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Combined Authority Board
Thursday, 29th October 2026 at 11:00am

 
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. 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. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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  3. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
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  2. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  4. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
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  8. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
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  10. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  12. Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council
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  18. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
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  20. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
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  22. Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
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  24. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
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  5. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  12. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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  14. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
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  16. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer
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  17. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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  19. Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer
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  21. Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council
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  23. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
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  25. Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer
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  7. Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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  10. Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council
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  5. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  7. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Cllr Karl Johnson (Wakefield Council)
  9. Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council
  10. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  11. Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  18. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Webcast Finished

1 Apologies for Absence

Thank you.
Good morning, everybody.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:08
Thank you so much for coming to this morning's combined authority meeting.
Can I just gently remind everyone, if you would like to speak, please do press the speak
button and then that will be recorded on the recording.
Business for today.
Apologies.
Any apologies today, Sarah?
Thank you, Mayor.
We have apologies for absence from Councillor James Lewis with Councillor Salmaire for attending
Sarah Naylor, Committee Services (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:00:34
as a substitute. We have apologies from Councillor Claire Douglas and her substitute,
Councillor Bob Webb. Councillor Andrew Cooper and Councillor Dodd was due to attend them,
thinks she might have been delayed. And then we've got apologies from Councillor Adam Wilkinson
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:52
and his substitute, Councillor Imran Khan. Thank you so much. Okay, declarations of interest.

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Do members have any interest they wish to declare?
No?
Thank you.
Moving on.

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

Item three, exclusion of press and public.
Officers have advised that information contained in
appendix two to agenda item nine, post 16
sufficiency capital, is treated as exempt under
paragraph three of part one, schedule 12A of the
local government act 1972.
This is because it contains information relating to
financial business affairs of any particular person,
including the combined authority, and further,
that it's considered the public interest in maintaining
the content of the appendix as exempt outweighs
the public interest in disclosing the information,
as publication could prejudice current
and future decision -making.
If we agree the present public will be excluded,
should members wish to discuss the content of the appendix
when we consider item nine.
Do we agree to the exclusion of present public
during consideration agenda item 9 appendix 2 in accordance with paragraph 3 of part
1 of schedule 12a to the local government act.
All those in favour?
Thank you.
And there are no against and nonabstaining.

4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 24 September 2026

Moving on to the minutes of the meeting, the last meeting, 24th of September 26, do members
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:02:11
have any comments on the minutes?
Are we content to confirm those as an accurate record?
We are content.
Thank you.

5 Mayor's Update

Okay, moving on to the mayor's update.
Thank you so much, Finlay.
Yesterday the chancellor gave his budget to parliament, which had some really important
announcements for our region.
The fiscal devolution roadmap that was published alongside the budget was particularly important,
And I won't say more about that because there's an item on the
agenda for discussion later.
I know members received a briefing from colleagues
yesterday evening.
Hopefully that was good detail and useful.
And ahead of the budget, I held several meetings with Treasury
ministers about the next steps on fiscal devolution and took
part in a situation room led by the Prime Minister where we
discussed how more power and responsibility locally will
help unlock vital projects to us, such as huge
regeneration projects in Leeds, South Bank,
Bradford Southern Gateway, major transport projects
such as Leeds Bradford Airport, and supporting us
to transform public services.
And since our last meeting, I also took part in a really
successful Great North Trade Mission to India,
alongside seven other northern mayors.
And this trade mission was about one thing.
It was about bringing jobs, investment, and opportunity
back to our region in a way that simply wasn't possible
before devolution.
We've returned with some great results already on the board,
whether that's 240 jobs in Leeds, new partnerships on
health tech and textiles, and fresh opportunities for
homegrown businesses to grow in India.
The mission showed what we can achieve when we work together as
one team, selling our strengths to one of the world's fastest
growing economies.
Can I thank publicly the businesses, the universities,
other delegates from our region who took part in the mission
and helped to make it a real success.
And it was really pleasing that we had delegates from every part
of our region join us, banging the drum for West Yorkshire.
Finally, I'm delighted after working closely with the UK
Research and Innovation, we've secured 30 million through the
Local Innovation Partnerships Fund for West Yorkshire,
and this funding will support the growth of businesses across
advanced materials, FinTech clusters, and demonstrates
the strength of collaboration between
partners across India, across industry, academia,
and public sector.
I'm delighted future rounds of funding will be finally
fully devolved to West Yorkshire following our
consistent lobbying, another significant milestone on
our devolution journey.
So, on with the rest of the meeting.

For Decision

6 Appointment of Interim Chief Executive & Designation of Head of Paid Service

Let's move to item six, the appointment of interim chief
executive and designation of the head of paid services.
As members are aware, Ben, still our chief executive,
is moving on to a new role with Thames Freeport.
The only way is Essex was the title of the little video
in his leaving do yesterday.
Ben has been an incredible servant to the region,
having spent the last decade leading us from a small
organisation into one of the leading established strategic
authorities in the country.
And I know that we are all enormously grateful for his
leadership and commitment to public service.
As discussed at the previous meeting,
we have been out to recruit an interim chief executive and head
of paid service.
A three -member employment panel was convened,
including myself, Councillor Lewis, and Councillor Lamb.
And this paper tells us that the panel is recommending that Mike
Palin be appointed to the interim role.
Can I ask Nicky Deol, chief legal officer,
to take through the report and recommendations please. Thank you Mayor.
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 0:06:07
As members will recall at the last Combined Authority meeting we presented
a staffing paper setting out the interim and permanent arrangements for Head of
Paid Service and also interim Chief Exec. As the Mayor's highlighted in
accordance with the Constitution the post was advertised and the employment
panel was convened involving the Mayor, Councillor James Lewis and also
Councillor Lamb. There are a number of suitably qualified officers that were
interviewed on the 8th of October and following that process the panel
unanimously made a recommendation for Mike Palin for that appointment. Now Mike
brings extensive experience from senior national and local government leadership
including as chief executive of St. Helens Council and as a member of Home's
England's executive team and he's led engagement with local authorities and combined authorities
on major regeneration programmes.
So all members, all board members were notified of the employment panel's recommendation on
the 14th of October and there were no objections received.
Legally, the combined authority are required to designate a header paid service and under
our constitution that responsibility sits with you as the board.
So approval today will ensure that there's continuity of that senior leadership and organisational stability through this period of
interim appointment and beyond
The recommendations are before you and members to approve that appointment. Thank you
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:07:42
Are we happy to approve the recommendation of the employment panel made on 8th of October
2026 and appoint Mike Pailin as interim chief executive
designate him as head of paid service with effect from the 2nd of November 2026 to remain
imposed until the commencement of the substantive chief exec head of paid service or such earlier
date as determined by the combined authority. All those in favour?
Before you do, Councillor. I'm so sorry.
Councillor Felstead, I didn't see you indicate. Thank you, Mayor. I would just like to reiterate
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:08:19
the comments you've made about Ben Stille, he was a great supporter of scrutiny. Obviously
scrutiny are growing in size. Now Mike Palin's coming on board as interim chief executive,
he's taking on a lot of responsibility, he's got to deal with rewiring the state. So scrutiny
here to offer our help and input, rewiring the state is inevitably going to be a major
challenge for the combined authority. So you will need support with the work which will
require considerable amount of scrutiny. So I just thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:08:54
So appreciate that. Thank you, Councillor Felstead. And as you say, it is a big job,
but we are more than ready to do it. Councillor Play.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:09:06
Very good. Thank you. Any other comments? Thank you so much. So all those in favour
of the recommendation of the employment panel, please raise your hand. Thank you, that is
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:09:21
unanimous. Thank you so much. So thank you so much, Mike is in the wings listening to
the meeting. And next meeting you will be sat next to me. Okay, thank you. Moving on

7 Bus Reform Customer Workstream

to item 7, the bus reform customer work stream. We are imminent on the launch of the Weaver
Network, and as we get closer, we are preparing a
range of customer -facing functions that will
provide passengers with new and improved services to
help make the network a fantastic, seamless
experience for passengers.
That includes timely updates on services, and of
course, as we've discussed here, lost property.
The new Weaver Network app will be the key point of
contact for customers, but we will, of course, also
have the customer contact centre and a brand new
Weaver website.
Rather than having to communicate with individual bus operators, they will now have a single
point of contact with the Weaver network and one of the key strengths of bus franchising.
The introduction of Weaver will increase the number of customer contacts with the CA, and
our ability to manage this effectively is evolving, including procuring new technology
solutions and the development of existing ones.
This paper sets out our recommended approach to progressing the necessary work required
to be ready for spring 2027.
So Paul Matthews, director of bus franchising, could you take us through the recommendations?
Thank you, Mayor.
Yes, I've previously updated the board as to the various work streams and the structure
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:10:53
of the programme and the customer work stream is a key element of the programme and in itself
is made up of a number of strands, including app development,
Weaver development, sorry, web development, et cetera.
But this paper particularly focuses upon the technology
required to support day one of the back office, if you like,
the customer service function that's required to make sure
that we can handle a much increased volume of activity
directly and in a seamless way from customers.
So the report, as you can see, seeks a delegation of the
customer service, travel information, strategic outline
case with the associated expenditure to the chief exec.
I mean, if I just paint the picture at the moment in terms
of the current operating model, which sees many of these
functions delivered by multiple operators and the CA,
which does result in varying levels of customer experience,
very differing service standards,
and what's probably as important fragmented accountability.
And what franchising offers us, apart from all the benefits
which we expect to bring from May onwards,
it also gives us the opportunity to establish a more consistent,
accountable customer proposition,
making sure that customers actually have a better experience overall.
Each section of the paper sets out what the present
inadequacies are, the current arrangements,
in four areas.
The four areas being in terms of lost property,
workforce management, feedback management,
contact centre, et cetera, which is there for your reading.
But collectively, these improvements will support
more reliable reporting, the ability to better forecast our resourcing, and a more joined -up
view of customer contact across multiple channels.
So I think it's also important that this is intended for a day one proposition, and that
when the strategic outline case is finalised, that case will also set out a roadmap for
progressing beyond round one to take advantage of even greater
process automation, better analytics capabilities of AI,
and self -service functionality beyond,
but that's for the future beyond day one.
What we have to do is make sure we have the core tools to run
the operation in a better way than is currently
run from day one.
The capital budget, which is in section eight in terms of the proposal, we estimate that
the proposition is about 400 ,000 pound, but because of some integration opportunities
with CRM, the relationship management system we have here, and also to allow for risk contingency,
The proposed budget provision is up to 650 ,000 pounds, which as I say is intended for day
one and that will be funded by the existing West Yorkshire Transport Fund allocation.
I think the final thing I would say, Mayor, is that what this approach provides is the
ability to support go live but also gives us flexibility to respond to the future operational
insight and customer demand.
It reduces the risk for day one without avoid it with
and avoids significant upfront investment,
but allows future requirements to still evolve
and make sure the resources which we plan to put in
are directed appropriately.
So the recommendations are in front of you, Mayor,
but I think that probably summarises the paper.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:14:58
I'm really pleased to see this because it also indicates we are
also near the rollout in 2027, but as the passenger in chief, the simplicity of the
passenger journey, when there's disruption, when there is lost property, that single voice
is so important and the fact that we haven't really utilised the CRM in the way that it
could be, I do welcome this. So thank you. I take any comments.
Councillor Wood. Thank you, Mayor. I note that in this work stream there will be a
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:15:38
customer feedback option which is great. I did attend the last West Yorkshire
Mayor's question time which was great and one of my constituents John Hinkley
from the Kirk Eaton Dalton Ward he also attended and has handed me a revised
route for busses in that area. So I know we are a long way away from that but we did learn
on that day that there will be no upgrades to routes on day one. But I would like if
possible to submit that recommendation. Should it go to you Paul maybe?
Happy to receive it Councillor Wood, yes. Okay, thank you very much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:20
Thank you and I had a very warm welcome at Greenhead College so thank you for that. And
The amount of interest in busses is off the scale.
We're definitely going to revolutionise our bus network.
As you say, Councillor Wood, what we're doing is lifting and shifting the routes so there
is no disruption and misunderstanding and chaos.
But that's what devolution now will give us by franchising the bus network.
We can then look at these new routes where we can serve the communities that have been
left behind.
So thank you and I appreciate that.
Any further comments? Councillor FELSTAD.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:16:57
Thank you, Mayor. Obviously, as Paul is aware, and you may be aware, this is coming to scrutiny's
work plan for December. We're obviously focusing on customer outcomes, how the performance
will ensure good customer service and scrutiny has a part to play in that. Passengers do
want to see real sustained change on the ground.
We'd like to follow all of this up with the new interim chief
executive because the whole process appears
to be delegated to him.
Thank you.
Paul, do you want to comment?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:17:33
Certainly, we welcome Skrzysztof's involvement,
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:17:42
and we'll go into more detail at that particular point in time.
We are keen to make progress with these technology
procurements, and the strategic outline case is not
quite there yet.
And by the time the December board meeting,
it would probably be too late to procure.
So that's why we're seeking delegation on this occasion of
the investment associated with that strategic outline case.
Does that answer your question, Councillor Felsen?
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:18:14
And as this is a fast moving project, there will be moments when the time difference between
meetings means we have to take a view at not risk, but just in readiness for future business
case developments.
So I do appreciate that.
Thank you.
Okay.
If there are no further comments, can the members of the board approve a delegation
to the Combined Authorities Chief Executive in consultation with myself to approve the
Customer Service and Travel Information Strategic Outline Case in accordance with the Combined
Authorities Assurance Framework and approve a delegation to the Combined Authorities Chief
Exec in consultation with myself to approve funding of up to £656 ,500 for delivery of
the technology solutions outlined in the Customer Workstreams MVP.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you, unanimous.
Thank you so much.

8 Employment Support & Devolution

Moving on, employment support and devolution.
The government's plans to rewire the state outlined
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:19:19
a vision for the future of devolution in our country.
Members will be aware this included a commitment
to devolve employment support to mayors.
Now, already here in West Yorkshire, we have a strong
record of commissioning and delivering effective
employment support to fill gaps in the national offer.
Devolution in this area has long been an ask of ours,
and it provides a unique opportunity to design a
better system that meets the needs of local people.
We anticipated this ambition to deeper devolution by
commissioning the West Yorkshire Employment Support
Review to co -create and agree a collective vision
for a future -facing, devolution -ready employment support system with the region's local authorities.
Now, it's expected that devolution of employment support will begin with a devolution of funding
to support the long -term unemployed from early 2028.
With that, I'll invite Felix Kumianpofo, Director of Inclusive Economy, Skills and Culture,
to introduce the report and highlight key points for members. Thank you, Felix.
Thank you, Mayor.
I don't intend to go through the whole paper, just as you members have gone through it all,
just to set out a few key points.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:20:44
In the paper, we set out to draw attention to paragraph 3 .4, where we start talking about
employment support and what it looks like in terms of the landscape in the region, and
it puts what the Combined Authority and local authority partners are able to provide within
the context of what the national provision looks like.
The review that is underway is taking account of all of this,
is brought together members from local authorities,
from DWP, and third sector, academics, et cetera,
just to make sure we have all the information that we need
for this to happen.
This is informed by the work that Alan Milburn is doing.
It's informed by rewiring the state and what the mayor has just said about evolving employment
support over a period.
And it's also will then shape what we do in terms of employment with Yorkshire and its
future.
And this is all against the backdrop of what the evidence is telling us about rising youth
unemployment in particular.
We hope that the diagram we've produced in Paragon 3 .4 therefore helps members to get
a sense of what the context looks like.
The paper goes on to then talk about the review itself
and the recommendation is around paragraph 3 .13
where we've set out in very high level terms
what that target end state would look like
in terms of the principles that would govern it.
Again, I'm not going to run through it all,
but the intention is that we work together
to set out the standards that we expect at a regional level and agree what the model will be
in for delivery. A model that removes duplication and ensures consistency and
also provides for every resident irrespective of which part of the region they live in
an opportunity to realise their full potential.
We know the nature of our economy.
They are parts of the economy where the demand for labour
is stronger than others.
And we know that in this region,
more than 90 % of people live and work here.
And it does make sense therefore for us to lean into that
and to be able to link people to opportunity
wherever they are.
So that's what this paper is looking to do
and to make sure you are as well informed as possible
in terms of what we're looking to do.
The final point I'll make is around long -term unemployed.
As the mayor said, we expect this to be the first
to be devolved to us.
We're working with DWP.
We expect that the current arrangements
will stop taking referrals from the middle of next year,
and the programme itself will wind down
at the beginning of 2028,
at which point our regional offer will kick in.
We're working with the government to make sure
that we can smoothen this out as much as possible so we move our way as quickly as possible
from the programme led approach to a more integrated offer.
But that will take a bit of time.
I will stop there and take any comments or questions.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:23:54
Any thoughts on this?
This is obviously not for decision, just for noting.
Councillor Wood.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Felix.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:24:07
In Kirklees we welcome this opportunity to engage more in the long -term unemployed.
And I'm happy to see that in 3 .15 on page 36 we do have mention of an intensive work
search regime.
So I would be looking forward to getting involved in the detail of that.
Hopefully a bit more detail in our workshop in November.
And then the third bullet point states that engagement with that will be mandated for
eligible participants and also linked to the receipt of their welfare payments.
So from my point of view as leader in Kirk Lees, anything that promotes getting people
off welfare and into work is one of my job number one priorities.
So really happy to see that.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Wood.
Councillor Felstead.
Yeah.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:24:59
Thank you, Mayor.
Scrutiny, we've already looked at this in the last two meetings, and we did reach a
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:25:06
few conclusions which have been fed back to the board, but just to cover the topics off,
there are things that we can't influence, global economic trends, AI, energy prices,
taxation, but we do have control of many parts of the system, and that control allows us
to align skills, provision with local employment, productivity and growth needs, so there is
report is actually welcomed in those terms. That allows us to make better decisions here
at local level and do more for the people of this region. And scrutiny may follow up
on this actual work stream. In fact, I know we will because some of the questions have
in mind. Thank you, Felix.
Thank you so much. Councillor Southerland.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:25:55
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 0:25:58
Thank you, Mayor. There are millions of people in this country and many in this region who
do the commendable thing of getting up every day and going to work when they would be better
off on benefits, financially. And as much as we do on employment support, we're always
going to struggle to address that issue that underlies and undermines any efforts we take.
I noticed in the paper it talks about the approach, and this is instances to devolve
associated funding rather than associated policy. Can I take from that sentence that
There is a potential to work with the DWP to see a devolution of the policy around employment
support and unemployment benefits.
That would seem to me to be the way we actually deal with the crux of the issue.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:26:41
I'll come to you Felix on that and then I'll go to Councillor Aries.
Thank you, Mayor.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:26:50
So the paragraph you referred to Councillor, I think in section 3 .15 of the paper.
This refers specifically to the first bit of devolution that we are expecting from DWP.
Because of the way the system currently runs, and I think that is the same paragraph that
Councillor Wood was referring to as well, because of the way the system currently works,
there are specific programmes that are targeted at specific cohorts in the population, and
that is just the nature of their experience then,
that if you fall in this particular cohort,
this is the programme that relates to you
and that is therefore the service that you are engaged with.
DWP's idea currently is therefore to lift that
and shift that to us and mandate then who is eligible,
how do we deal with the links to, you know,
mandation, the links to benefits, et cetera.
So, we've reported here what DWP is telling us what their expectation is.
We are hoping that by the time this lands with us, back end of next year, that we would
have moved on from this.
This is their starting position for how they expect this to work.
We are saying back to them that it's not a devolution, that it's decentralisation, and
actually we are simply commissioning us to do what you want to do.
So, I'm not able right now to commit to you that what we are asking for is what we will
get in the end, but what we are asking for moves is quite different to what's here.
What we are reporting to you right now is what we are being offered.
And so, right now, if things were, if this was to be given to us today based on the conversations
we've had, then it would look like this.
But hopefully by the time we sign on the dotted line later next year, we would have shifted
the conversation on so we have more of a grip on the policy, of the operations, how it works,
et cetera.
We are also moving as pushing as hard as we can to move away from the programme by programme
way in which this is run so that it's more system led.
That will be difficult because there are already programmes that are out there and DWP can only
give it to us as those programmes come to an end.
So we will have a bit of a mix, but our desired end state is to have one system that has one
coherent, consistent, integrated offer for everybody in the region.
That does not feed into what you talked about earlier on, that it might pay more for somebody
to be on benefits than to work and etc., but incentivizes people to work and supports them
to work because we all understand and appreciate what the benefits are to everybody.
So that's what we are working towards but what we are able to show you today is what
we know and what we are.
Thank you Felix.
Councillor Aref.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:29:49
Thank you Mayor.
Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council - 0:29:54
I want to talk about the welcome news announced yesterday particularly in relation to the
Leeds College of Building with the additional 15 million announced which will create additional
capacity which is really good news not just for Leeds but actually for the whole region.
Creating additional places that Leeds College of Building to enable more people to develop
the skills and employees need to access good and well -paid careers in terms of the construction
industry is so important for us and the addition of 2000 spaces are going to be absolutely
fundamental. It meets our ambitions in relation to the LEADS Young Futures programme that
we have, ensuring that young people have access to the right education, training and needs
as well. So it links into the paper really welcome news, as I said, not just for us,
across the region. So thank you, Felix.
Thank you, if you're right, 15 million for the College of Construction, 2 ,100 extra places.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:51
Talking to Nikki, the chief executive, principal, she was often saying that people would want
to sign up for engineering or being an electrician but the course wasn't there because they didn't
have the capacity and then they would go on to a different course, they didn't like it,
They drop out, they become NEETs.
So I really think that this is such a good news storey and our lobbying has been really
successful so thank you to this government for understanding.
It's also the centre of excellence for Yorkshire and Humber.
So if it's the centre of excellence for the whole region, then it's got to be given the
resources to be such.
Councillor, please.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Felix.
From Bradford, we've just got a four point wish list really to be included inside the
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 0:31:33
final arrangements.
First one is that WICA maintains accountability to government for single funding settlement
regional framework and devolved funds.
The second one is that you provide local authorities with meaningful responsibility, resources
and accountability for their local systems.
Include transparent multiyear allocations to local authorities with local discretion
over priorities, commissioning and deployment. And establish governments arrangements based
on shared and reciprocal accountability between WICA and those local authorities.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:16
Thank you so much. All noted. And as part of the plan will continue. Those conversations
have already been happening with your local authority colleagues. I don't know if you
want to reply Felix or come to Mandy? Do you want to comment?
Thank you, well noted. I'm coming to see you shortly. We'll be able to talk through these.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:39
There's a lot here that we also agree with. It's just a question of how we make it work
for the whole region and we make sure we can marry supply and demand properly.
Thank you. Mandy?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:48
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 0:32:51
Alongside the work I do on business, I also chair the Yorkshire Prison Service for getting
ex -offenders into work.
So it would be really great, I appreciate that sometimes the funding is siloed, if we
could take into account how we tackle that problem, especially in that 16 to 24 or 18
to 24 age group, I think that's really important.
Thank you so much.
Councillor Wood.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:15
Yeah just on that getting ex -offenders into work, I'd appreciate a conversation with you
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:33:23
at a future date. We have a good initiative in Kirklees called Skills 42, they're looking
to combine just that initiative with also quick housing for homeless. And then just
Just to raise another point about 7 .1 on the report on page 37.
It says that employment support needs to reach those in greatest need, including linked to
protected characteristics.
In West Yorkshire people with disabilities have particular barriers.
I would appreciate a review at some point of that clause to add in that we try to target
the people who are most willing to uptake this support because sometimes it doesn't
align with those people in those groups and sometimes it does. So I think really it's
about capitalising on that support and making sure the people who receive that report are
actually willing to uptake it and therefore actually do end up in work.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:27
Thank you, Councillor Wood. Councillor Lamb, and then I'll come back to you, Philip.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:34:32
Thank you Mayor. I welcome the direction of travel but as has been alluded to if we don't
have policy flexibility this is a delegation not a devolution. And following on from Mandy's
point one thing I'd like to see more of and perhaps some comment from Felix is around
partnership working. You referred to ex -offenders at the probation service need to be on board
and personally experienced them being the barrier to offenders getting back into work.
I personally offered someone a job in the prison next to me as a chef, offered them
accommodation when they came out and the probation service refused to accept that and insisted
that they had to live in a halfway house in Hyde Park which meant there was no transport
for them to get and they couldn't take that job opportunity as a result and it was heartbreaking
for me to say we want to give someone an opportunity and a second chance and it was the people
that should be helping that got in the way and equally what's the role for the health
service in delivering this given the biggest barrier that's presented in the paper is health.
So where are they and what role do they have in this because it's true we have to have
that policy flexibility and we need really strong partnership working and we also need
honest conversations about the cost of employment and making sure that actually it's one thing
having people ready to work, there has to be jobs for them to do as well. And in recent
years the cost of employing people has gone up substantially and what there is not in
the devolution deals is the opportunity for MCAs to do anything about that. We can charge
people more for things but there's no opportunity to reduce the cost and the burdens of business
and again we should have flexibility around that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:20
Thank you Councillor Lamb and you do identify the issue that if it's just shifted and lifted
it's exactly the same problems but it was pleasing to see to your point about business
that there was the acknowledgement that businesses need an incentive to employ young people so
I did appreciate that. Mandy you want to come in then I'll come back
to Felix. Just to offer a conversation with Councillor
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 0:36:40
also with Councillor Lamb, DWP do sit on the Yorkshire board and so if you can give me
any information I can at least follow that up. I'm presuming it's Wheelstone that you're
talking about. So there's a great opportunity there to do more.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:56
Thank you so much. And just lastly on this item, you're okay, everybody's spoken. Do
you want to just wrap up and we'll move on? Because this is just for noting. Thanks, Felix.
Thank you, Mayor, and thanks for the comments, a lot of which I'm sure we'll be able to work
with.
The employment research framework that we currently have with the programmes that sit
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:37:16
under it are available to ex -offenders already, but we do know that the system is not integrated
enough, and so we have the challenges that have been raised.
I suppose similar to what Paul was saying earlier on with bus franchising and day one,
it is quite possible and it's what we did with adult skills as well, that day one things
might look quite similar to what they look today because things will come to us with
certain straight jackets.
But what we do on day one and what we do on day 100 will hopefully be very different because
we will have the opportunity with proper devolution to be able to integrate this much more and
to get the system talking to itself. We do some out of court pathway support, etc., but
we are in no means as well integrated as we could be. So there's an opportunity for us
to do more, but that will be possible when this is properly evolved to us over time.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:38:26
Thank you so much. Okay, no further comments. Let's move on because that, as I say, was

9 Post-16 Sufficiency Capital

for noting. So, item 9, post -16 sufficiency capital. Obviously, this really does relate
to the previous item. We need to ensure that there's enough high -quality post -16 education
and training opportunities for our young people, and that is a massive challenge across West
Yorkshire especially as demand continues to grow. As the report sets out the CA
has been allocated funding by government to help address some of these capacity
measures pressures and support our ambition for West Yorkshire to be a
region of learning and creativity and as we've mentioned Councillor Arias about
the College of Construction that was really good to see and I'm encouraged by
the collaborative approach taken with our local authority and education
providers to identify those projects that can make the
greatest difference for young people,
communities, and employers.
We know that the demand for investment, of course,
as always, exceeds the funding currently available,
but the proposals before us provide an important step
towards increasing capacity, supporting priority skills
provision, and helping more young people access the
opportunities they need to succeed.
The report recognises the wider challenge facing
further education sector, sets out opportunities to explore longer term approaches to supporting
capital investment across the region. And back to you Felix if you want to take us through
the report. Thank you Mayor, as you've just said we know that the need far outweighs the
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:40:07
resource that we have. Over the last year or so my team has engaged with all our FE
colleges and other providers and we estimate the total capital need to be in excess of
200 million pounds. We obviously do not have 200 million pounds today to satisfy that.
However, it is also worth noting that just over the last 12 months, about just under
40 million pounds, about 37 million pounds has been made available for FE capital. About
for sufficiency.
The combined authority has been given
just under 12 million pounds,
it's about 12 million pounds,
6 .3 for construction capital,
and that is, we are working that through
with the College of Building,
that is the C -Tech, the Technical Excellence College
for construction, the hub in the region.
And then we've got 5 .8 million pounds for sufficiency,
and obviously yesterday we had the announcement of 15 million pounds going to the College of Building.
So there is some money going into the system but we know that it's absolutely not enough. Of that
37 million that I've talked about, therefore about 25 is going to Leeds and that is right because
Leeds has just about half of the growth that we are talking about and it's where a lot of the
pressure is hitting. The paper therefore in front of you is the result of work that the
team has done through expressions of interest to understand through the evidence where the
need is and what we can stand up really quickly in the time that we've got. There is obviously
the exempt paper which if members are looking to discuss we will then go through the usual
protocols but if not what we are saying is that having done the work there are a
number of colleges whose applications we feel we are able to satisfy with the
funding that we've got. There are a couple that we we know are fundable but we
don't have the funding for everything that they are seeking and so we're
setting out a process for how we will deal with that. It is worth saying that
we are continuing to work to understand what else we can do with the resources that we've
got and so it's possible that we come back to you to seek approval because we've been
able to identify some funding to do some more but we can't commit to that right now.
The last point I'll make is there is a recommendation on there and if you are minded to approve
it that will allow us to work with partners and to explore and set up some kind of revolving
finance facility, which colleges will then be able to dip into to satisfy some of the
demand that we've talked about. I can't tell you right now how much that will be. There's
work that we have to do to understand how much capital we'll be able to release. There
is also the challenge that we have to go through with central government to give us the permission
and to make it possible for colleges to dip into that pot when we create that.
But this will allow us to go further in the conversation that we are having with government
to show how serious we are about this, how ready we are to work with them to deal with
this, but also to give us different answers to the challenge.
There's some ground for this, a revolving fund, and there might be others that we work
to.
So there are two things that we are asking you for today.
One, if you are minded to approve the work that we've done
so we can go forward with the funding that we have based on
what's in the paper to satisfy some of the need.
And two, if you are minded to approve that recommendation,
we will then work to set up that fund.
Thank you.
Thank you so much, Felix.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:44:09
And just to remind colleagues that if you want to speak to the
private appendix, please do indicate,
because we will have to end the live stream and invite people to leave.
Councillor Wood.
Again, I welcome this report and I see it's linked to the previous one.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:44:30
Sometimes with the pace of devolution, the associated legislation, integrated settlement,
etc., I worry about whether or not we are joining the dots.
I don't see anywhere in this report how we are actually working with businesses and industry
to make sure that we are setting up a skilled workforce that's fit for the future.
We're talking a lot about the Leeds College of Building and Construction.
There's also provisions for that in the Kirklees College that are starting to be set up as
well.
I've had a conversation with the chair of those areas.
And in construction, they've struggled over the last decade and a half to really set up
new ways of building, modular building, et cetera.
And it often is a chicken and egg.
So we don't have the skills to do that in the workforce.
And when we try and set up initiatives, entrepreneurial initiatives, then because we don't have the
skills it falls over and so the cycle repeats. So I would like to see at some point how we're
addressing making sure that we are providing skills to the labour market that actually
fit what industry needs. So that would be great to hear from in the future.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:45:54
Absolutely right, Councillor Wood, because for example mass transit or bus franchising
we're going to need a skilled workforce so we're developing that pipeline. But Felix,
I will come back to you then, Councillor Johnson.
Felix.
Thank you, Mayor.
It is a very good point to make.
I suppose I will say a couple of things.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:16
One employer engagement and ensuring that what we do is what the market needs, what
employers need.
That is at the heart of everything we do.
We have targeted employment skills programmes that we put out.
we use the evidence from what the industry is saying it needs to then target the
funding that we've got. That is right at the heart of everything we do. We don't always get it right, of course.
We all keep learning, but that is fundamental to everything that we do.
So when we've responded to the market, whether it's bus drivers or whatever else,
it's because the market is saying this is what's needed. There's digital skills, construction.
That's why we work very closely with the College of Building.
So that's at the heart of what we're doing.
We know we can do more depending on what funding we've got.
So we will do that.
Secondly, if there's an opportunity for us to have a conversation about something specific
that's in your conversations that's come up, then we're very happy to come over and have
that conversation with you and see what is possible.
but I meet with the college principals one -on -one every quarter and we meet them all together
regularly as well. So we're picking up all that information, but whatever we are not
picking up, I'm happy to have that conversation. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:47:36
Thank you and Devolution gives us the opportunity to be agile, so telecoms were struggling to
recruit. So we put on a telecoms course and we were able, because it was our initiative,
to have people who had a criminal record because telecoms will take you so we can
be quite bespoke and that's where devolution really gives you more bang
for your buck. Councillor Johnson.
Cllr Karl Johnson (Wakefield Council) - 0:48:02
Good morning. Ms Harley, I was just talking about post 16 just before we came in and I mean I think in Wakefield we're very much known as creativity and logistics from where we're based.
Obviously in there we've got Production Park, we've got Capra College, we've got Wakefield
College and certain things I'm looking at at the present moment in time is certainly
post -16 and I mean everybody in here agrees that young people deserve the best chance
in life they possibly can do.
So I am all for this and I would like to say I think we need to be looking at producing
as much as we can and finding the skills in the area and I'd love a conversation with
I think we can do that afterwards as well.
Superb.
Any further comments?
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:48:47
Okie doke.
So members, are you happy to approve the short list of projects identified through the expression
of interest process as fully fundable to progress to business case development in accordance
with the CA's assurance framework?
work. It was a misfortune to put a sweet in my mouth just before we got to this. Are we
happy to delegate authority to the chief executive in consultation with myself in accordance
with the CA's assurance framework to approve business cases, ensure due diligence requirements
are met, and enter into grant agreements with the CA? Are we happy to approve the inclusion
of additional shortlisted fundable projects on a capital pipeline and commencement of
discussions with the highest ranked projects to explore a negotiated funding offer within
available resources and or should further capital funding become available.
Are we happy to approve that should a project not progress, discussions are undertaken with
the next highest ranked fundable project in ranking order to explore whether a deliverable
project can be supported within the available funding?
And finally, are we happy to approve in principle the
establishment of a revolving finance facility to enable
capital investment into the further education sector
across the region?
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Please don't.
A very good joke.
A very good joke.
It is not quite Christmas.
Those against?
Any abstentions?
I think we had, did we have one abstention?
Oh, sorry, I missed your hand.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:50:33
That was unanimous.
Thank you.
Recommendations have been carried.

10 Regeneration Commercial Investment Support

Okay, moving on to item 10, regeneration commercial investment support.
Greater fiscal devolution announced by the chancellor yesterday will allow us to invest
in the things that support our ambitions to grow and succeed.
The integrated settlement we received earlier this year already allows us to bring together
funding more easily to direct investment.
Earlier this year we agreed to the creation of a £335 million housing investment fund.
Today this paper is proposing we create a new regeneration commercial investment fund
worth £121 million.
That is a pot of 450 million of capital investment to drive regeneration of our towns and cities.
Together this will start the good growth fund.
So over to Ruth Davison, interim director of environment and place to take us through
the report.
Thank you, Mayor.
So as indicated, the intention today is to ask you to approve the programme level business
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:51:40
case that will create the regeneration and commercial investment fund.
So what we have done is taken two strands of integrated settlement to bring them together to create this fund of £121 million.
The fund really is targeted at unlocking floor space across West Yorkshire, creating jobs and also supporting businesses to meet their growth ambitions.
Just to make one clarification and update to the report, so in paragraph 1 .11 we stated that the targets on city densification fund are still to be agreed earlier this week.
We received indication that ministers have now signed off on those targets.
The business case that is before you today actually already took the indicative targets
into consideration, so there is no amendment to the actual outcomes that this fund will
achieve.
So the purpose of the programme is twofold.
It's to create both capital and revenue pots to unlock stalled employment sites by
addressing barriers such as infrastructure requirements, land
remediation and viability gaps. You know we already have had some discussions
with developers and with local authorities about relevant projects so
we know that there is a small industrial unit project in Wakefield that could be
unlocked using 2 .2 million of viability gap funding. We know that there is an
opportunity in Kirkley to look at the station gateway proposal as a place -based
scheme so that we would be layering transport and regeneration funds to
create a better outcome in that setting. So we are therefore well aware
of all the opportunities that there are but what this project paper does also
set out though is an intent to do a call for projects to secure some additional
information across different opportunities in West Yorkshire to allow
prioritisation exercise and what we would do is we would intend to take a
couple of sites through as early deliverables but then undertake a full
assessment to create a pipeline of what will be delivered across West Yorkshire
over time. For us it's very key that sites are supported by local authorities
and those that are supported by local authorities will be prioritised and all
sites will obviously have to have secured relevant planning permissions
before they are allocated funding.
The approval that is before you today is to approve the programme level business case
but also then to agree a change request to move £4 million into an existing revenue
fund that we have called the Employment Land Accelerator Fund.
The revenue fund is for sites that aren't yet ready for capital deployment and the intention
is that what will happen is that we will work with local authorities to agree which ones
need to be funded to move them towards being investable propositions in the longer term.
We are also in that change request on the revenue fund asking for increased timescales
to deliver because we are actually putting significantly more money into that fund so
we are asking to be allowed to spend that money to March 2029. Within the paper you
We'll also see that we're creating some delegations to the chief exec in conjunction with the
section 73 officer and the mayor in terms of use of the capital fund.
This is very similar to what we did in the housing space and it's to allow us to be able
to use this funding at pace, at the pace that the market moves at.
What we have done is we've created some safeguards within that, so that delegation will only
be used after you have seen the pipeline of projects that are eligible for that delegation.
In addition, we will also say that we will only use that delegation if it is for infrastructure
or for grant funding. So anything that creates more of an investable proposition where there
is a financial risk would come back for political decision on an individual case basis. I think
that sets out the nature of the paper.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:55:52
Thank you so much. Any comments on this paper? I'm really delighted that we have that large
good growth fund underway. We have ambitions but bringing it together under that banner
gives it that clarity, doesn't it? Councillor Wood.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 0:56:10
Thank you, Mayor. I understand the funds have been put together and so it brings together
commercial investment funds but also housing regeneration as well. My comments focus specifically
housing. In Kirklees we are very uncomfortable with some of the changes
to planning policy when working in concert with the increased numbers that
requires us to build 36 ,000 new houses between 2023 and 2043 and unusually the
discomfort with the way that these legislations work together and force us
to use potentially quite a lot of our greenbelt land now obviously re -
categorised as grey belt and it has unusually brought together people across the whole chamber.
So whereas other local authorities might have more brownfield land available and therefore
they can accommodate that amount of housing within the brownfield land, that doesn't still
preclude developers from deciding to choose the greenbelt land in order to maximise their
profits and their profit margins.
And essentially, we are in the middle of developing our local plan and that's going to put us
into a situation where it won't only trigger the NIMBYs because the NIMBYs will be across
the whole of Kirklees.
So we will be writing to you and the five Kirklees MPs, the Prime Minister and the Minister
for Housing, to express our concern and to ask for a more bespoke potential amendments
to some of these planning laws to allow for the fact that different local authorities
have different issues.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:52
That's just doesn't necessarily relate to this particular paper, but the wider point
is noted.
Thank you.
Councillor Place and then Councillor Lai.
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Ruth.
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 0:58:01
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 0:58:06
The Bradford officers in the regen and growth department, plus myself, would you like a
bit more detail, please, on pipeline development and the selection project selection criteria.
And also if you could consider giving funding for master planning, feasibility studies,
land acquisition and site investigations, that would probably possibly bring things
quickly, much more quickly to development status.
And that would also be more attractive to investors.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:58:38
Certainly that is the benefit of one devolution that we can flip capital to revenue and also
the MDZ gives us that great opportunity to have that bold vision and to identify what
resources are needed to unlock land assembly, et cetera.
But Ruth, I'll come to you and then it's Councillor Lamb.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:59:00
Councillor Place, we'll certainly be working with officers across all local authorities
to agree the call for sites before it goes out to the market and happy again to have
political briefings if people would like those.
Secondly on, particularly on the revenue side, when we were making the decision as to how
much money to put into the revenue pot, we were specifically mindful of the need around
Bradford Southern Gateway and that revenue pot and that's why we've come in at four million
in the change request rather than perhaps a two million pot over the next three years,
So that will just exactly unlock the types of activity you have indicated.
Councillor LAND?
Thank you, mayor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:59:35
Just quickly on Councillor Wood's comment.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:59:38
It's not unique to Kirk Leeds.
Leeds have just published their site by site assessment of green belts and it shows that
between 85 and 92 % of the green belt will be reclassified as grey belts.
and that is just outrageous in my view.
So anything that we can do collectively to pressure the
government absolutely wholeheartedly support that.
But to this paper specifically, I want to support it.
My concern is around the level of delegation and understanding
why we've picked 20 million as a figure,
which to me seems way too high to sit with the chief executive.
So I'd like to understand why we've picked that number and what the consequence would
be of going to a lower level of delegation.
Given the sort of schemes we're talking about, I'm struggling to see that we wouldn't be
able to fit it within our meeting cycles between the investment board and this board and things
and I don't have a specific suggestion open to ideas but it just seems that the pace of
devolution is welcome in many ways but we have to make sure we've got the capability,
the capacity and the governance in place and we don't have a great track record of keeping
spending commitments on track here anyway. So I would like to make sure we've got really
strong oversight by whatever means but I just, while I support the direction of travel, I
feel uncomfortable with that level of delegation. Thank you, Councillor Lamb. If I could just
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:01:13
raise a concern about your final sentence about our track record, just because of the
world in which we have been in for the last five years,
post -COVID, and because of energy costs and supply
chains, we have been in extraordinarily
unusual circumstances.
And I would suggest that's not because of our poor
money management, because of external circumstances.
But I can imagine that those challenges are
reflected across every male strategic authority and
local authority in the country. I wouldn't say it's poor housekeeping from us. I think
it was the world in which we were in. But just to that point about delegations, Ruth?
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:02:01
Council Lamb, what we did is we looked at the past investments that we've made and we
took a view as to the ones that felt like they were more straightforward grant type
applications for unlocking. And we also looked at the pace at which we lost opportunity to
invest in previous sites because we weren't able to get to the point where
we could make a decision in time. I suppose in terms of to try to combat
what your concern is that's why our intention was to bring a pipeline and
keep bringing it back every six months to update much like we're going to do
with the housing site so that you have a list of information and if you as a
politician said well actually on this one I would want to have sight of it
before any decision is used, that delegation is implemented, then we would bring that specific
scheme through. So that's why we will be bringing the regular updates on the pipeline to allow
people to say these are the ones that we would want to have sight of.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:03:01
Thank you, and we all share frustration at the pace at which it takes too long to build
anything in this country, and we are trying to find innovative ways to ensure that we
We don't exactly to Ruth's point miss opportunities for our region, but I do appreciate your concerns
and thank you for that clarification.
Councillor Sutherland.
Thank you, Mayor.
I was going to leave it as Councillor Lamb seemed to have picked up what I was thinking
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 1:03:24
to say, but it doesn't sound like we're getting a shift from this 20 million of delegations
or thought I might as well take the opportunity to express my concern as well that we're effectively
delegating one sixth of the total programme to be done under delegated spend and whilst
it said that we can have things come back to the combined authority board, it does specify
that changes can be made at the investment board. So things could get quite far from
what we think we've approved to what actually then gets spent under delegated authority
without us ever actually seeing it. I'm a bit concerned that we're giving up too much
power and control here over such a significant amount of money.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:04:02
Thank you. So Councillor Sutherland, Councillor Lam, are you content we just take this away
for a further conversation, just to explore your concerns in more detail.
And Ruth, I think your point was well made about us moving at pace to get uncomplicated
decisions away so we don't miss opportunities.
But in the absence of Ben, are you content for us to do that?
I think if we can – Nicky?
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:04:35
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:04:37
Yeah, so what we could do is we could make an adjustment to the recommendations. Just
before we do that, I just want to make it clear that the way that our constitution and
the delegations work in funding limits is set at a certain parameter. So obviously for
combined authority you can delegate whatever you wish to to the chief executive or indeed
officers and the investment board has an interaction of up to 40 million as making decisions within
that scope. But if you feel uncomfortable with that element, we can certainly take that
away and remove those matters. But I wouldn't advocate a wholesale removal of the recommendations,
just the ones that are delegated. So if we could make that clear through an amendment
to the recommendations, Councillor Lamm or Councillor Silverland, that those will be
paused and returned to the Combined Authority. Does that make sense?
Lovely, yeah. So Nicky, if you could, I'm about to speak
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:28
to all of the votes. So if you could just advise me on this item, which says approve
the delegation. So before we do so, the delegation that Councillor
Lam and Councillor Silverland are particularly concerned about is 1 .4 within your papers.
Councillor Lam, would you like to move an amendment for that to be removed from the
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:05:52
recommendation and to be returned after further consideration and discussion?
I'm happy to move that.
Can I have a seconder, please?
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:05:58
We got through that collectively.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:06:18
Members of the board, are we happy to approve that the regeneration commercial investment
fund programme progressed through decision point two, programme business case, and notes the
CA's potential funding of up to 121 million from the integrated settlement subject to
endorsement of a pipeline of projects by either investment board or the CA.
Approve the work commences on the individual project business cases for schemes on the
regeneration commercial investment fund.
approved development funding of up to $6 million for programme activities, resourcing, and any
business case development requirements taking the total approval to $6 million.
Approve a delegation to the Combined Authorities Chief Executive in consultation with myself
to sign any funding agreements under the regeneration commercial investment fund required between
the CA and partners as a consequence of approvals to subsequent capital project business case
place, approve the change request to the employment land accelerator fund scheme to increase delivery
time scales from September 26 to March 29, increase funding by $4 million, taking the
total from $2 million to $6 million, with the total scheme cost of $6 million, and approve
the conversion of $4 million of capital funding from the integrated settlement local growth
fund to revenue funding for the employment land accelerator fund.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
That is unanimous.
Moving on.
Brilliant.

11 Temple Works (British Library North) Change Request

Moving on to item 11, Temple Works.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:07:53
This is a proposal for up to $5 million from the new regeneration commercial investment
fund.
This will support the development of the British Library's requirements and planning work needed
to assess the viability, affordability, funding requirements, and delivery approach for a
potential British Library North facility at Temple Works. Back to you Ruth.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:08:18
Thank you. So two stage of approval today. One is the approval for £5 million into Temple
Works project for British Library North and this would take the combined authorities total
funding to just over £39 million. The second part of the approval is really to allow the
combined authority to enter into a grant funding agreement with the British Library for the
£5 million and delegates to the chief executive in conjunction with the finalisation of the
agreement. So this is a project that is well known to the combined authority, it's based
in Leeds and the intent of this project is to create a permanent home for the British
Library. This is a Grade 1 listed building in Leeds South Bank and it's within the
development zone boundary. Currently this building is in a significant state
of disrepair and causes a blight that is preventing the development of
significant brownfield land around the property. Although the paper refers to
sort of 300 homes unlocked actually the land around that would unlock thousands
of homes. In March of this year the Combined Authority agreed that £34 million
pound would be released to this project. That funding was specifically to allow
Homes England to acquire the site and to make it safe. It's really key that this
property comes into public ownership after a number of attempts to try to
make this project become a reality. The acquisition is on track and the
is expected to take place in early 2027. The change request today is not about escalating
costs. This project has now progressed in terms of maturity to the point that we know
what costs are needed to build in British Library requirements into the project. So
the change request is to release the £5 million to ensure requirements are built into the
project development, that the planning work that happens takes into account viability,
affordability and funding requirements for the British Library ambition to become a reality.
It will also support the financial work needed to create the end project model and consider
some commercial use on the site.
British Library commitment has been tested and set out in the paper as part of this business
case.
We have a memorandum of understanding that is ready for signing once this approval has been made today.
So the memorandum of understanding is between ourselves, Holmes England, Leeds Council and the British Library.
Once that MOU has been signed we will then progress into a grant funding agreement that will have very specific and key milestones and defined timetables for progression.
The end output of this project is to unlock floor space. It's obviously an
anchor project as indicated in the report, both a cultural anchor project
but it is also really about the regeneration of place. So British Library
though is not just a Leeds project, this is a project that actually is going to
improve access to cultural learning across West Yorkshire. It has links to
you know the excellent assets we have in Bradford of the Bronte's and it also
opens up collaboration between the library and universities across West
Yorkshire. The British Library being based in Leeds will enhance the
reputation of West Yorkshire as a destination for culture and heritage
and there's an innovation point that we could all come together around as local
authorities combined authority with British libraries to really articulate the extent
of what that will bring.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:26
Thank you so much Ruth and it's a great example of partnership working. A project that has
been tricky because it's such a listed vulnerable building that being able to work in partnership
to get us to this point after a number of years is welcome. Any comments? Councillor
Place and then Councillor Loughnane.
Thank you, Mayor, thank you, Ruth. Just a quick one really. This is another five million to make it nearly 40.
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 1:12:49
We haven't got a book in there yet.
I just think we maybe need to look at capping in terms of are they going to keep coming back, keep coming back, keep coming back.
We don't want a repeat of HS2 type situation. That's my only concern. I'm fully behind it.
I think it would be a major, major thing for West Yorkshire to have.
I'm just concerned that this isn't going to be a big deep sinkhole.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:13:19
This is a phased project.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:13:24
Our intention through we have a government led steering group that is overseeing some
of this work.
Some of that needs to conversation needs to happen with departments like DCMS around what
is the future capital and revenue fund they can put into this.
But rest assured that we are mindful that there does need to be funding that comes in
from a partnership aspect and not just be a combined authority project.
And one of the things that we are really keen to do is to make sure that we have a commercial
backstop if this does not become a British library.
So we are making sure that we are not just putting all our eggs in one basket.
it. And if I may say, just from conversations
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:14:05
I've had over a number of years, and when I was an MP as well with the British Library,
the appetite for philanthropy around the British Library is extraordinary. You know, Japanese
governments, people all over the world want to, and have invested in the British Library
in London, and British Library in London really are confident about their ability to also
raise funding further down the line when they make the decision to actually take on the
building fully and the investment that they have secured for their expansion in London
is quite eye -watering. So it won't just be us is my point. This is a partnership.
Councillor Lamb.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:14:54
Thank you, Mayor. I think firstly it would be remiss of me not to remind everyone that
British Library has a substantial home in the north in my ward in Thorpe Arch and so
I've got to know them quite well over the last 20 years. In terms of this project it's
absolutely crucial for Leeds and the wider region and it's right that we're looking at
it in two parts. One is about preserving the building, it is a beautiful heritage asset
in its own right that needs preserving but more importantly than that is its position and place
and it's absolutely critical you can't unlock the rest of the regeneration properly in the South
Bank and that part of the city without doing this so absolutely support it I think we have to be
clear about this isn't it in terms of money yet it will be helpful to know what the reality now
to say often here we don't want to have a blank cheque but there's still it won't be the last time
we're talking about this and being asked for money I'm certain of that.
The bit I'm really keen to get a bit of reassurance about is the five million for the British
Library and again knowing the things that they're also dealing with which are significant
in terms of capacity, they're doing a lot of work at Thorpe Arch, it's making sure that
their work doesn't drift.
So I'd like some assurance about clear time scales and milestones about when they're going
to make decisions so that here we can decide when is the time to look at alternatives.
That would be the ideal use for the site to have the British Library there but that decision
is not made. This money is to do feasibility work and I don't want to see a situation,
I've seen it with the British Library before where five years down the line we still don't
have a decision and the ambitions getting scaled back and scaled back and scaled back
because the money is being eroded by time. So what can we put in place to make sure that
we have really clear milestones and deadlines around their decision making.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:17:04
Thank you, Councillor Lamb. Also just to make an offer to members of this committee to have
a walk around because I think unless you see it, you can't see the scale and opportunity.
Ruth? So very much the grant funding agreement is what will drive the pace and the deliverables
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:17:24
that are expected for that five million. One of the challenges is the lack of access into
that building whilst it's not in public ownership and so one of the things that will unlock
us being able to come back to the combined authority with a more detail as to cost would
be Homes England acquiring the building and then us having some more thorough
surveying and access to the site. So at this point I don't think anybody's been
in it for a couple of years. So definitely content to bring the paper
back to the Combined Authority next year, both confirming some proposed milestones
for British Library but also to set out the funding scope that comes out of
the initial work was done by Homes England.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:18:14
Councillor Wood then, Councillor Aragon.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:18:17
Thank you, Mayor.
Thank you, Ruth, for that clarity.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:18:22
Yeah, I have a tendency to agree with Councillor Place and also Councillor Lamb.
I have a personal aim to have heritage buildings back into use, especially in Yorkshire.
I think it really depicts our beauty and our heritage, but also this does have all the
hallmarks of current and future slippage.
It's been vacant for 22 years, had collapsed in 2008 and then I heard there has been recent
lobbying and that has brought together funding etc.
I am minded to ask for an amendment to the recommendation that includes both the milestones
that are regularly reported to members but also that any future slippage to funding comes
back to the board for approval.
Ruth, I don't see any problem with any of those.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:19:24
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:19:28
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:19:31
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:19:42
There has been quite a significant input in finance earlier.
The slippage I don't think has been as a consequence from the decision in March, it's just as a
result of the need to bring it into public ownership which has been quite a difficult
obstacle to overcome.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:20:03
That's a good clarity, thank you, because getting Homes England on board to be responsible
for it was a longer discussion, but I think it was a sensible position for the CA to put
itself in, that this was shared risk and shared responsibility.
But Nicky, any help there?
So in relation to the explanation that the office has given you I
Would advise that that is more of an action for officers to provide you with those updates in relation to spend
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:20:30
The capital that's been allocated under 2 .1 in the recommendation. I wouldn't advocate an amendment
It's a matter for you councillor would if you wish that but I think that's an action for us as officers to keep you up
To date on any changes. Thank you. Let's make that
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:20:46
When this paper comes back to this board, we will have that as a philtre on which we
look at this topic.
Councillor Aragon.
Thank you, Mayor.
Just a comment from me, really.
Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council - 1:21:00
It's just the genuine transformational this could bring for us across West Yorkshire and
the point Councillor Lamb has raised correctly in terms of unlocking the wider regeneration
in the South Bank area.
From my perspective, really supportive and I take the point you make as well.
But really good news if we can get that off the ground.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:21:22
And if Councillor Place comes on the walk around, we can see the ambitions for the southern
gateway and how we can work together on that.
Councillor Wood.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:21:35
I would ask that if it's something that officers could do anyway, that we do actually amend
the recommendation.
have you got a proposal for the amendment that you see, Councillor Wood?
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:21:47
I would move to amend that any future increases to funding come back to the board for approval
and that the milestones that Councillor Larmast and Ruth suggested were available that they
also come back regularly to members, whether that be through the board or whether that
be through email communication.
So would that form the amendment that you're seeking would form an entirely new paragraph
of 2 .3 on that basis. You can move that amendment if you so wish, Councillor Wood, and someone
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:22:19
would need to second it.
I move that.
I'll second it.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:22:22
So can we vote on that as an amendment to the recommendation in relation to the points
raised?
So that was part of the substantive recommendation now.
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:22:38
So as I come back to this, what do I actually say?
Because that was about Ruth and other people, so that's not actually the amendment.
That is the amendment to the main recommendation, so that would form an additional recommendation
to approve.
Councillor Wood, the wording that you adopted was?
Go ahead.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:22:58
Any future funding increases come back to the board for approval and that the milestones
recommended by Councillor Lamb and substantiated by Ruth comes back to the board also and with
regular email updates.
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:23:13
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:23:24
To approve the increase of £5 million to Temple Works British Library North project
funded through regeneration commercial investment fund to support development of preferred British
Library North proposal taking the total CA funding from 34 million, 71 ,417 to 39 million,
71 ,417.
Approve that the CA enters into a grant funding agreement with the British Library for expenditure
of up to 5 million, less combined authority programme costs and delegates to the chief executive
in consultation with myself, the finalisation of the terms of the agreement and any associated
legal documentation, approve any future funding, increase comes to the board and milestones
come back to the board with updates to members.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
That is passed unanimously.
Moving on.
Home Energy, West Yorkshire.
I'm mindful of the town.

12 Home Energy West Yorkshire Strategy

It's half past 12.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:24:22
I will refuse to run over time.
So if comments can be pithy, please.
Right.
Home Energy, West Yorkshire.
All of us know that poor housing leads to health
inequalities, increased pressure on public services
and economic costs.
We face a unique challenge due to our older housing
stock, high levels of fuel poverty compared to the
rest of England, and the number of homes which would
involve significant cost and disruption to retrofit.
At the same time, retrofitting homes presents
a major opportunity to support economic growth,
jobs, and improve the quality of life
for our residents.
and this strategy aims to ensure that everyone in West Yorkshire can live in a warm, comfortable
and energy efficient home and thank you to your colleagues for being part of this work
to develop the strategy. So Ruth.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:25:17
Thank you Mayor, just in time I'll perhaps just make three comments. The first is that
this strategy really has been put together to look at the outcomes for residents, so
what's really important when we're looking at retrofit is that we're
thinking through the eyes of the residents so that's why you'll see that
the outcomes of the strategy are about improving energy resilience and the
comfort of homes for residents, improving the health and reducing inequalities of
residents, reducing fuel poverty and improving affordability of technology
but also about that link to jobs and the supply chain. I think the second thing to
say is that there's a real commitment in this strategy, it's been built collaboratively
to deliver it collaboratively and there is a commitment within the strategy that we'll
be delivering homes through a system that includes local authorities, housing providers,
health partners and the voluntary and community and social enterprise sector.
And the final thing to say about this strategy is that underneath it there is work that's
ongoing and I know we've had previous conversations in this board about devolution to local businesses
local authorities so at the moment we're in conversation with Calderdale about
what their next area scheme would be and with Leeds about what their next area
scheme and Wakefield was already the next one to be delivered anyway so we
have taken those comments on board we have to work within the parameters of
the funding that we have and some of that funding is for social housing only
provision not all local authorities have their own stock and so we have to work
through what's best delivered locally and what's best delivered through directly commissioning
registered providers but we have taken that comment on board.
Thank you, Ruth. Councillor, please.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:27:08
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:27:09
Thank you, just a quick one. Bradford's take up on this originally was quite low. So any
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 1:27:13
funding towards some targeted local advertising would be welcome and I'd be very, very happy
through the council to support any advertising to push it in Bradford and grow it.
Really appreciate that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:27:25
There is a funding stream for marketing as well.
So thank you.
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:27:29
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:27:31
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:27:33
Yes, we'll pick that up directly with your offices to make sure we build that into the
marketing plan.
Councillor Sutherland.
Thank you, Mayor.
I appreciate the comments about trying to work in a more devolved way.
Cllr Cllr Dan Sutherland Calderdale Council - 1:27:44
I don't think we're anywhere near where we should be on that.
It came up earlier about the increased cost base and issues around the combined authority
managing costs.
I appreciate you have a different view, Mayor, but I think a lot of government organisations
are still trapped in what I would call learned helplessness when it comes to managing cost.
When we look at the engagement here, we've had stakeholder workshops, events, policy
labs to find out all this information.
And then when we actually look at it, it's about the issues with the current scheme,
low awareness and understanding, trust being a major barrier, a preference for local independent
and community -based advice, and the need for a more inclusive community -led approach.
And then I feel like the strategy doesn't move anywhere to that.
So we've gone through that long and quite expensive, potentially, process of engagement,
getting to that point of being able to control costs.
But we haven't actually reflected that in what we're going to deliver.
So there was a poll that came out this month that shows that 65 % of members of the public
trust their local council best to deliver on local services, far more than regional authorities,
far more than the government and this seems to be a really clear case where for all the
talk we do about the evolution in these rooms to actually put it into action because otherwise
what's happening here is just the same arguments that the government have deployed for decades
for centralisation. Let's get this down to the local authority level, let's get this
down to the community level so we can actually make a significant change.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:29:09
Thank you so much, I'll take comments and then if you come back on all of the comments
for me Ruth, thank you.
Councillor Harris.
Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council - 1:29:15
It is making a difference on the ground.
Thank you.
Councillor Wood.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:29:32
Ruth.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:29:36
Ruth Davison (Director) West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:29:41
I think in terms of the consultation is that when you are creating a regional strategy
it's right that you have consultation at depth but actually what we have done is make sure
that that's been done in the most cost efficient way possible and we've been working through
and with partners to make sure that that consultation has happened in that way. The systems approach
that that generates and where we are making the right connexions to maximise outcomes
is the right thing for us to consult at that level.
In terms of the devolution further, again we do have a difference of opinion I suppose
in terms of some level of the devolution because in some cases it is better for registered
providers to be the direct delivery because that's what creates the efficiency.
But I am happy, Councillor Sutherland, to come and have a more in depth conversation
with you and with any of the other leaders that want to be part of that to talk through
how you would like it to move forward. The strategy itself sets the overall framework.
The delivery plan is the bit where we can perhaps get to the point where we look at
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:30:48
the issues you raise about the direct delivery. Thank you. Because what we're discussing is
the strategy and the approach because we know we have colder, windier homes than, as I said,
anywhere in the country.
And the conversations I've had with residents who have had
these interventions, particularly in our prefabs and
our back -to -backs, have made a massive difference to
people's lives.
So I have no doubt that we share the same values
in that space.
We want to drive people's energy bills down and have
those warmer homes.
How we get there is up for debate,
and we will have further conversations about
the delivery angle.
So, thank you so much.
If everybody's happy, we can move on.
So, the combined authority approves the Home Energy West Yorkshire Strategy.
All those in favour?
Thank you.
All those against?
Abstentions?
One abstention.
Thank you.
Moving on to the Autumn Statement.

13 Autumn Statement 2026/27

This was written in advance of yesterday's budget, so lacks details, I'm afraid, of the
announcements.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:31:50
But thank you to officers for working hard, I think, into the wee hours to get, you know,
a briefing turned around.
It's a budget for working people, giving families
across our region that much needed breathing space.
And I was particularly happy to see the scrapping
of standing charges on energy bills and that
hundred pound in people's accounts from A to D homes
and money off the weekly shop and targeting support
for freelance parents, something that I've been
campaigning on for many years.
It was good to see the government backing our
with $300 million for our station in Leeds,
and $15 million for Leeds College of Building,
the use of artificial intelligence across our
public and private sector, alongside needed community
protections around data centres,
and for our bid to bring the Olympics to the north
of England.
More importantly, radical plan for the devolution of
income tax and delivery of greater fiscal devolution,
meaning we no longer have to go cap in hand to Whitehall
to invest in the things that are a priority for us.
The changes made to business rates means we'll keep more
of West Yorkshire Pound here in West Yorkshire.
These new financial flexibilities will help
drive the development of Leeds South Bank, Bradford
Southern Gateway, to deliver thousands of homes,
create a better connected region by investing in
projects like Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway,
and build a region of learning where everyone has
the skills they need to succeed.
So I'll go over to Sarah Eaton,
and Director of Strategy to introduce the paper.
If you could be pithy, Sarah, so we could finish on time.
Thank you.
Thank you, Mayor.
I hope that means that I'm not normally pithy,
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:33:31
but if I will, Karen, I'll be straight to the point.
I think this paper, as you said,
has been kind of introduced before the budget,
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:33:36
and we do this every year just to make sure
that Combined Authority members have the opportunity
to kind of reflect, unfortunately,
the meeting is still the day after the budget,
so as the mayor outlined,
we circulated a briefing last night,
which sets out in detail some of the key announcements that have been made alongside some of our
initial understanding of the implications. I think, Mayor, you've just raised a number
of those and colleagues throughout the meeting have been kind of referencing some of the
kind of announcements and what that will mean for the region. I think I'll just pick up
a couple of points in a bit more detail and I will close then in terms of being able to
take comments and questions from colleagues.
I think just to say that this was obviously
the first budget, it reiterates kind of the ambitions
around rewiring the state and it does outline
kind of the fiscal devolution measures
that you have mentioned.
I think that's quite important because that is
a radical shift in terms of devolution that we know
and we've been talking about previously
in all the meetings of the combined authority.
I think we know and our local authority partners
will have also kind of received details of what that means in terms of business
rate retention from 2027 and from 2028 receiving a share of kind of basic rate
income tax for our residents. So the NERC sets that in greater detail what that
will likely to be. I know that we're going to be doing some work over the coming
weeks around that. I think just in terms of additions to what you've mentioned in
terms of our transport schemes there was also an announcement around an
increase of 432 million from the Rough Sleeping Programme uplifting total
investment already announced in that pledge to end rough sleeping that we know
about. I think that will have, we know that there's about 141 people sleeping
rough across West Yorkshire, and additional funding I think will be welcome. I
think in addition as part of the housing which people have not necessarily
mentioned, there's further 1 .5 billion funding that is coming through the
social and affordable homes programme, again, which aligns with some of our projects and
key programmes that we're looking to kind of invest in across the region. I will leave
it at that because I think those are the main areas that have not been previously announced
by colleagues. And just open it up for comments.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:35:59
Thanks for the brevity. Any comments? Councillor Wood. Be aware we are running out of time.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:36:02
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:36:03
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:36:05
But Councillor Wood. Yeah, so I understand the need for the West
Cllr Karl Johnson (Wakefield Council) - 1:36:12
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:36:17
to the Chancellor's statement. I also understand this is not a key decision and it is eligible
for calling by scrutiny. I do hold some discomfort for recommendation 2 .2 that the chief executive
can have delegated power to make in year budget decisions arising from that statement. There
are no indicative caps, no understanding other than scrutiny of what those decisions are
the
question is how will we be arriving at those priorities?
So I would be unable to support this in its current form.
≫ Thank you.
It is for noting this paper.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:03
But Sarah, the paper is predominantly for noting.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:06
In previous years we have had announcements that have come in that have meant that we've
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:10
had to kind of deploy funding quite quickly.
There is nothing in this paper that would need us to use that delegation but because
we hadn't seen the budget in advance of preparing the paper we were just preparing in advance.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:22
So we won't need to use that delegation council to do this incident.
Thank you.
Councillor Johnston.
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:24
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:25
Just a quick one on the budget.
I mean I'm a different side of the fence here.
I mean I just think it would hold in budget.
Cllr Karl Johnson (Wakefield Council) - 1:37:33
I mean it would be bland, not brave, not a penny cut off welfare.
and it was just just as just pushing of something down a road until we saw our
welfare welfare there we're gonna be in a lot of trouble what Britain's great
getting broke I didn't see anything for hospitality whatsoever and let's be
honest here residents that from moving forward are gonna actually pound in the
pockets gonna be less and 100 pound off an energy bill should have been big
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:58
decisions made yes thank you mr. Johnson Thank You councillor Sarah just to that
point.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:38:08
In terms of hospitality, in some of the detail, which I think is attempting to kind of address
some of the concerns from the sector, they are set out in the paper.
I'll leave my comments there.
Lovely.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:38:18
Okay, let's move on unless there's any further comments.
Sorry, Councillor, please.
Just a quick one, sorry.
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 1:38:25
In your letter, which is attached in here to the Chancellor, you asked that the cap
for the precept of policing to be removed.
I wonder what your thoughts were around that in terms of what level it's going to go up
obviously, that will go down.
What your thoughts were about that please, ma 'am.
Do you want to say that Liz?
Thank you.
I think it's just the fact that it will then enable us to make that decision locally rather
than it being made nationally.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:38:47
The national cap also comes in quite late which is why we have to consult quite quickly
over the Christmas period.
So I think the ask really is to enable that decision to be made locally.
I don't have a number because we want to look at that.
But it would enable us to take a more fuller picture than what the national picture would
give us.
And of course those budgets are scrutinised by the police and crime panel, which you have
representation on.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:39:11
All right, moving on.
Are we happy to note the submission made to government to influence government thinking
in advance of the autumn budget and that the chief executive of the combined authorities
granted delegated power to make in -year budget decisions arising from the chancellor's autumn
statement in consultation with myself, obviously bearing in mind this was written at a point
of uncertainty.
Okay.
So all those in favour?
And against?
That is carried.
Thank you.
Moving on.
The integrated business budget and workforce planning approach.

14 Integrated Business, Budget & Workforce Planning Approach 2027/28

This sets out the process we go through to agree our budget.
Sarah, if you'd take us through it.
Thank you, Mayor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:39:54
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:39:58
So this paper is just setting out our approach for business budget and strategic workforce
planning of this current planning cycle.
As you'll see in the paper, we undertake that cycle every year as part of our four -year
planning alongside the corporate plan development and refresh.
What we're basically seeking approval for is to kind of, for the approach that we intended
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:40:23
to take this year and for the outlined activity that will be undertaken around the budget
as well. We'll be fetching another report back on the budget in December, but this is
really to kind of highlight to colleagues the work that we do in advance of bringing
that over this next period. Alongside the budget, we will also be bringing a high -level
outline of business plans in December in advance of those coming forward alongside the budget
We'll be developing the corporate plan alongside and we'll be bringing that refresh as well
towards the end of the financial year.
Thank you, Sarah.
Any comments?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:41:00
Thank you.
Okay.
So can the board approve the multiyear planning approach being undertaken for the 2728 planning
cycle and note the implications arising from the English devolution and community empowerment
Act and likely implications from the rewiring the state white paper on business budget and
resource planning for the combined authority over the forthcoming years and approve the
approach to budget planning for 2728 budget.
All those in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you, that's unanimous.
Moving on, item 15, Leeds Bradford Airport.

15 Leeds Bradford Airport Update

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:41:41
This is an update on the economic impact and growth of Leeds Bradford Airport and how delivery
of the proposed Leeds Bradford Airport Parkway Station would support this growth, a project
that's long been an ambition for the region.
I appreciate there are some who are frustrated at the pace of progress, but the good news
is this is a project where fiscal devolution will be the game changer.
Longer term, more secure finances will allow us to put together a financial package to
bring it forward as quickly as possible.
I'm determined to make sure this is a project that is finally delivered, unlocking better
access to the airport by public transport, and I'm looking forward to speaking at an
event next week alongside the airport's chief executive, where we will jointly set out our
vision to get this station delivered.
And the paper takes us through the status of the project and work required to bring
forward the full business case.
Can I go over to Simon Pope, Director of Transport Capital Programme, to introduce the paper.
Simon. Thank you, Mayor. Just by way of background, the airport contributes over £700 million
to the regional economy each year and supports over 9 ,000 jobs across West Yorkshire. You
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:42:49
may be aware over £200 million of private investment is currently being invested by
the airport through the Terminal Expansion and Refurbishment Programme. So in that context,
improved access to the airport has already been recognised as a strategic priority in
the local transport plan when it was adopted back in March and is therefore a core component
of our emerging Future Transport Capital Programme.
Members will be aware that proposals to develop the parkway station to serve the airport have
been under development for some time, with outline business case approval secured in
2020.
Unfortunately, there have been a number of technical, operational and procedural factors
since then that have contributed to delays in bringing full approval of the station forward,
which are set out in detail in the paper.
Given the time that has elapsed since an update on development has been provided, the paper
sets out the activity that is currently underway and planned over the next two years to overcome
constraints to delivery and enable full approval of the project to be secured.
The content of the paper and the scope of further development work that it sets out
has been prepared in partnership with the airport.
Some of the forthcoming work to be commissioned is expected to incur significant costs in
order to provide greater certainty and reduce risks to delivery, particularly in relation
into ground investigations that will be challenging,
yet critical to the progression of the project.
Further area of focus will be on the development
of funding strategy with the rail industry,
the private sector, and potential opportunities
under fiscal devolution, given the need
for parallel investment across the local rail network
alongside investment in the station itself.
Once the development work, once the costs
for development work are confirmed in the coming weeks,
a further paper will be brought back
to the combined authority shortly
with a request for the release of development funding.
Recommendations in the current paper are that the combined authority recognises the significance
of the airport in supporting economic growth across the region and that the combined authority
endorses the proposed next steps in the project's continued development that will enable a full
business case to be prepared in due course.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:44:50
Thank you, Simon, and for working at speed through those recommendations.
Any comments?
Yes, Councillor Ariff.
Just to say we really welcome this.
Really important for us to move at pace.
Cllr Cllr Salma Arif Leeds City Council - 1:44:57
And it's the point Simon made at the end there, what this can mean for jobs in the area.
So really keen to see this move forward, Mayor.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:45:08
The opportunity for clustering of businesses around the airport with greater connectivity
is welcome.
Councillor Place.
Just a quick one.
Cllr Cllr Stephen Place Bradford Council - 1:45:18
I'm delighted that we're supporting this Leesborough Airport as a vital hub for the region.
I do believe in the interim time that a shuttle bus from Appley Bridge train station to the
the airport with regular frequency would alleviate a lot of transport problems for people, passengers
wanting to go.
Thank you.
Noted.
Councillor Lai.
Thank you.
Also support the paper.
Cllr Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:45:42
It's absolutely critical for Leeds and the wider region that we continue to support the
airport.
It is a tricky project to deliver because of the geography and the topography.
But we really do need to get on with it.
and as Councillor Aref said, the North -West Leeds Employment Hub.
This isn't just about the airport, this is about the jobs, housing land,
and the huge impact it can have. So the question is, do you anticipate the timing from here
when people can actually get a train, and are we confident in being able to
to deliver the two train an hour frequency at all times that the airport's
operating because at the minute it looks like it's possibly tricky to do it early
and late flights. Thank you, Simon. Thank you. It would probably be
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:46:37
premature to confirm a specific opening date for the station at this stage
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:46:41
because there is some significant development work yet to do. We estimate
It's going to be at least two years for us to get to the point of full business case
because of the amount of work that's required to understand, as you referred to, Council
Lam, the operations of the rail network and how we can guarantee the level of service
provision that passengers would expect.
Once we've undertaken that work in partnership with the rail industry, we'll have a better
understanding of timescales for delivery.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:47:04
And just to reassure, we had a presentation at the Strategic Rail Partnership Board, where
all of the right people around the table to deliver these big transport projects faster
and with greater partnership working.
We haven't had that in the past, but now this group and the creation of GBR gives us that
opportunity to really be at the table to make those decisions.
So thank you for that.
Any further comments?
No?
Thank you.
Okie doke.
So, is the CA happy to endorse continued development of LBA Parkway project including the completion
of a full business case, completion of necessary ground investigation work, identification
of a workable timetable for LBA Parkway including definition of any network enhancements required
and identification of a funding strategy for the station?
All in favour, please raise your hand.
Thank you.
That's unanimous, brilliant, thank you.
Moving on, amendment to the scrutiny standing orders.

16 Amendment to Scrutiny Standing Orders

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:48:06
This relates to the update on scrutiny standing orders and I can invite Nicky Diehl, Chief
Legal Officer, to talk us through the recommendations.
Thank you, Mayor.
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:48:18
So the paper is fairly comprehensive in relation to why the amendments are being sought.
This is a combined Authority Board decision because it results in an amendment to the
constitution.
As members will be aware, the devolution act allowed mayors to appoint commissioners or
deputy mayors as they are referenced.
This sets out a procedural point in relation to how they are appointed and how they are
dismissed.
It is all set out clearly in your papers.
This has gone through scrutiny already.
I would invite Councillor Bob Felstead if he wishes to comment on anything further.
Recommendations are found in your papers.
Thank you.
Councillor Felstead.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:48:53
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 1:48:56
I can confirm Nicky that the gender item 16 was tabled to scrutiny and it was carried
unanimously through decision making. I also recognise the fact that we are going to continue
working and helping out with due diligence on matters such as this.
Thank you so much. Yes, Councillor Wood.
Cllr Cllr Sarah Wood Kirklees Council - 1:49:21
I'd like to thank Councillor Felts and the scrutiny panel for the work that they've done.
to allow us to have some hand in dismissal of commissioners if it was so needed, hopefully
not. It was something that came up when we had our key discussion, our last but one full
council in Kirklees, and I will take that back as a win for us. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:49:52
I'm not sure it's a win because we're a team, but we just have to get the right structure
for all of us for it to work.
Just to follow that point, this is set out in legislation and we've been one of the leaders
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:50:05
as a combined authority goes in relation to setting the standards, so this has definitely
been a joint effort.
Okay, thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:50:12
Given the recommendation in the paper, all those in favour please raise your hand.
Thank you, that's unanimous.
Moving on to governance arrangements.
This is a report on governance arrangements and appointments to CA committees and boards.
Nicky.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:50:26
This is a housekeeping paper for members.
Nikki Deol Chief Legal Officer - 1:50:31
This relates to appointments of substitute members, amendments to the municipal year
calendar which was approved at the annual meeting this year.
So it's really very self -explanatory as to who's
appointed as substitutes and those amendments to the
calendar in order to enable, given the pace of delivery and
decision -making that's being made here at the Combined
Authority, to be implemented throughout this year.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:50:59
Just to note the calendar of meetings, and I really do
welcome your contributions.
So please do ring -fence these meetings in your diary.
I think it's very welcome that we have the forward look into March next year as well,
so thank you very much for that, for the colleagues who've made that happen.
I do appreciate that.
And also it has some timings too, which are useful for the rest of this year.
Okay, thank you.
So are we happy to note – we're happy to note?
We've done all that, haven't we?
We have.
Okay.
The only thing that would need a vote is the political balance member recommendation in
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:51:40
the paper, because that is a function of the Combined Authority.
And I can take you through that, Mayor.
Thank you.
If you would.
Yes, that's fine.
I'll just go to my next paper.
So if the Combined Authority to resolve to note the appointments made to committees and
boards under officer delegation, i .e. my delegation, and that the Combined Authority resolve to
note the appointments of political balance substitute members and that the Combined Authority
Board resolves to appoint the political balance member noted in the papers to Investment Board
and Weaver Board and that the Combined Authority approves the changes to the municipal year
for meetings.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:52:24
Thank you all those in favour? Thank you, unanimous. Super. Wow, we have caught up.
Thank you all so much for your focus and your diligence and colleagues for your brevity.
Thank you.

17 Governance Arrangements

So item 18, the report provides all of you with details of minutes from committees.

For Information

18 Minutes for Information of Committee Meetings

This will be increasingly important when you get minutes from Wever and Investment and
former meetings that have been published on the CA's website since the last meeting.

19 Date of the Next Meeting

The next meeting is the 10th of December.
And could I encourage colleagues to think about maybe staying after that meeting to
have maybe a mince pie, because we'll all be in Christmas spirit by then.
So I have formally closed the meeting.
Thank you so much, Sarah.
Thank you to everybody for your insight and your challenge.
Much appreciated.
Thank you.