as well
and Keith was really, really well liked in our ward as well,
and that's one of the lasting memories
I have for him as well, thank you.
I wonder whether we could send a card of condolences
from this board, if that's possible.
Ben, would you like to say anything?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:11:39
Yeah, just to say, so it is really tragic news,
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:11:46
and I worked closely with Keith when I started,
and I think the two things, just to Councillor Lewis's point
that I'd point out that he did
as Chair of Transport Committee,
was he was instrumental in helping us rebuild relationship with the bus
industry that had been through a difficult period before Keith took
over and I started and had insight how do we get better value for customers
from the bus network and he was also really instrumental in work to
improve air quality in West Yorkshire. Did a really powerful commission, really
powerful piece of work that looked at the health impacts of air quality and it
kind of predated when health and transport kind of came together later but he was a real
powerful advocate of that and it led to a lot of policies that did improve things in
West Yorkshire so a side loss.
Thank you.
Okay, thank you very much for moving on.

For Decision

So I'm so sorry, Councillor Cooper.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:12:38
Just something I've had from Better Busses West Yorkshire that I've been just knowing

5 Mayor's Update

your view on.
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 0:12:47
They've approached me and sent me this email.
We find it incredibly difficult to make representations
to the mayor about our views as bus passengers.
And we've asked the mayor to create a passenger board
to allow for direct representation of bus riders
during the franchising process.
Wicca is an outlier in not making some provision
for either public questions to be asked at meetings
or a commitment to direct representation of bus passengers

For Decision

on its bodies. For example, South Yorkshire, which is catching up with West Yorkshire on
the franchising timetable, has committed to passenger representation, as has Strathclyde
and Glasgow. Would you ask Tracey why she won't allow public questions at Wicca meetings,
or whether she will create a passenger forum to provide regular updates, or at least a
stakeholder meetings, on the specific issues of franchising?
Thank you so much.
Thank you for being their representative and I always welcome better bosses.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:13:50
They do often sit in the meetings and observe.
I meet them regularly when they come to the building and we have agreed to have Mayor's
question time specifically on bosses where we can listen to their concerns.
As you know, as members of this board, we are all boss passengers.

5 Mayor's Update

I am, as Mayor, the passenger in chief, and use public transport, and there will be many
around this table that do that.
But also, transparency, scrutiny, and accountability is really important to me.
That's why we go ahead with the Mayor's question time, which are public, and you can ask any
question you like.
We go around all five local authorities on a regular basis, and also message the Mayor
on BBC Radio Leeds where people often phone in with questions about bosses. I'll take
away the suggestion about the representation, but this board is not set up in the way that
a council chamber is where people make submissions to councils. But I don't know, Ben, if there's
anything you want to say about the structure of this board?
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 0:15:04
I don't think so. I think you covered it really clearly. I think when we last looked at this,
the position was that we needed forums where the public could ask questions and clearly
hold you to account and you've outlined what they are and that this board is a place of
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:15:25
business and everything about it is transparent, but we would need to look again at the impact
on time commitments and the function of this board as a decision making unit for the command
authority before making any ad hoc changes.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:15:45
Thank you. And let's not forget that of course it wouldn't be just about bosses, there would
then be representations from other interest groups that would then potentially extend
people's time commitments. But it's heard, and please do feedback, I'm sure they will
be able to see this online, the feedback that I've heard their concerns.
Thank you, Councillor Cooper.
Any further comments?
Thank you.
Okay, moving on to the agenda.

For Decision

6 Devolution, Integrated Settlement & Public Service Reform Update

Item 6, devolution, the integrated settlement, and public service reform.
As I mentioned in my update, the rewiring the state cabinet statement has made quite
the impact over the summer.
A lot of work is ongoing in response to that.
As members know, I've been working closely with government alongside fellow regional
mayors to make the case for deeper devolution and for
decisions to be taken closer to the communities they affect.
I'm pleased to see the government's commitment to
devolution by default, which will give West Yorkshire
greater flexibility and influence in shaping our own
future.
But of course, I do recognise there might be
different views around this table.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:51
Devolution is already delivering fantastic
benefits across our region.
investment in transport, housing and skills, economic growth, public services.
The proposals outlined in this report provide an opportunity to build on that progress and
go further.
I'm really also encouraged by the progress made in implementing our integrated settlement,
which gives us that greater freedom to align investment with local priorities and deliver
better outcomes for people across the region.
None of this can be delivered in isolation.
Success will continue to depend on strong partnership working
together across our local authorities.
I'd like to thank officers for their work in ensuring that
West Yorkshire remains at the forefront of the devolution
agenda and is well placed to take advantage of the
opportunities ahead.
It sets out the government's ambitions for greater local
control over tax revenue and the need to develop stronger
local institutions.
The Cabinet statements are incredibly long and detailed,
and the government's committed to developing a new white paper
to deliver the statement in the coming months.
As a combined authority, we are actively engaged in this work,
which is being co -produced with mayors and combined authority
chief executives.
As part of this, we'll need to work with local partners to
ensure that local views are fed into that work.
Can I also say, it is a really important moment for
evolution in England, as previous white papers on
this issue have not had local engagement.
So it's something to really celebrate.
We are around the table.
We are in those conversations.
There were some specific examples of public service
reforms that are to be introduced with new
responsibilities for the combined authority,
including homelessness and waste crime.
And as I've said earlier, we need to work even more
collaboratively as a partnership as we work through the delivery of these new
powers. So could I ask Sarah Eaton, Director of Strategy, to take us through
the report and then we'll open it up to a conversation. Thank you so much Sarah.
Thank you, I think Beni's gonna just talk us through the first part of the report
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:19:01
and then I'm gonna follow up on the second part. Thank you Ben.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:19:05
If you explain your role in the... not your role here, but your role in those
Thank you.
So quickly, I'm just a moment in history.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:19:16
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:19:17
What am I still doing here?
Thank you.
So, the mayor's very eloquently and clearly covered what's in the paper.
Let me just add a little bit of, I guess, context.
So what the paper does is it presents the way that No. 10 North officials have teased
apart the different elements from that end of July cabinet statement and turn that into
a series of workstreams.
And so page 11 sets out those workstreams in the sense that – and I said there's
six set out on those pages.
Each of those is about what is the most appropriate way to deliver those services from a resident
customer perspective.
So one of the things about rewiring the state, and I guess we should take it that the clue
is in the title, is not just about does government give us in the next phase of devolution slightly
more freedom over existing government programmes.
There are some bigger questions being asked around fundamentally how do you redesign public
services to make them more effective, more efficient and achieve better outcomes from
the people that they are intended to benefit.
So that's happening looking at employment and skills which is linking into the work
that Alan Milburn is doing.
It's looking at transport.
Many of those powers we already have in a West Yorkshire context but particularly looking
at rail and Great British Railways and answering the question that we've been grappling with
for a number of months, if not years, which is how do mayors have effective influence
over the new Great British Railways body when that's brought in.
Innovation and growth, housing and energy, public service reform, these are all additional
areas where we're asking the same fundamental questions.
There's then two further areas that are cross -cutting.
One of those is around fiscal reform under the section in this paper called Providing
Control Over Local Tax Revenue, which is setting out some really quite radical changes to the
way that the combined authority systems are funded.
But it should be kept in view at all times.
This is not about additional funding.
This is about replacing the grant -led, programme -led culture that we have been arguing about not
been a very effective way to fund local systems for a number of years and seeking to replace
it with a share of income tax. So that is quite a radical change to the way that combined
authorities will be funded and the system will be funded. It is aimed at allowing greater
future certainty and from the government's perspective, although I think we would argue
that you don't need it, the ability to capture the proceeds of economic growth being retained
in West Yorkshire would also, it's also part of the mix.
So some really quite significant changes planned or being discussed around local tax revenue.
And then finally, in the context of rewiring the state in those work streams that I've
talked about and that fiscal devolution, what does that mean for the way that combined authorities,
MSAs, are governed?
What does it mean for how the combined authority and the mayor is held to account?
and what does it mean in terms of the organisation's functions in accountability as well.
And so there's a work stream looking at those accountability principles and the capacity
and capability that combined authorities will need going forwards in order to be able to
discharge those functions.
And to your question, that's the – in the sense that individual combined authority
projects have been asked to look at particular areas, that's the area that I've been
involved in looking at.
There's a couple of points I think to make by way of context though. As the Mayor has
said, we've been involved at a very early stage in this work which is great and what
you have in front of you is pretty much where we are now. There will be more detail coming
and when we have that we'll be sharing that with you and we wanted to debate those issues
with you about what is the, what should West York should be feeding into this process.
So we're doing this ahead of the publication of a white paper. That isn't normally the
way that government previously has done business, so it's really welcome that they are engaging
with mayors so early into the process. And then the roll out of this will take time as
well. It's likely that some form of primary legislation will be required, both on the
governance, some of the policy areas and on the fiscal side. There's a leading path of
several years into that, and so this is the beginning of, I think, quite a fundamental
about long term journey of change. I'll stop there. I don't know whether you wanted to
take questions on this bit before Sarah moves on to talk about the integrated settlement
or whether you want to move straight to her.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:24:18
Just take a few. Are we going to have questions or would you like to just hear the full officer
readout? Yes, okay Sarah, over to you.
Over to me. So the second part of the paper is essentially around the integrated settlement.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:24:31
I think we've been giving updates to this board committee for a while now, and we're
mainly to be transparent about the process, knowing that we're accountable for delivery
of integrated settlement outcomes.
So the second part of this paper is really to give that update on where we're at with
integrated settlement.
So as you're all aware, we were working last year largely on the negotiation of indicators
and targets with integrated settlement.
that was that first iteration of that piece of work was published by government on the
25th of March last year. And since that time we've been kind of, the second bit of the
bit that I'm going to talk about is about kind of implementation of that. There's also
been work, and we knew this would happen when we kind of signed off the first part of that
segment, is that the additional funding and additional targets are coming into that integrated
settlement, they're sat out in the paper. So you'll see there that there's been
about 14 .5 million to help reduce carbon emissions from domestic buildings to
kind of lower fuel poverty that's come into there. There's a potential for
further 4 .5 to 9 million around the installation of solar panels and
batteries in social urns. These are all additional things that have been coming
in on top of the original integrated settlement. 145 million for the
identification fund which was announced in March, we are working through that at the
moment, an increase in adult skills funding which has come in, no associated increase
in original targets and then nearly about £800 ,000 of free courses for jobs funding
through an engineering package and that's in addition to all the existing funding that
we've got, things like construction skills package and then an announcement recently
about 10 .6 million for a regional approach to preventing and responding to rough situation
in West Yorkshire. And we've been talking to our local authority partners about all
of this as that work has been coming forward. Those indicators will be incorporated into
our outcomes framework and our corporate performance framework. We've got a paper later now which
is talking about progress against some of this at the moment. What will eventually happen
is that as those indicators come forward they will get put into the original kind of published
version and government will republish that integrated settlement. I think potentially
of this next period there could be additional funding, I think it is a bit of an iterative
process so it may be that we get more, that we'll be fetching back to this board as and
when that happens, but there is a sense that as new things come to light that some of that
money is being discharged through MSAs.
We will be required to report to the government.
I think I mentioned this in previous reports to the Combined Authority.
We'll do that on a six -month basis.
So the first report we'll have to submit in November, and it's likely that the board will
take place in kind of December or January to kind of talk to the government about that.
That's chaired by MHLG and it will feature a number of government departments.
And this is a process by which we'll be held to account for delivering that integrated
settlement over that three -year period.
And just feedback from some of the trailblazer areas, that has gone particularly well in
terms of kind of talking about progress around where we are.
There's an opportunity there to kind of look at where we're at and kind of give feedback
on kind of the path to greening that in that particular space.
So that is kind of the update on where we're at in terms of the individual indicators.
and we'll give an update next time just so that we're clear around where we publish things.
I think as part of the work that we've been mobilising ourselves and with local authority
partners, it's been around our addictive programmes and plans that are in place to deliver against
some of the integrated settlement targets, but much broader. I think we don't just get
our funding from the integrated settlement, we get funding from a range of other funding
streams and sometimes it's quite difficult to look in it just integrated
separately so what we've chosen to do is kind of have a look at this in in the
round really I think that gives us and more flexibility around how we're
delivering on priorities that are set out in the West Yorkshire plan and the local
growth plan so and what we're trying to do is as it says in the paper is it's
kind of maximise our use of the funding that we've got both to kind of deliver
on our priorities but also to kind of leverage further investment into the
In March the combined authority agreed to indicative high level investment programmes
so that was saying if we are going to use this funding where are we going to split it
across our range of priorities.
That was around linking into the corporate plan and directorate business plans but also
as I said against the local growth plan.
Progress towards securing the approvals is now set out in this paper.
A number of the projects and programmes that have been coming forward have come to this
board and they have gone to the investment board but this is trying to give an updated
position around that funding and the pipeline of projects that are coming forward.
Clearly any specific funding programmes and projects that will need to set against that
indicative investment plan will come to this board and other boards for agreement but this
is trying to say this is where we are at in our investment plans over this next period.
I will not go through all the individual details, I am conscious of time, but there is a detailed
appendix to the back of the report which is trying to show the alignment between our spending
and the outcomes that we are choosing to deliver alongside the integrated settlement targets.
So that is kind of that piece.
Just in terms of kind of next steps, as I've said we'll fetch any additional funding activity
that comes through to us back to this board for consideration.
And in terms of finalising delivery plans, where they're currently not in place across
the scope of the integrated settlement, that's work that we need to do over this next period
to make sure that we're ready to deliver over the next three years of the settlement.
We are also working to develop a delivery plan and this is to submit to governments.
The government will require us to submit something that is specifically linked to the integrated
settlement delivery and we are just working through that at the moment and we will fetch
this back to this board for consideration after doing the usual partnership work that
we do to explain that and get input.
So I will stop there now, thank you.
Thank you so much, Sarah. And certainly the integrated settlement, it's really pleasing
to see that at this point. I think it was something I tasked you with years ago to say,
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:31:19
let's ensure we don't have to keep going back to London with the begging bulk and we have
some more. We want that integrated settlement to give us those freedoms and flexibilities.
That's how you actually save money as well. So it's really great we're at this point.
Just to talk about the money for homelessness,
the plan is to get everyone in by Christmas.
We won't do that without partners.
And this is where local authorities,
they know their communities, they know their VCSE sector.
Together we will ensure that we have that strategy to make sure
that the Prime Minister sees a change from this extra resource,
supporting amazing people out there in the community that are
flat out with some some of the people with the most complex lives trying to
get them into accommodation because it should shame us all that we see people
living on the streets. So it's interesting that we're getting more
monies come in within the integrated settlement as we go forward. Okay let's
open it up for a conversation. Councillor Cooper. So yeah a lot of good stuff in
rewiring the state and it's a lot of interesting things I mean one of the
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 0:32:29
I'd like to see how it works because it's got a lot of potential.
There's vocational training for post -16.
With universities not being for everybody, I think there's a lot of work to be done there
to give a pathway for young people going forward into meaningful employment.
I think a lot of the work that we do on climate change and housing, those can provide really
good skilled routes for people going forward.
I do want to say a wee bit about what Tracey said, we all want more power locally, was
what you said.
And there's a statement within rewiring the state, which says mayor also provide a single
point of accountability to residents who elect them, meaning better responsiveness to what
local people need and stronger scrutiny and transparency of decision making.
Now, I've always been a bit sceptical about this sort of point because you're basically
re -centralising the power which was at the north into a single person, the mayor of West
Yorkshire.
And so I do wonder how much it is decentralisation and just re -centralization of power.
I've always had a bit of scepticism about that.
And also we've gone from three scrutiny panels down to one in West Yorkshire, which, so we
are in a lot of ways scrutiny is going to have to be more focused and there is the danger
that we will miss things.
Within the document rewiring the state there is the power to appoint a further ten commissioners
who are political appointees on big salaries so I do wonder about that and I wonder about
if they're almost like an alternative cabinet that we might end up with.
I wonder how much of that is actually going to happen going forward and if they are going
to be political appointees.
Yeah, a share of income tax, of course that would be good, but why is that not going to
local authorities where the demands for things like adult social care, child social care,
I'm not sure if it's such a good idea, why is it not going to local authorities.
You said that you weren't expecting to use your call -in powers for planning, for where
we have 150 houses or more, where you might potentially overrule council decisions.
I'm pleased to hear that.
But instead of saying you're not expecting to use them regularly, I would like you not
to use them at all.
And of course the point is that if you are planning
to use them at some point, there will have to be
some officer resource, some funding,
that will be required to pay planning offices,
to advise you within the combined authority.
And so if you're not going to use those powers,
that's generally a waste of money.
And so I would imagine that we should be actually
kicking back quite a bit about that.
Just a quick mention of the overnight visitor levy. I did mention at the Kirklees Council meeting that we should apply it to Huddersfield Town Hall for the budget meeting, which lasted until 5 .30 in the morning last time.
So if we did apply it, that might mean we might get through the meeting a wee bit more quickly.
Thank you.
Thank you so much for that and really interesting last point.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:11
I'll pick up a couple of things and then I'll come to Ben.
The scrutiny, we were one of the few local authorities that did have three scrutiny boards,
but then in order to be eligible for the integrated settlement, the government set out how that
framework should look.
And I have said, and Bob will back me up on this, do not be on the scrutiny board unless
you expect to work incredibly hard, be a subject expert, and that's why we looked at remuneration
because we want you to do more.
I have not shied away from scrutiny at all, and I know some mayors up and down the country
don't want scrutiny, but I see scrutiny as a critical friend, and actually together we
can make things better.
So I just want to reassure you that that is just in the process of governance for the
next steps.
the commissioners.
I think one example, you'll know that the mayors are getting greater responsibility
on health and wellbeing with a place on the ICB board.
Now is that the right place for the mayor or is that a deputy mayor like Alison Lowe
for policing and crime that will be holding the ICB to account for commissioning services,
stopping wasteful spending, et cetera.
So would that be a commissioner deputy mayor?
So there are things that we're looking through.
I have no current plans to bring on commissioners,
but it's giving mayors with no capacity potential
expertise in subject areas that mayors and local
authorities, combined authorities don't have.
The income tax, I think, for us, fiscal devolution,
is incredibly exciting, and it gives us the
opportunity to really lean into growth and keep that determination to grow the economy
here in our region, we lose far too much of our tax revenue that goes back to the centre.
I've heard your points on OVL.
I don't know about Kirklees and Huddersfield Town Hall.
Regarding the – what was the last one?
Oh, yes, working collectively.
As I say, not everybody will agree with the Merill model or the deeper devolution, but
you are all around this table because we are all equals with the focus on delivering better
outcomes for West Yorkshire.
And I hope that you've seen over the last five years that we work as a collective.
We are exceptional in our West Yorkshire way, and we work in a way that I don't see other
MSAs actually working, where we do collaborate and cooperate.
And notwithstanding political changes where we will have disagreements, I do think there
is a way to work through things.
But Ben, if you'd like to pick up anything more substantive.
Thank you, ma 'am.
I think you've covered the absolute majority of the points.
I guess a few points I'd make just to add on.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:39:10
On scrutiny, it is definitely the government's intention that the accountabilities are to the local
scrutiny committee, so we would need to make sure that that is the purpose.
And Councillor Felsdorf and I have had conversations about that.
I don't think that is about the number of scrutiny committees, but it is about the capacity and the depth and the capacity within there.
On income tax, I just probably need to reiterate the point that this is,
This is a mechanism for changing the way that mayoral strategic authorities are funded,
but it's about replacement of existing capital grant programmes.
So there's no – it is intended to be entirely financially neutral.
That leads to a whole series of complex questions around how do you incentivise growth, which
is why I mention that in my kind of opening remarks, because if you follow that model,
you end up, you could end up disproportionately funding places where there's already high
levels of economic growth. So there will need to be some kind of redistribution mechanism.
I'm not saying be careful what you wish for when you think about how local authorities
are funded, but they are funded in a different way and certainly the local government association
who are part of all of this work are looking at other opportunities and sensible ways forward
for the sector as a whole. But let's not forget that a significant amount of combined authority
funding does come through to local authorities. So this will help certainty with that level
of local authority planning as well. And last point about capacity and capability,
you talked about how we use, is there a point in having a planning team if it's never used?
I think there are some sensible questions around both what are the capacity and capabilities
that should be in a kind of blueprint for combined authorities more generally, and then
how do you flex according to need, and those are questions that the working groups will
need to cover over the coming months.
Thank you.
Councillor Sutherland.
Thank you, Teresa, and thank you also for the comments you made in Europe, recognising
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:41:21
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 0:41:24
the differences of opinion on the overnight visitor level and the planning powers.
I really agreed with your statement similar to what Councillor Cooper said on that decision
making should be as close to local people as possible.
I think with the government's statements and the paper, there are a lot of nice words,
but I think their actions have gone in the exact opposite direction and that relates
to my fear.
Planning has been raised and I would say that I've been a Councillor for 16 years and this
is the greatest shift of power away from the people I've ever experienced in terms of planning.
Used to be very simple that you would contact your local councillor get them to call planning application
And you'd have your opportunity to speak and a decision would be made there
That's being lost and now there'll be an opportunity for it to be called in this is moving power away from local people
Rough sleeping. I know there's something in here about money for rough sleeping again. This would have been a local authority
Responsibility money would have gone directly to local authorities for some reason
There's an extra step being put in which moves us further away from actually the people and the decision -making that they would make
I recognise the point around potentially expensive political appointees.
I note that the local constitution here for the combined authority was changed just before
the election, which disempowered local leaders and replaced them with political appointees
again on salaries.
So I think the general trajectory that we're taking here at the combined authority has
been away from those are the deputy chairs that now chair the panels rather than local
leaders being involved in decision making on issues such as transport and investment.
So I think the general trajectory both here and in national government has been moving
power away from local people and I think if we really want to abide by the principles
stated we need to start shifting both locally and nationally away from that.
I am hopeful that we can make a change here.
I think we all recognise that the current way the state works and devolution works isn't
fit for a modern country but I think we need to actually see some proof in terms of the
actions.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor.
I'll take all comments and then we can wind them up.
Councillor Cawood.
.
.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:44:22
.
.
.
Thank you, Councillor Wood.
Just on the final point, absolutely, I think what you have in the papers is a real -time
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:46:08
slice of the negotiations and conversations that we're having.
For the first time, we are part of those conversations with government.
But I take your point.
We will take that away as a matter of urgency, get in that away day where we can all share
our concerns and find a way through.
So thank you for that.
Councillor Lamb.
Yes.
Thank you, Mayor.
Can I just start by echoing the condolences to Councillor Wakefield's family, friends
and colleagues.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:46:39
I knew Keith for all of my time as a Councillor and disagreed with him often.
But he was.
Yeah, there's a theme coming.
but he was a genuinely kind and decent man who was trying to do the best for the people
that he represented. So thoughts absolutely with his family, friends and colleagues and
if I might just echo the comments made about Ben as well and from a personal perspective
you've given his bibliography and achievements but he mentioned it being a kind organisation
And that's down to other people.
Actually, it comes from the top.
And my experience, particularly, I apologise for being irritating and challenging on occasion,
but you've always been incredibly kind and patient.
And sort of entirely professional throughout that.
So that's my personal reflection.
Moving to the papers, like Councillor Wakefield, I recognise we're all here because we want
to make things better for the people that we represent in our communities and across
West Yorkshire.
And we've got to find a way in a new world of working together to do that.
I think in principle, moving power closer to people is a good thing.
I think we're all agreed on that.
The challenge of the rewiring the state papers in a lot of
cases, the opposite is happening,
where power has been moved further away from people.
Planning being an example I think we're all agreed on,
ripping democracy out of the planning process is not going
to build more houses.
It just takes people's voice away about how their communities
are shaped and grown.
And I welcome your reticence in using the powers that are going
to be given to you.
But planning is a quasi -judicial process.
Just not liking something or disagreeing with it is not a reason you will have available
to you to refuse it.
You will need a level of expertise and support around you which comes at a cost.
And the problem with the public sector generally is when you put those organisations in place,
they tend to want to do something.
They don't just want to sit and wait for once in a blue moon to get involved.
that they will want to be proactive and have a purpose and a role and that is just taking
power further away from people.
So that's something that needs pushing back on.
On the potential overnight stay levy, I should declare that my business is involved in that
sector.
So I do have personal views and I don't think it prevents me from speaking about it.
So I absolutely share the concerns and as probably the
one representative of that sector around the table,
implore you not to use that levy because of the damage
it will do, the jobs it will cost,
and the harm it will do to the local economy.
That's a personal view and again,
the direction of travel of this paper is to enable
taxes to go up, but there's no mechanism for them
to come down.
Why can't that power be available locally if we
think that's the right thing to do, why can't we have the right to reduce taxes and support
sectors?
So that's something I'd certainly be pushing for in this.
The big challenge we've got is there's so much that we don't know in commenting on this
paper.
It's a good thing, a cricket analogy, the way Ben described it.
There's a long run -up to come, but we're actually being involved in the warm -up this time where
we wouldn't normally be, so that's a positive.
but we have to make sure we make full use of it and it doesn't mean we get everything
we want. I think the practical thing that I would really like to see us agree today
is that before the conversations happen with officers and governments that the local outcome
delivery plan comes back here to board members to agree what we're feeding in rather than
waiting to be told what we're going to get given by government but that we actually collectively
decide what we're going to be pushing for and what representations we're going to make.
So that's my formal suggestion.
In terms of the recommendations, we're noting and we're not making big decisions, but I
think that's the key bit, that in addition to the recommendations that are here, that
we can help shape that local outcome delivery plan.
Thank you so much.
I'll take all comments and then I'll come to Sarah.
I've got Councillor Johnson.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:51:17
Thank you, Mayor.
A lot of the points that I was going to raise have actually been covered by my colleagues.
Now they've been all very, very eloquent.
Cllr Cllr Andrew Judson Bradford Council - 0:51:26
I'm a little bit more blunt, so I'll try and get through it as best as I can.
I completely agree with the comments about the planning.
One of my concerns was that due to the spatial development initiative and the mayoral development
zones that eventually local authority was going to be taken out of the planning decisions
and the mayoral authorities were going to take over it all.
Now I welcome the fact that we're going to be discussing this further as this is going to go down.
I am a big advocate of double devolution, so I think what you were saying about the councils getting more authority,
the local authority, taking more control, I think that's only a good thing.
I'll be brief, so just regarding the tourist tax, now I recognise that with the paper saying about the increasing taxes coming to the local authority,
I recognise that revenue streams are going to have to be explored by the local authority
to increase the revenues that are coming in because it will change everything.
But I think anything moving forward, I totally agree with my colleagues regarding the tourist
tax that it needs to be not done, but any further ideas along those lines need to have
careful deliberation and utmost scrutiny to provide the evidence required for public confidence.
I think we need to look at that one.
That covers that one.
145 million for the City Densification Fund.
Brilliant, I think that's great coming in
and I'm hoping that will assist Bradford
with the preparation of for delivery of Southern Gateway.
So I'm looking forward to seeing how that goes forward.
Because my colleagues have talked about everything else,
I'm gonna make it a little bit more personal.
This is just regarding the skills
and employment investment.
The funding changes to employment West Yorkshire.
I think this is one for Felix
and we need to discuss offline at some point.
I disagree with how the funding has been changed on that one.
I'm going to use this as an opportunity to state that.
I want to talk about that a little bit further with my officers and with Felix to discuss
how we go forward with that because Employment West Yorkshire is working.
It's a good organisation.
It needs to be funded to provide the best for the people of Bradford and the rest of
West Yorkshire.
So I do want an offline discussion if possible with that.
As I say, my colleagues have covered everything else, so I'll leave it at that.
Thank you so much.
And Councillor Johnson and then Councillor Wilkinson.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:53:42
Cllr Cllr Andrew Judson Bradford Council - 0:53:44
I think we need to realise that it's not just a case of taxing things, because that's how
it started. Cigarette tax, fuel tax, yet more taxes. People are struggling nowadays and
we need to be aware of this. And as a creative yourself, I think we need to look at hospitality
and I think we should be cutting the costs, not putting costs up. And I think it needs
Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson - 0:54:09
to be noted that. And if we don't do this, hospitality is going to struggle even more.
We need to get people nationally listening. It's the creative sector and hospitality
that needs to be growth here. We need growth. Not adding more. Look at Las Vegas and America
and all these hotel taxes. We're now bringing it over to the UK and thinking it's a simple
way to get revenue. And it's not. It's going to destroy the hospitality business massively.
and they need to be listening to these people actually run these businesses rather than just
Making snap decisions to try and get money in it's ridiculous
Regarding planning. I think we all know in his own areas
That's one of the main things along with highways planning is always a massive issue
And we need to be very careful
I would tread with this because it's a huge issue and we shouldn't be taking we shouldn't be taken away from local people
You know, but local people need to be heard. I think I think that's pretty obvious nowadays and the times are in
I just think we just have to work together and be honest and make sure that our local
communities can work together.
I think it's very positive that everybody here agrees, my colleagues and people of different
parties, let's work together and look, we need to be heard.
I think that's what we need to say.
So thank you.
Super.
And I hope you feel you are being heard here at the Combined Authority.
Councillor Wilkinson.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:55:31
I think the broad direction of travel is positive.
Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale - 0:55:34
I think this is gonna mean more investment
and more power at a local level.
I'm particularly encouraged around the changes
to employment and skills.
I think that'll help us tackle the pockets of deprivation
in areas of high economic inactivity
that we've got in the region.
Do share some of the concerns around the changes
to planning, I have to say.
Particularly the powers being stripped away
at a really hyper -local level from ward councillors
is something that does concern me.
Less concerned about the overnight visitor levy,
I do think it's something that needs
to be considered carefully, and I'm hearing from yourself
that there will be consultation on it.
But it is a sort of pretty successful model
that is used globally and increasingly
throughout the UK as well.
So I'll be going to Liverpool, as I'm sure others will,
for Labour Party Conference on Sunday.
They've already got a visitor levy there.
I'll be paying that.
And I think a lot of tourists who come to the region
are probably fairly wealthy.
Might be going to the Peace Hall to a gig or something.
Why should they not pay a few quid
if they're staying overnight towards local services?
And at the end of the day, that will
help to reduce, actually, the burden on local people.
It won't be people in Kirklees by and large that are paying the extra taxes.
It will be people that will be visiting Kirklees and that means less proportion of tax being
paid by local people in my view.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:10
Thank you and that point is an interesting point that people who don't pay council tax
in the region are using the services that other council taxpayers are paying for.
Councillor Lewis.
Thank you Mayor, a couple of points.
First of all on some of the planning changes.
Cllr Cllr James Lewis Leeds City Council - 0:57:28
I mean we we've been through this in Leeds haven't we Alan we talked a bit about some of the permitted development rights
the last conservative government brought in which
Overruled local democracy and planning so it's a fortunate trend
That's continued through a number of governments, but also, you know, particularly in Leeds and Alan will correct me if I'm wrong
I think for eight and a half thousand planning applications twenty went through a local planning committee
So I'm not quite sure what the problem is. It needs to be solved here, but I do think that's important to remember
On the overnight visitor levy we did listen to businesses in Leeds and they wanted us
to do a scheme like the Liverpool one that Councillor Wilkinson mentioned, that's what
local hotels wanted us to do in Leeds, that was a voice of business not the voice of council,
there was two things they wanted on that, first of all they wanted to work on how that
was collected to minimise the administrative impact, I think that's a very valuable point,
And secondly, they wanted a good say over how the income would be spent, so it benefited
hospitality businesses on things like, I mean we have lots of, obviously we are the core
city in West Yorkshire, very different economy, but there are downtimes in Leeds when there
aren't huge events on, so things like bringing in events in the downtime to support businesses.
And also again it's a point Councillor Wilkinson made as well, you know, council tax payers
in Leeds already pay a huge amount of money to support overnight visitors in the city
and the services to support them. I think it's right some of that burden should be shifted
to the visitors and not just council tax payers in Leeds. Like I say, we had support from
the industry in Leeds to have a local visitors' levy. I certainly think some of the work we
did on that around how it's administered and how the money is raised is spent to support
hospitalised in the city should be taken forward as we work through on this matter.
Thank you and I'm hearing from businesses and venues that the reduction
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:59:25
in that as well for venues and hospitality has also been welcomed
because that is a sector it's the it's where you see the pipeline of talent in
these smaller venues that is really important. Councillor Wood.
I just want to address Councillor Wilkinson's point about the tourist tax.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:59:43
It seems to be that your central point is that wealthy people can afford to be taxed
on overnight stays.
I understand why this would be a point which would come from somebody from the Labour Party.
However, how I understand the business model.
It's try as a CA not to get into party politics.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:00:09
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:00:10
But it is a situation, it is a Labour Party policy at the moment to tax the wealthy more.
That's what I was saying, not party politics but just a statement of fact.
What I would say is that the model to which Councillor Wilkinson is referring to usually
means that everybody pays the tourist tax.
And so that could very well mean that people who are wealthy can pay the tax and therefore still stay in hotels
But that actually it precludes people who don't have as much money
And I'm quite surprised to hear that that would be something which you would advocate
Thank You
Councillor Johnson, and then we'll hear from officers. I mean until agreement we should be encouraging people to travel and spend spend
Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson - 1:00:57
I just don't get this at all.
And look, we should be trying to reduce the costs of these hospitality businesses.
And I'm disagreeing with you on the VAT.
We might have reduced it, but not on what it was.
It was actually 75%.
I think it's now at 60 or 55, if you look at it, it was two or three years ago.
It's another fictitious thing that we're going to reduce it, but it had been put back up
and then got reduced again.
It's still not as what it was a few years ago.
We need to be helping hospitality out.
I mean, Angela Rayner's minimum wage, everything fits all,
doesn't work in hospitality either.
We could argue about that as well.
And I think we have to, you know,
we have to support hospitality and we've got to encourage
hospitality and there's certain areas of the country that need
to be as business minded as we can and try and keep those costs
down to encourage people in.
And, yeah, people will go to Liverpool and Manchester and
London and they will have to be forced to pay some hospitality
cost because sometimes you have to do it for business but we should be trying to encourage
people to travel and see the country and I do not agree at all with this tax at all.
I think it needs to be looked at.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:02:10
Thank you and as you've mentioned in your letter I do understand the clarity of your
position so thank you. I'm going to take some more comments then come back. This is the
first item on the agenda so we need to move swiftly on. Mandy.
I'll talk as quickly as I can.
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:02:24
So it's great to hear business being mentioned because obviously I represent business in
this room rather than politics.
And so within the rewiring the state priorities, I'm really pleased to see the good growth
funds there and it's particularly good to see that reindustrialization of our clusters,
so the six clusters that are based on the businesses across the region and certainly
those innovative frontier sectors which are important to the future of business in the
country. But alongside that, it talks about cultural and sporting opportunity. And I think
making West Yorkshire a destination for people because of its culture, because of its sport,
and also creating the right sense of place here for the people that live here is important.
And whilst I understand the challenges of the potential levy, I think if that's used
to create a destination for people that live here and to draw people to this place. That
is good for business, not necessarily bad for business. However, it depends how it's
applied and the level it's applied. Within those growth funds on rewiring the state,
it also talks about employment and skills and how we drive up the right level of skills
for the businesses that will be growing based on that rewiring of the state. So those two
things together are really important for business.
And within the integrated settlement,
I think that the money that will be spent on connecting
people to work, on adult skills, on free courses,
skilled boot camps, and the trailblazers,
as well as the construction skills capital,
will be really important to driving up the growth in this
region and for those individual businesses.
So whilst I understand some of the challenges within the paper,
we're all a combined authority,
and I think that that's an important step forward for helping business in this region to grow.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:04:20
Thank you, it's always really important to have the voice of business, thank you so much.
Councillor Wilkinson and then we'll move on to conclusions.
Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale - 1:04:29
Just very briefly, just to clarify my point which Councillor Wood came back on, I think my point
is not that every tourist is wealthy but currently we have a model where predominantly it's local
local people that are paying council tax to fund infrastructure and services, a high proportion
of local people in West Yorkshire are low income families or in deprived areas. If we
can just shift that burden slightly away from those people to tourists, you know, often
if you can afford an overnight stay in a hotel, you can probably afford to pay a couple of
extra towards local infrastructure and local services. That shifts the burden away from
those low income families, people who are suffering from deprivation here in West Yorkshire.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:18
Thank you Councillor Wilson. And very swiftly, one last comment, Councillor Lamb and then
I'll come to officers. There's going to be three really quick ones.
No, not three. Not three, one. One. Nope, one. Councillor Lamb.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:35
14 referred by elected members. It's not that we're abusing the process or our position.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:05:40
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:42
Can I encourage people not to bring their council business into this room, please? Thank
you. Councillor Lamb, very quickly.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:05:48
Simply responding to what was said. I'm not here to represent business and hospitality,
but I do run a small, very small hospitality business. So I think I'm as well qualified
as anyone around this table to comment. At present, one pound in every three that we
get from customers has to go straight to the government or a one pound in three.
Adding more onto that is going to make doing business harder, it's going to make
employing people harder, we need to fix that. So I was gonna make a third one but I'll
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:06:20
concede and leave it. Very good I appreciate your brevity. Okay going on to planning, Ben.
So Mayor, if you may I'll make some very quick, try to make some very quick points. Number one,
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:06:31
I mean, it's a really important discussion that's being had this morning.
It is important, I think, to keep the bigger picture in mind.
And the first point there is that there's a big difference, as the mayor has said in
her opening remarks, between what we're talking about now, which is the ability of
mayors to do something and the devolutionary power that gives them, and then their MSAs
and the mayors actually agreeing to bring it in.
And those two things are quite separate.
and at the moment we are talking about the former of those two things, which from the
government's perspective is about providing the tools for mayors to use if they think
fit. The second thing is I hope that in the future conversations around individual taxes
can be put in the context of where I hope the devolution work is going, which is what
package of services and investments is it right to be spending public money on in West
Yorkshire through the mayoral strategic authority,
and how do you raise the money to fund that?
And that lens is really important.
So as well as thinking about the individual taxes
and their rights or wrongs from a bottom up perspective,
we're going to have to start thinking about what it looks
like from a top down perspective in terms of what you think
is the range of things that you want to fund.
Because I don't think you raise taxes just because you
want to raise taxes.
You want to achieve things with them.
and that both things need to be seen together.
The points about planning and calling,
I'll just finish on those.
My understanding, and I'm just looking to Ruth in case
I've got this wrong, is that it is an example of calling powers
going to mayors being devolutionary,
because they're taking them away from the sector of state.
So whereas they would have been exercised by central government,
they're now exercised by mayors.
And that is in the right direction in that context.
But also, again, stepping back, one of the planning functions that's part of the 2016 -2026 Act
was all about developing strategic development strategies.
And that is important in terms of giving certainty about infrastructure priorities and infrastructure spend,
which in turn is important for understanding how much funding is required at a West Yorkshire level.
So there is a coherence to beginning to think about things in a West Yorkshire context as well.
Okay, Sarah?
You and Ruth, if you wanted to come in as well.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:08:57
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:08:59
I think it was just to say that I think in any of the work that we do, the good conversations,
we will obviously take this work forward as we move.
This is a particular point in time, I think, as we said at the beginning of the meeting,
and we haven't got all the detail yet.
So as this detail starts to come through, we'll obviously work with our local authority
partners to kind of understand the individual elements of that.
We will commit to do that.
I think we do that anyway and we wouldn't be wanting to do anything differently to how
we kind of progressed.
As I say, they work with the integrated settlement.
So I think the meeting that you talked about, Mayor, we'll look at how we can kind of support
that and prepare as that detail starts to come through.
So just a commitment to do that from ourselves.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:09:37
Regarding the local outcomes framework.
The local outcomes delivery framework is a specific piece of work that government have
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:09:42
asked us to do around how we're going to spend the integrated settlement.
So some of that is included in the paper today.
Obviously as we're moving forward, we'll firm that up.
We can definitely bring that back to the December combat authority for you to have a look at,
and we'll share that obviously with our colleagues as we're pulling that forward.
Thank you.
Specifically about the integrated settlement.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:10:02
Thank you.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:10:04
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:10:05
And reiterating that point that the planning – and as I say – as I said in my opening
remarks, I have five local authorities that are very sensible and very good about planning.
I can't imagine where I would historically have used that power, but it has been taken
from the Secretary of State and being brought down to the mayoral level.
But Ruth, as I say, this is all work in progress.
Ruth.
Yeah, very briefly on planning.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:10:31
So I think, firstly, the Secretary of State will still have the ability to call in, but
the intent is that it's used at the local level.
So actually, the power still remains at both levels, and I just wanted that because it's
point of clarification. The second thing is that we have just met with all the chief executives
of local authorities today and discussed the planning powers, and what we've offered is
to come and have individual conversations at local authority level if that is helpful,
just in terms of the more detailed thinking and work that's been taken forward.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:11:04
Thank you. Okay, let's go to the recommendations. Otherwise, we will be here all day and we'll
We all need an overnight room.
Okay, so members of the board, can we note the
recent government announcements on
devolution and their implications for the
combined authority?
Can we endorse proposals for the chief executive and
officers to work with government to develop and
co -produce the forthcoming devolution white paper?
And note the update on progress implementing the
integrated settlement.
Okay, let's go to voting.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
All those against.
All those abstentions.
Thank you.
And the recommendations have been carried.
Thank you so much.
Okay, moving on.
Item seven.
The West Yorkshire Local Assurance Framework Annual Review.
A really important piece of work.

7 West Yorkshire Local Assurance Framework (LAF) Annual Review 2026

Make sure we continue to have that robust, transparent,
effective arrangements in place for the management of public
funding and investment across West Yorkshire.
The framework's been refreshed to reflect the
new integrated settlement arrangements, updated
governance structures and government requirements,
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:12:18
whilst also making the document clearer and more accessible.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:20
The changes will help strengthen assurance,
accountability, and decision -making, while
ensuring that we remain well positioned to deliver
our ambitions for the region.
Back to you, Sarah.
Thank you.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:12:34
I think I previously talked to the board around the importance of the local assurance framework
as the mayor has just outlined. It's a requirement of government to have the framework in place
and it's a key document really that enables us to provide assurance that we have appropriate
systems in place to manage funding effectively. That's making sure that our decisions over
funding and how those decisions are implemented, proper, transparent and deliver value for
money. And the framework provides that assurance to government and to key decision makers that
that is happening.
The framework is updated on an annual basis but it's an iterative document. So we review
it every year but obviously we keep in mind developments that are taking place to make
sure that it continues to be fit for purpose. In 2025 we reviewed the framework MHCLG at
that particular point in time, didn't think there was anything substantial to actually
change there but what they did do was feed in comments to support the annual review for
2026. Obviously there's been a shift in the work that we do since this was last updated,
particularly in terms of taking on board the integrated settlement. So a lot of what we've
kind of updated this time has been to make sure that we've got the right systems and
processes in place to kind of effectively take on that integrated settlement.
So if you see there some of the comments that we received by it, which are outlined in the
paper, it was making sure that we're doing that alignment specifically around some of
the work around how we move money in between pillars of an integrated settlement and how
we make decisions around capital revenue and spend.
So that is now included in that document, but also how we deal with major transport
So there's been an update in terms of that area.
They also, as you said, came back to us around transparency, making sure that the document
was easy to read for members of the public.
And as I say, when we talk about the integrated settlement, the transparency is really important,
so that's been a key change.
Also inclusion of the three lines of defence model, and this sits alongside our other assurance
processes within the organisation to make sure that we're doing things that meet those
systems and processes that I kind of explained earlier.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:14:56
In addition to kind of the feedback that we've had from the government, we also regularly
do work to kind of update the assurance from it.
It sometimes gets a bad rap, has been bureaucratic and difficult to manage.
What we do is we're constantly working to make sure that we're being agile and flexible
in that approach.
So as well as the kind of the work that we're doing formally around the framework, we're
also looking at ways of working to make sure that we are balancing that agility and flexibility
with maintaining a focus on quality and value for money. So some of the work we have been
doing is around working with directors and talking to some officers around, for example,
developing appropriate assurance pathways and we will continue to do that to make sure
this is the best framework that we can possibly have in place to deliver some of those aims.
I think the individual comments and amendments that are in the plan are set out.
I'm not intending to go through those individually.
The revised document is attached as an appendix to the report.
I'm sure colleagues have had a chance to have a look at that.
We've also had a workshop session with Governance and Audit Committee to make sure that they're
aware of the approach and we'll be taking this to Governance and Audit Committee in
October to make sure that we're getting their views back in.
MHELD are expecting a final version towards the end of this month.
They may come back with further comments, which we'll need to kind of take on board.
We're hoping that they'll be light -touch because this has been around all government
departments as far as we're aware.
And obviously, what we'll need to be doing as some of the rewound the state provisions
come through – and that might not be yet – we will need to be keeping an eye on the
the assurance framework to make sure that it is keeping in step with that piece of work.
As I said, we'll submit the document. What we're asking for today is endorsement of the
approach but also that we've got delegated approval to the Chief Exec and yourself, Mad,
so that we can make some of those amendments as they come in. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:17:04
Lovely, thank you. We were really responding, weren't we, to the changing nature of our
Our projects so something that needed more of a light touch
We had the agility to be able to do that in order to deliver at speed any comments councillor would
Know
specific comments other than to
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:17:29
Echo my previous thoughts with the prior report and I have similar concerns
With this as well because they are all linked and so I just repeat that they the request for the meeting really and
and also to echo Councillor Lamb's request that comes through the board before we engage
with government.
Thank you, that's definitely an action that has taken away.
Any further comments on assurance?
No?
Okay, thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:17:53
Members of the board, can we note the work undertaken to review and refresh the West
Yorkshire Local Assurance Framework 2026 in consultation with the government, approve
the latest West Yorkshire Local Assurance Framework 2026 attached at Appendix 1 to the
report and delegate authority to the Chief Executive in consultation with myself to approve
the final West Yorkshire Local Assurance Framework 26, subject to any further changes required
prior to publication. Let's vote on the recommendations. In favour, please raise your hand. Those against?
Abstentions? Thank you. Moving on. That's passed.
Quarter one, performance reporting.

8 Quarter 1 Performance Reporting

This is covering the period between April and June this year.
As a combined authority, it's important we regularly review our performance against the
priorities, outcomes, and commitments we've agreed as an organisation.
Performance reporting provides that transparency and accountability, and it helps us understand
why we're making really great progress and helps us identify areas where further attention
and corrective action may be needed.
It's a snapshot of delivery during the first quarter
of this financial year, but provides assurance
when monitoring performance in a structured
and consistent, coherent way across the whole organisation.
At a time when expectations of the CA continue to grow,
maintaining a clear line of sight between our ambitions,
our investment decisions, and outcomes where delivering
for residents, businesses, and communities is more
important than ever. Today the purpose of this item is for board members to note the
report, reflect on the progress being made and ensure that we maintain oversight of delivery
against our strategic priorities. Back to you Sarah.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:19:52
Thank you, Mayor. So I think just in advance of talking about quarter one performance I
just wanted to reflect on some of the work that we have done over the last six months
to review our approach and I think we previously used to report to the finance resources and
corporate committee around to give that kind of oversight on performance but obviously
is now coming here. We've done some streamlining following the agreement of the corporate plan,
essentially because we had such a raft of indicators, it was over 400 indicators that
monitoring and what we've done is to take the time to kind of really align the reporting
on corporate plan to kind of pull in the integrated settlement metrics and associated targets
as well so that we kind of get to a single version of the truth.
And that is really so that we can kind of have oversight across all of our key plans
and frameworks including the corporate plan but also kind of the integrated settlement
outcomes framework as I've just mentioned.
This paper also sets out the reporting to government which I mentioned previously as
part of the devolution paper but just to have that in mind that we will be needing to do
that on a six monthly basis alongside reporting into this board.
We've set out the cycle there for reporting which we'll be bringing to this board on a
regular basis and to note that obviously there's a slight lag between that reporting, that's
not to say that we're not kind of keeping an eye on monitoring things as we move on.
So just in terms of quarter one, as you'll see in the paper what we do is we kind of
give a broad overview at a mission level, then at a priority level and then we kind
of give some reporting at kind of deliverable level so that we can give that oversight across
the piece. The detail piece is sat out in the appendix, that gives a really thorough
view around each of the priorities. But to note, quarter one I think we're in a relatively
good position and we normally see that at quarter one. At quarter one you see kind of
progress being made and it tends to be in quarter two and three that we start to kind
of pick up issues where we're potentially going to be on track. So at this moment in
time you can see in terms of the table three that we're on target for kind of a number
of priorities but there's about five there where currently we think we're moving off
track in terms of delivery and if you look at that in terms of the actual 75 deliverables,
you know 66 are currently on target and we've got nine at quarter one below target and details
of those are set out in the covering report so what we do is in the main report we try
and talk about kind of exception pieces really which we'll continue to do as we kind of move
forward.
So just in terms of some of the good areas of performance which are set out in this pacing
it is great to also talk about the things that are going well because some of these
things have a really huge impact on people and obviously that's why we're all here.
But if you see there in terms of serious violence reduction, some really good figures there
showing a reduction in hospital admissions, results with knife or sharp object and that's
gone down 35 % to January 26th, that's a rolling target. But also been a reduction in knife
enabled serious violence, particularly amongst victims aged 25 and under which is down 18
I think also the West Shorkshire Police data shows a reduction in non domestic homicides
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:23:16
particularly among victims aged 25 and under, that's down 12 .5%.
I think really this shows some really good work around that kind of coordinated violence
reduction activity across the region.
So a really good performance in that space.
We've made some really good inroads into the investment that was secured to support housing,
particularly around the Housing Enable Fund and also around supported housing. So that
is really going to help us kind of develop the pipeline and support housing growth priorities
over this next period. I think skills and training delivery as you'll see in this report
is operating really well and delivering at scale and is reaching its targets at the moment.
Obviously about nearly 36 ,000 participants in training over the period and about 8 ,500
to about 25 ,000 learners during that time, so showing that really good engagement and
work to deliver against regions ambitions. We've launched a number of strategies, regional
learning strategy in quarter one and also the West Yorkshire local nature recovery strategy
which will set out the basis for our plans over this period and investment in key programmes
and activities which we're already starting to see flowing through in quarter two. And
also locally a project in Leeds about flood resilience which we know will
support residential properties and and businesses as well so again some really
big impact on local people and some of the work that we're kind of doing here.
There have been some public transport improvements which has seen another 21
bus service enhancements introduced and the number there around approximately
2 .32 million miles of tended bus services operated during the quarter not
to be really big numbers there in terms of that kind of accessibility which will
help residents across the region. And also we've launched our Business Growth
Club as well, again which will be really beneficial in terms of supporting
businesses and already engaged with and a lot of businesses through
that kind of interventions in that space. And finally I think just the library
ones I think is a really good example of trying to support local services here.
60 new libraries have been established with an additional 26 schools, so really to develop
that within local areas has been a really good success.
So just in terms of reporting by exception on some of the – and colleagues are here
to help support in terms of mitigating actions, but as we'll see, there are some areas of
underperformance at the minute to clear out employment skills around connect to work.
We're thinking at the moment that we're not going to be able to hit the targets for
March 27 because the way in which we're kind of trying to relook at that particular programme.
But we do expect to kind of come back in line towards the end of the target period in 2029.
Some of that is to do with when we've taken on board some of these schemes as part of
the integrated settlement work. We've not had a big planning, leading time for some
of that work. But I'm sure Felix will come on to that in a little while.
In terms of bus franchising delivery, overall we're on track for bus franchising, but we
We know that there have been several key dependencies linked to kind of present delivery risks,
specifically around depot acquisition and around compulsory purchase order arrangements,
but long term we are thinking that we are going to be back on track in terms of that
work.
So there is some work being taken place in quarter two, which I'm sure Simon will be
able to talk about.
In terms of delivery on transport, the programme expenditures broadly on track, but we know
that there's an increase in risk that the programme is moving out of scope really around
planned starts on site and there's a number of issues there that are kind of outside of
our control so we are working closely with our local partners and local authorities around
key projects where we can try and expedite delivery so that is a key thing that we will
be looking to do over this next period really to try and minimise kind of that programme
slippage and additional expenditure on those particular programmes. And also
home energy West Yorkshire which is you know making good progress but we're not
seeing the numbers coming through in terms of the home energy advice at
service as we would like to see. And then just on education and career support
again this is an area where we are kind of working really hard to kind of look
at our activity in that space but we don't expect to be fully
operation until early 2027, so just slightly off target at the moment.
I'll move on now, and then perhaps if – when people have got comments, I'll bring colleagues
in around some of the specific activities as we move forward.
As I said previously, we are required to now report on the integrated settlement targets,
so you'll see that in the appendix.
At the minute, there are 48 metrics that have been agreed with government.
There are four that aren't, but plans over this next period to kind of bring those into
this into this reporting requirements, hopefully by the end of autumn. So some work taking
place in October, but we'll bring another two in later on in that period. Again, we'll
report on that next time round.
We know that on some of the integrated settlement targets, the frequency of reporting is not
going to be – we're not going to be able to fetch an updated report because they're
annual. Some of the measures are collected on an annual basis. But what we will be trying
to do is explain how we are making progress throughout that period even if we've not
got that data because that's when it's collected. So that's just flagged in the
report here just for nerding purposes. I think at this stage there are a number of
kind of cross -cutting issues that are emerging. I think we should set out in
this report and as I say as we move into quarters we will elaborate on this but
the complexity delivery and system alignment we've talked about a lot of
today in terms of how we work across some very complex landscapes and working
across multiple organisations and you know there's a need to kind of reflect
that in the work that we're doing that does impact on delivery sometimes and
the growing areas of responsibilities that we're hopefully pulling through
which we're implementing some new areas of work of this period which
obviously we've talked about previously but there are also capacity and
workforce pressures, not just for ourselves but across our partner agencies as well in
terms of delivering on new programmes and those involved responsibilities.
So there's work taking place at the minute around business and workforce planning, particularly
within the combined authority which will be looking to further develop that integrated
approach so that we can identify issues and areas early.
that's really important that we do that piece of work well and we'll be fetching a report
next time just to explain that process as we move into next year's delivery and kind
of working on next year's budget. But that allows us, that work allows us to kind of
identify the risk to delivery and put in place kind of mitigating actions throughout the
period which we'll come to you and talk about in the next report. We are trying to strengthen
the report so that we are acknowledging those actions and mitigating risks that we'll be
working on over this coming period. I'll stop talking there, I think there's some next steps set out there but I think we've covered them in some of the other areas in terms of that activity.
Thank you so much, that was a very thorough readout of the report, thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:30:45
Councillor Wood and then Councillor Cooper.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:30:51
Thank you for setting out the report. I want to address pages 33 to 35, the performance
assessment metrics, measures, targets and actuals. I did raise this at the last board
meeting and I'm not sure that it's been addressed so I'd like to ask if it has. It is normal
on all levels of KPI or metrics assessments that as well as the RAG status you would be
Cllr Cllr Karl Johnson Johnson - 1:31:15
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:31:18
able to also very easily see what the targets are for each metric, what the actuals are
for each metric, so that we can actually scrutinise what is meant by performance.
So for example, let's say that under the serious violence strategy we had a target to reduce
serious crime by 2 per cent and we reduced it by 2 per cent.
That would mean under this way of presenting information that we were a performing organisation
on that, but most people wouldn't agree that a reduction of serious crime by 2 % is actually
good performance.
So it shouldn't be incumbent upon the layman in the public who have access to this detail
to have to dig down into appendices to be able to see whether or not it's true that
we were in fact on track.
Thank you so much.
Just on that point, there is one specific metrics that I am very proud of that we have
invested in Vision Zero.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:32:16
I know as councils, councillors and council leaders in your community, speeding is a real
priority and we have reduced serious accidents and deaths on the road by 4 % when in the rest
of the country it has gone up by 4%.
And at this point, and it could change tomorrow, no child has been killed on our roads for
a year.
So there are things that we should be very proud of.
But your point is well made.
So Sarah.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:33:04
Thank you, Councillor Wood.
Great stuff.
Councillor Cooper.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:33:23
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 1:33:26
So I would like to mention the home energy West Yorkshire retrofit delivery scheme.
I'm aware there's been a long run into this scheme.
a lot of work done to actually bring it to fruition.
And we've got 96 active loans and 87 properties
that have been helped by the scheme.
Now, I think one of the things I said earlier on is
that we desperately needed a compelling offer,
which meant that people would take up the scheme.
So we need to do retrofit on a huge basis.
hundreds of thousands of homes need to be improved.
And this scheme at the moment is,
I'd like to know the scale up plan,
how we actually scale this up,
so it's not, so it goes from 96 to 500,
from 500 to 2 ,000, and 2 ,000 to 10 ,000,
whatever that happens to be,
but some sort of idea about how it's going to grow.
Also, it's just to know if it's going to be linking
with the switching together scheme, the new solar scheme that's going, so seeing how that
works and seeing how people can look at that.
Also want to mention the energy transition funding success.
Great, always good to get new funding from government.
I've been waiting 25 years for the, to try and get a heat network from the Huddersfield
energy from waste plant is the electricity from waste plant. Heat has not been taken
from it. So, you know, these schemes take a lot of time and I've been promised it for
many years. Finally, I want to mention is the Home Energy West Yorkshire Customer Advice
Scheme and I note that you've said here that it's performing below target. I used to manage
the South and West Yorkshire Energy Advice Centre, so I'm really interested to know a
wee bit more about this. So if it would be possible to look under the hood, I don't want
to get involved in operational matters or anything much, but I'd really like to understand
what the service is, how it operates, and at a time when there's rising energy bills,
why people aren't using the service.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:35:47
Thank you so much. I wonder if we could tackle Home Energy West Yorkshire. Who would like
to take that? Ruth?
So yes, that will be me.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:35:57
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:35:58
So scale up, plug in and advice centre.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:36:02
So I think in terms of scale up, Home Energy West Yorkshire at the moment is a number of
different products. So the product in terms of the loan is one product and the loan product
is actually focused on people that are able to afford to pay but where we want to try
and make it slightly easier for them to pay. So the figures that were in the report were
a pilot loan and actually the Combined Authority in its last meeting approved the scale up
for the scheme. So that will increase the number of loans under the next version because
what actually we found was that people wanted to borrow less and do smaller things to move
themselves onto the journey. I think though there is then the scale up issue which is
a lot of the money that we receive from government in this space does have a ring fence around
social homes and we know that social homes need to be retrofitted but we also know that
there's a vast number of homes that where people live in that are perhaps private rented
and are of poor quality or where people also can't afford to borrow or to be part of our
collective buying scheme. So therefore our big numbers at this point in time is more
focused on social homes and the good news in the report is that of the target that we've
got for the funding we have on that we've achieved a 35 % in terms of delivery against
that this quarter of what we expect to do over the course of the year. The recent meeting
that the Mayor had with government and I know some councillors were involved in that meeting
was to make the case for government around the funding that's needed in this space for those people who aren't in social homes
but who can't afford to pay for themselves.
And I think that that message was actually well heard and it shows that the convening power of the MIR to get that message through
is having action. So what DESNES confirmed to us is that they would start to take that message on board to work out
how they then look at the funding going forward.
I think we've heard a lot today about fiscal devolution and that will then give us the biggest opportunity of
scale up and the freedom because some of the constraints are around how government have created the
calculation for what we have to deliver.
So the houses that we have in West Yorkshire are different to the houses that are across the West,
the whole country and some of the biggest changes we can make in West Yorkshire are the insulation or the
new windows and then that allows us to move into heat pumps and solar panels later down the line.
So I am more than happy to have a conversation with you offline on scale up
in terms of the
particular issue about the customer advice service. So that is the one where we say at this point in time
we are having some underperformance issues and there's a number of things that we're trying to do in that space.
So there was always an intent to bring on a marketing partner for that scheme and that marketing partner is now
coming online and that will hopefully allow us to see a shift in the number of people that can approach the hub to get help.
And then the second issue is that we are trialling a pop -up shop approach in Bradford.
So at this point in time we have a pop -up shop and we would welcome any of you to come to that shop to
To see how that is working and the idea is that the custom that's the tangible
experience of what the customer advice is in in the community
and likewise we have a session for
members in that pop -up shop over the next couple of weeks so that members can be advocates of this scheme and we also have a
session for developers. So again if people around the table can make connexions for us to get the right people at those sessions
that would be more than welcome, but
tangible two things that are going to address the performance in that space are the
marketing partner and actually having a tangible presence. Once we've learned from Bradford
we will then move around the other four districts to make sure that that
experience is felt across the whole of West Yorkshire. And plug -in Ruth?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:40:08
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:40:10
In terms of plug -in, this is one of the latest amounts of money that government have given
to us, so we are still awaiting some details from them on that, but it is something that
we could either bring back to a paper briefing outside of the meeting or to a future meeting.
On the plug -in?
Yes.
We're still getting the detail of what that will look like for West Yorkshire, so we will
bring it back to a CA meeting but also circulate outside of the meeting.
Okay, thank you. Councillor Sothern.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:40:38
Thank you, Tracey. My point follows on nicely from what was just discussed in a moment of
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 1:40:48
rare but beautiful unanimity in Calderdale Council last night. We all unanimously approved
a motion on retrofit, recognising the ambition, the skills, the connexions, the offices that
we have in place to deliver on that. But what was also recognised, I think, unanimously
across the Chamber was that the resources sit at the wrong place. Noting the earlier
conversation about decisions being made at the right level and noting the comments about
the lack of scale and the poor performance on the customer advice service. The fact that
money is going to be spent on marketing rather than actually providing a service to people
is of concern for me. So as a general broad principle, when we see failing performance,
when does the combined authority stop and think actually should this be delivered at
local authority level and will the combined authority take the opportunity on the specific
issue of the Home Energy West Yorkshire customer advice service and the retrofit programme to
pause, reflect and accept that this would be better delivered at a local authority which
is more connected with the local people?
Thank you, you are definitely partners in this work, we're not doing this without you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:41:55
Ruth, would you like to come in to answer that conversation?
So the vast majority of money that the command authority gets is for social homes and so
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:42:03
in terms of the devolving of that funding, that funding does go to the local authorities
that have their own social homes but when it is social home programmes some of that
funding has to go to registered providers. Registered providers cover more than one geography,
one local authority. So when we talk about the reduction of bureaucracy to get the outcomes
for the residents, going directly to the registered providers is the right thing to do. But actually
what we always do is we always work with local authority colleagues to make sure that the
resource is directed at the right places within local geographies. The other point at which
we specifically delegate the funding to local authorities to deliver is when we create area -based
schemes. So when we create area -based schemes, this is where when the command authority isn't
using its retrofit funding, but it's using some of its funding flexibility that it has
because it's a regional programme. And what we do is we create a mixed use scheme and
what we do is we then put into that the money to the local authority to deliver that particular
scheme and that then means that we can do some social homes but we can also do some
private rented homes at the same time through the local authority delivering where they
feel like the biggest need is. We are always a learning organisation so we are always willing
to take on board the fact that there are challenges and there may be better ways to do it and we do
have discussions regularly with the experts in your local authorities so I am more than happy
to take an action away to go and see what more we can do but I think that the real opportunity of
what more we can do might be when we have more flexibility around the funding that we have from
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:43:53
government. Thank you Ruth that was very thorough. Councillor Wood and then we'll
move on. Sorry sorry. Councillor Cooper apologies. Yeah don't get us mixed up.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:44:06
Yeah I mean I hear what you're saying about Calderdale. I used to manage the
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 1:44:09
Calderdale housing energy team a few years ago. There were three of us in there.
The award -winning Calderdale housing energy team, got to say. And you know if
you want to reintroduce that, that there will be a cost to doing it.
And so if you were to sort of look at the funding that is at the West Yorkshire level
and you were to dissipate that out across the five local authorities, you wouldn't have
the same level of resource.
And I'd love to see the sort of things that we were doing, what, 20 years ago back in
the hands of local authorities, but I think those days are unfortunately gone, and I can't
see the political will from anywhere to actually bring that back unfortunately.
But the marketing side of things is important because if people don't know about the service,
if people aren't aware of it, then they're not going to contact it and they're not going
to use it.
So I would not dismiss marketing.
I think it's important and people knowing about what the service does.
Because one of the things we did when we were in Colvedale doing your team, we got out about
We did marketing to people, we did marketing to communities, we went out and about across
Colbidale quite a lot.
And so that marketing is vital for this sort of work.
So I wouldn't dismiss it out of them.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:45:34
Okeydoke, let's move on to the recommendations.
Can we note the quarter one performance against key performance indicators for 2026 -27.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
Those against?
Any abstentions?
Thank you.
Okay, moving on to item 9, financial performance.
This is our quarter one financial performance report.

9 Financial Performance - 2026/27 Quarter 1

This covers revenue capital as well as emerging work on medium -term financial strategy.
It's really, really encouraging to see we're forecasting a
balanced financial position whilst continuing to deliver
that substantial programme of investment in West Yorkshire.
It also reflects the significant scale of the investment programme
we're managing, and members will note the rebasing of the capital
programme, which reflects latest funding allocations,
revised delivery timetables, and more realistic profile
of expenditure.
Members will also see that work is underway to develop a
refreshed medium -term financial strategy to reflect both our own major programmes as well
as national changes that would come to the region through fiscal devolution. This is
going to ensure resources are aligned with priorities of the Mayor and West Yorkshire
of myself and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority ensuring financial resilience. So
I'll hand over to Kate Taylor, Director of Finance and Commercial Services to take us
through the report and recommendations. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:47:10
Thank you, Mayor. As set out, the report, so year to date revenue is showing a net variance
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:47:12
which is due to timing and profiling differences of actual income and expenditure versus the
approved budget in there. That variance is mainly shown within the corporate centre and
for those that were around the table when the budget was approved, we made a decision
that where we had got programmes that we had decided we wanted to move forward with from
a revenue perspective we hold those in the corporate centre once those projects are approved
either here or our investment board we move that money into the delivery directorates
for them to manage. So that will correspondingly move out as those approvals come through and
you'll know we've had a number of approvals come both through here and investment board
in the last couple of months. The forecast position continues to show a balanced position
and that's reflecting the strong financial management in there. The approved budget included
We did a transfer to reserves at the end of the year.
That was a net impact, largely coming from a use of reserves of 10 million pounds from
our risk reserve.
So our risk reserve is reducing or forecast to reduce by 10 million pounds this year to
support the transport position.
And we have an ongoing contribution to our transport capital reserve, which reflects
our longstanding local contribution commitment made as part of the authorities' founded
The budget approved bill paper indicated that we did have some further work to do around
the underlying transport capital programme and that was alongside agreeing some of the
end dates for some fairly significant funding pots at that point in time.
That work has concluded and that's allowed us to reprofile that programme.
The rebase budget reflects that profile we spend moving into future years and by no means
shows a reflection in reduction of ambition or reduction in the actual programme overall.
Finally, as noted, it sets out the work that will continue to need to be done over the
next 15 months on the medium term financial strategy.
The immediate work on that will be coming through as part of the work that we are commencing
right now on the 2728 budget.
And there will be a paper coming forward to the October combined authority that will set
out the timeline for that including key engagement dates for this board and also
for boards and committees such as scrutiny and happy to take any questions
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:49:36
Mayor. Thank you so much and one of our expenses was the busses and I'm really
looking forward to tomorrow when we're going to Northern Ireland to write bus
to see our busses come off the production line. Having seen the access busses that
and now across your communities, they look fantastic.
Brand new, wide, lots of space for wheelchairs and so on,
and lots of people very excited
about being able to use them.
So that investment is now turning
into something tangible and real,
so that's gonna be a good day at the office tomorrow.
Any comments?
Yes, Councillor Lai.
Yeah, thank you, Mayor.
Just on the rebasing of the capital programme,
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:50:18
It's obviously right that what you're sharing with us accurately reflects the position.
But it's a huge change in almost 25%.
And it would be really useful to get some more detail just so we can be assured about
any implications of that.
For example, inflation is high, construction inflation is higher.
If we're saying something is going to be delivered next year rather than this year, does that
mean there's a cost increase that we have to factor in and is it going to put some pressure
on down the line. So I can see the sense in it but it would just be useful possibly outside
the meeting to get some more detail about exactly what has moved and what the implications
are. Thank you. Happy to do that, Kate?
Absolutely, yeah. And just to reassure, one of the largest parts of that movement was
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:51:04
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:51:05
around the city regional sustainable transport fund. So originally that sat outside with
some really hard deadlines around what it meant to have spent and also very hard deadline
of the end of this financial year for spending.
One of the benefits of moving into the integrated settlement is we now have some flexibility
which allows us to maximise and make sure that we can maximise all of the funding we
have available and puts us not at risk of having to send money back to central government.
Councillor Wood.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:51:34
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:51:42
I echo Councillor Lamb's thoughts and also note the changes that he's pointing to and
I can also note the changes in variation to budget which goes throughout the whole document
and also note the fast pace at which devolution is pushing us.
My concern is that maybe we start to have an emerging risk with cash flow going forward.
Is it possible that we can start to add in a little bit more understanding of cash flow
risk as we go forward with further budget reports?
Thank you.
Kate.
So Treasury management now goes to governance and audit committee and that paper will be
going forth on the 8th.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:52:18
I can assure you we have no cash flow risk.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:52:19
One of the benefits clearly of integrated settlement is we receive our cash now up front
at the beginning of the year in terms of that.
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:52:32
So I can assure you we are not in I guess an operational cash flow risk of that and
you will be aware, same as your section 151s, any financial commitment that this authority
I have to know that I will be able to cash flow that and fund it and I have to know that
at the point we enter into the commitment so I have to have that legal certainty before
I even allow us to send a purchase order for example.
It's at that level.
Thank you.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:52:58
Councillor Felston then I'll come back to council.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:53:00
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:53:02
Just an observation really for Kate.
It's quite refreshing to see tabulated data so easy to read.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:53:08
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:53:12
because more often than not, Section 151 officers present you with garbledygook.
This is really easy to digest, so thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:53:21
Councillor Felstead, that's because I need it.
I need very clear instructions, particularly around the finance.
And I always say that these papers should be understandable for members of the public.
We don't ever want to look like an organisation that's trying to befuddle people,
So that they won't understand so thank you and thank the team for that and for that prioritisation around simplicity counsellor would
Thank you, I agree the report as it stands is easy to read I agree with that
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:53:54
I understand that having the integrated settlement brings the money closer to us and
Therefore you don't have any delays in accessing the money and that doesn't preclude cash flow risk
What I'm pointing to is that there is a fast pace for devolution which will lead to a faster
pace of spending money and I'm asking for that cash flow risk to be put in these high
level reports in future.
Not quite sure what that looks like but Kate?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:54:23
So obviously as devolution changes that may bring different risks and we will bring out
those different risks.
Kate Taylor, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:54:25
They don't stand as they are and this is a report obviously of the in -year financial
position so I will report that position as is.
When we go through the budget, I will make my section 25 statement to you which will
also draw out the risks of the assumptions underlying that.
Thank you.
Is the board happy to note the financial position 30 June 2026, note the forecast 26 27 revenue
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:54:53
surplus of $6 .5 million, approve the rebased 26 -27 capital programme totaling $576 .8 million,
note the capital programme financial position and emerging risks associated with bus franchising
and programme delivery delays, to note the medium -term financial strategy update and the emerging
financial outlook for 27 -28, and approve the proposed guiding principles for development
of the medium -term financial strategy.
I have seen that Councillor Lamb has indicated he wanted to speak, but we're now at the voting
point.
Are you happy to take that after?
No, it's about votes.
Okay, go ahead.
Sorry, Mayor, there's obviously a number of recommendations.
I'm happy with all of them, with the exception of 2 .3, where I just want to abstain on that
one until we've got more information.
Okay, how do we do that?
Councillor Lamb, you're entirely within your gift to abstain from the voting point.
that, but it will be noted as to the reasoning before we go to the vote.
So thank you.
You can proceed.
MS.
Cllr Cllr Andrew Cooper (Kirklees Council) - 1:56:00
Cllr Cllr Adam Wilkinson Calderdale - 1:56:06
.
.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:57:01
Thank you, Mayor. I think just as a starting position, given that this is the first time
that I'll be speaking on this as a statutory officer, I on behalf of the leadership team
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:57:11
and Ben's executive team want to thank Ben so that it's minutered and recognise the support
that he's given to us as an executive leadership team and we're very, very grateful for all
the support that you've given us, especially appointing me a year ago.
I've got good taste.
But moving on from that, the report does set out the status of the post that Ben leaves
behind. That is the chief executive and the statutory role of headed paid service. Many
of the leaders around the table will be familiar with the organisational importance of having
that role and its duties under section 4 of the Local Government Act and Housing Act.
And therefore we will be taking steps to ensure that there is an orderly transition and that
report sets out that there will be interim arrangements being put in place which are
already underway and the employment panel will be convened next month of which all of
you around the table will have received invites to participate. The report sets out the recommendations
very clearly in relation to that orderly transition and I will hand over to Liz Hunter who will
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:58:22
deal with matters of transport. Thank you Liz. So as members know you approved
the creation of a transport commercial director
a couple of CAs ago, and since then we've been busy
doing the recruitment process, the paper sets out
that process, which involved the creation
of an employment panel, so thank you to colleagues
who were involved in that employment panel.
Up until this time, certainly in public
we haven't been able to talk about the person,
but I'm happy to do that today.
I have kept members updated in private
about where we've got to and of course we were going through HR cheques and others.
So for the minutes we will be appointing Claire Rawlinson who will
come in hopefully in early November. Claire brings experience from the bus
industry. She was previously commercial director at First Bus Manchester and
since 2011 has run her own consultancy working with bus operators and transport
authorities. So pleased to be able to say that and we'll be announcing that in
the employment panel and those that offered their support.
The paper also talks about the move then for Tim Taylor whose transport services director
role mapped across to the new transport operations director role and he'll lead the day -to -day
delivery of services.
As already mentioned, the paper just updates the senior positions for mass transit to and
I'm happy to take any questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Any questions?
Yes, Councillor Wood.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:59:59
Less of a question, more of a statement.
I think strategically Claire Rawlinson is a good appointment given everything we know
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 2:00:09
with the busses and yes, I'm happy with that appointment.
That's always good to get colleagues an endorsement.
Thank you so much.
Councillor Southern
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:00:20
Thank You Tracey, I just thought I'd like to use this opportunity to add my condolences to Keith and his family
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 2:00:27
I knew him when I served on transport committee all that time ago
And he was passionate hard -working funny sometimes, too
but also the opportunity to thank Ben for everything he's done and I connect the two because I look back to what
Do for it was like prior to your coming Ben
Inward -looking might be the polite way of putting it, but it's absolutely been transformed
since that time to one that is outward -looking, ambitious, works with partners, and I think
has led the way in many ways, and a lot of credit goes to you on that, so thank you.
Thank you.
This is going to be the first start of many of these moments of people thanking you, so
that's great, Ben.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:01:05
And your condolences for Keith Wakefield are minuteted, and we, as I said, we'll have a
condolence card from this board.
Thank you.
Moving on to the recommendations.
The CA board notes arrangements for the recruitment of an interim chief executive and designation
of a head of paid service.
Notes of the employment panel decision in relation to the appointment of the transport
commercial director.
Note the extension of the current mass transit senior responsible officer and programme director
arrangements.
Can we vote on these recommendations?
All in favour, please raise your hand.
All those against.
And no abstentions.
Thank you.
Moving on, governance arrangements.
This sets out a number of appointments to committees to reflect changes notified by
constituent councils following the completion of the annual nomination process.
Nicky, could you introduce the paper, please?
Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor.
This is a housekeeping matter in relation to notifying you in regards to changes and
additions and the composition of committee arrangements.
I'm happy for the paper to be taken as read in relation to the notation of items for you
but also very specifically we will need a vote on the appointment of Councillor Haydon
who is appointed to the Investment Board which is a new matter that requires you to approve.
Thank you, Mayor.
Okie doke.
Any comments?
Thank you.
We'll go to vote.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:02:36
But can we note the appointments made to committees and boards under officer delegation and to
appoint Councillor Helen Hayden to the Investment Board.
All those in favour?
Thank you.
Any against?
Abstaining?
No, thank you.
OK.
We've come to almost at the end, so we've got the minutes for information as well as
summaries from formal meeting that have been published on the CA's website since the last
meeting.
Thank you all for attending and your contributions and as is the new world, nice and robust and
really good discussion.
Thank you.
Remind members of the date of the next meeting, which is the 29th of October, 2026, but also
to remind councillors and members that this away day has to be a priority, our meeting
to discuss the things that have been raised. So I hope you will work with our office to

11 Governance Arrangements

prioritise that opportunity. So I now hereby close the meeting. Thank you so much. Have
a great day.