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Weaver Network Board
Thursday, 17th September 2026 at 11:00am

 
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Councillor Andrew Judson Bradford Council
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Matt Edwards
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Cllr Eleanor Thomson (Leeds City Council)
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  22. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  23. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  24. Cllr Tom Hinchcliffe
  25. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  26. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  27. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  28. Matt Edwards
  29. Cllr Councillor Keith Anderson Wakefield Council
  30. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  31. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  32. Cllr Councillor Andrew Judson Bradford Council
  33. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  34. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  35. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  36. Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council)
  37. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  38. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  39. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  40. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  41. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  42. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  43. Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee
  44. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  45. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  46. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  47. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  48. Cllr Councillor Darren Commons Calderdale Council
  49. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  50. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  51. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  52. Cllr Mark Smith
  53. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  54. Cllr Mark Smith
  55. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  56. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:00
Thank you.
Good morning, folks.
Good to see you.
Thank you so much for coming.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:09
Thank you to members of the public who are sat in the gallery for attending and for those
of you who are watching online.
This is the second Weaver board as part of our new governance structure in the Combined
Authority.
I really look forward to working with all of you to transform transport in our region
as we deliver on our Weaver Network Plan.
This is an executive committee to make decisions
about future direction of transport in our region.
It's not a scrutiny committee.
As we roll out franchising, the role of this board will
become increasingly important because we move
from talking, and we have been talking a lot about
implementing boss franchising.
We are now moving towards delivery and managing a
franchised network.
I think it's worth keeping in mind that our role on this board is to lead on transport decision -making at a regional level
miles apologies, please

1 Apologies for Absence

Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:01:08
Thank you so much I'm moving on item to any declarations of interest on this agenda

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

No, thank you very good
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:01:22
So, item three, there are no exempt items today,

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press & Public

which means we can press on as normal.

4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Weaver Network Board held on 23 July 2026

Item four, minutes of the meeting held 23rd of July, 2026.
Are we content to note these minutes?
Any comments?
Content to note, thank you.
Okey -doke.
Moving on to my update.

5 Chair's Update

Well, it's been quite an exciting summer for sure.
Lots of announcements coming from number 10 north
in relation to devolution with the rewiring of the
state cabinet statement, setting out entirely new
vision for how the country can be run.
The new model government sets out aims to empower
mayors and local leaders to drive growth and improve
public services.
It sets out government's ambitions for greater local
control over tax revenue and the need to develop
stronger local institutions.
It's a really long and detailed statement.
Government's committed to developing a new white
paper to deliver the statement in the coming months.
And as the combined authority, we're actively
engaged in this work, which is being co -produced with
mayors and combined authority chief execs.
There's going to be a much longer, more detailed update
coming to the combined authority board about the
implications of the statement for our region next week.
But I'm really, really excited about the
opportunity it presents to drive greater growth in our
region, boost public services, and ultimately
improve outcomes for residents.
So, turning to transport, we have concluded round one
of the bus franchising award process.
I want to thank Paul and colleagues with operators
named for services across Kirklees and parts of Leeds,
which will start running in spring 2027.
We're now continuing at pace to mobilise those round
one contracts and starting the procurement exercise
for round two for the remainder of Leeds and parts
of Wakefield due to go live early 2028.
Our first Weaver bus station in Heckman Rike opens to
the public this weekend, the 20th of September,
showcasing the future standards we're delivering
for passengers across the region.
And our first brand new electric busses are starting
to roll off the production line in Balimena,
in Northern Ireland, and I'll be going to see some of
these busses, myself, on a visit to Northern Ireland
with the Minister for Bosses next Friday.
I'm hoping they'll allow me to drive one, but let's see.
I'm also delighted to see one of the new Weaver -branded
Access Bosses in operation earlier this week,
and they are fantastic, box fresh, and lots of space
for people with wheelchairs.
And having spoken to people who use the Access Boss,
a really, really important lifeline for so many.
And also, many passengers who will benefit from a
decision taken by government in August to
support free bus travel all day, every day, for
eligible disabled people from April the 1st, 2027.
And as you know, as this board, we had an equivalent scheme.
We started a pilot in May this year in Wakefield.
That's seen over a thousand new trips.
So there was really a case to be made for people with a
disability wanting to travel before 9 .30.
Finally, if I may, I'd like to thank Peter Carlhill,
following his recent announcement to step down
as counsellor for Calverley and Farsley and Leeds,
for his massively substantial contribution to public transport
across his service on Transport Committee and Weaver Board,
having been first appointed as Deputy Chair for Transport
Committee in June 2022.
What he didn't know about busses was not worth knowing.
His knowledge will be a real loss,
but hopefully this board will be able to catch up,
and by the end of this process will be as knowledgeable
as Peter.
So thank you, Peter, for all his help.
Okay, moving on, bus franchising update.
Well, obviously we've got recent successes relating
to the award of round one contracts and the production
of the new electric busses.
That continues at pace on wider activities to progress
delivery on the franchise network.
This paper sets out an update to the board on the progress.
But if I could invite Paul Matthews,
director of bus franchising to speak to this item. Paul, thank you.

6 Bus Franchising Update

Thank you, Mayor. Yes, it's just an opportunity to present an update. There are no decisions
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:06:09
attached to it, but really because of the significance of the programme to the Weaver
board and to the residents and users of busses in West Yorkshire, we thought it was important
to bring an update here.
It is at quite high level.
Appreciating that some members are very familiar
with the franchising process and some less so.
But it probably just serves as a reminder
that franchising, of course, will ultimately
give the Weaver Board the complete ability
to influence critical leavers that can enhance
the customer experience for bus services
across West Yorkshire to make a step change
in that quality of revision, so subject to affordability
and over time.
So franchising is enormously important,
as I'm sure everyone recognises.
The report probably speaks for itself.
I'm just going to pull out a couple of elements, if I may.
We are on a journey, and it is a long journey,
as I'm sure members are aware.
The timeline set out at 3 .5 in the paper
maps out this four and a half year journey from when the mayor
first made the decision to pursue franchising right the way
through to when fully franchised network in the third quarter of
2028 -29.
So it is a long journey, but if you look at that timeline,
we are now over halfway through that journey.
We passed the first critical milestone back in last autumn
where we issued the first contract documentation.
And we are now moving steadily towards the second core
milestone of getting the first services up and running in the
first quarter of 2027 -28.
So we are very much on that journey and well over halfway.
It is a, as I think I've said before to many,
it is a complex programme.
And I think that probably gets taken as read.
And really the table at 3 .8 sets out the process that we go,
are going through in the different workstream areas,
which again, I'm not going to go through in detail other than
highlight a few if I may.
Contracting is very much part of a process,
but as the chair has already said,
We have now completed round one for tier A,
those large contracts, and we're in a standstill period
for tiers B and C, the smaller and the school contracts.
And we have, once we're through that process,
we've already begun the process of round two,
having issued the ITT documents and draught for the next stage.
It's all about the customer, and our customer workstream is
hugely important in making the step change in some
the back office facilities, so work on the fares and ticketing proposition, which will
come back to the Weaver Ward shortly. Work on the app is well underway to make sure that
the app delivers enhanced functionality compared with what it currently offers. And all the
customer support services provided by the commercial bus operators, which will move
across to the authority and managing what that looks like is part of what that customer
workstream is working through.
I think the only other one I would particularly touch upon
is around depots.
Again, members will be aware that this has been a very
difficult process following the commitment to acquire the
depot assets from the incumbent operators and a number of
vehicles that met our specification.
It's been complex because of the nature of the operators that
were not required to sell their assets to us.
So it has gone through a process of commercial negotiation matched
with compulsory purchase powers, which the authority decided it
needed to ensure that we could follow through on our ambition.
So that process is nearing a completion now with an
expectation that the exchange of contracts on those assets and
completion on those assets across the incumbent operators
in rounds one and two will be completed in the next couple
of weeks.
And we're already in the phase of electrification work
happening in two of those depots in Huddersfield
and in Bradford, and will shortly
be commencing in Wakefield.
Members will be probably also aware
that we are required to go through a new build of Wakefield
depot, because of the unsuitability
of the current facility used by REVA
And process, we're making good progress on the design work
for that, but that has obviously had an impact,
as members will be aware, in terms of the timeline
for Wakefield going live.
The other workstream areas, I can take it as red, I'm sure,
but just to underline the fact that the complexity
of the programme, each workstream has detailed risks,
registers to make sure they manage the process,
that are controlled at a programme level and are reported regularly.
But so the table is really there to demonstrate the complexity
of the programme and the fact that there are so many interdependencies.
I think my final point really is in 3 .11.
I mentioned at the very beginning about the decisions
which the Weaver Board will be taking when the network is franchised
and having a full understanding of the cost implications
of making decisions will of course be important.
So we want to begin that process of making sure members are aware
of what those costs and what the, if you like,
the profit and loss account for the bus network looks like
sooner rather than later, even though it is not complete.
And so the intention would be to have a workshop very shortly
to take you through where the authority and officers are at
in building that profit and loss of count, if you like,
going forward for the Weaver network.
So I think I will stop there, Mae, if I may,
and happy to take questions.
Thank you so much, Paul.
And I'd encourage all members to take part in that workshop.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:12:46
This is very complex stuff, and it's going to be with us
for the next few years, so it's good that as fast
as we can get on top of all the detail would be helpful.
And also, Paul, it's not just the new station at Hetman,
Dwecken and elsewhere, but it's also the railway stations
have been branded Weaver.
So I don't know if you've been to Batley Station recently,
but that looks really great with the new branding.
Because obviously our ambition is to bring rail into the
Weaver network as well.
And I do appreciate that those early works that are set in the
direction of travel for our communities.
So if I may, councillors, when you speak, if you'd say your name but also your local
authority, just so that members of the public who may be watching will know that you're
their representative or not.
So I've got a few questions first.
Councillor Judson.
Thank you, Mayor, Councillor Judson, Bradford Council.
Yeah, it's just under the item 6, considerations for Bradford.
Cllr Councillor Andrew Judson Bradford Council - 0:13:46
As has been made away before, I was concerned, as in the roll -outs, that Bradford, whereas
we were in Tronch 1, didn't have a problem with that because all the skeletons, all the
Gremlins are out of the system by then.
But going into Tronch 3, it now says there's a possibility of delivery and costs and challenges
arising with the roll -outs.
Now, I'm still advocating for Bradford to become part of Round 2 if infrastructure allows.
I don't know whether that's possible or not at this stage, but I just need assurances
that when we move forward, one way or another, that the challenges are going to be overcome
and that Bradford will be included, if not in Round 2, then definitely Round 3 at the
earliest opportunity.
I just need that assurance, please.
Thank you.
Thank you, Councillor Johnson.
Paul.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:14:41
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:14:42
So now I can give that assurance that it is in round three.
It has always been in round three.
Because we have already commenced the round two
procurement, it would be very difficult
to change the procurement.
But there's an absolute commitment that Bradford will
not be disadvantaged at all by its position in the rounds.
And in fact, there will be learnings as we go along
the journey in terms of the franchising process.
I think we've already had mentioned before the fact
that through arrangements that we have with the
incumbent operator, the electrification of Bradford
is already beginning and work to transfer some
electric vehicles into Bradford in advance of round
three will also be happening so that residents
and users of busses in Bradford will see the
benefits of Wever sooner than round three, but the
the full effects of the Weaver network won't be until the Round 3, but all the benefits
that are flowing through to Harusur and other parts of West Yorkshire will be seen in Bradford
to exactly the same extent.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:15:47
I wonder, Paul, if you could give, maybe not now, but we could come back with bus stations
and assets, because I know that Bradford was very keen to also have a conversation about
the new bus station.
Yes, happy to take that forward.
Great, thank you so much.
Councillor Buckley.
Thank you, Mayor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:08
Councillor Neil Buckley from Leeds.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 0:16:13
Paul mentioned the profit and loss situation and also talked about the acquisition of the
depots, of these eight depots.
Are we going to be told the costs involved in this?
Thank you.
Paul?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:16:32
Certainly there is no problem at all in sharing the cost.
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:16:41
The depo strategy that the authority pursued was approved by the combined authority at
some point last year.
I can't remember exactly what date.
And that set out the likely costs incurred to be incurred in acquiring those assets.
and indeed the combined authority reconsidered that at its last full meeting in terms of
what the total spend on depots would be.
But the actual breakdown of those costs are in the public domain and have been shared
with members of the board in its previous life, as it were, and so there's no problem
in sharing those with you, Councillor Buckley.
Thank you.
And as I say about the workshop, it would be great if everybody could attend the workshop
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:17:25
so we could all get really up to speed with what does obviously as Paul said we are halfway
through the process.
We don't want to leave anybody behind in knowledge.
So thank you, Councillor Buckley.
Any further comments?
Yes, Councillor Edwards.
Thank you, Mayor.
Councillor Matt Edwards, Bradford.
So section 3 .3 of the report talks about the timescales and how we'll look at how franchising
go live in spring 2027.
Matt Edwards - 0:17:51
I was just wondering if there's any more detail on this because I mean I see there is quite
a big risk in that being that one thing that happens in local government in spring is local
elections so we also have perder and this year specifically we had a period of uncertainty
in the aftermath of the elections which could be repeated all it takes is one authority
so that does in my view presents a bit of a risk so I was just wondering if there's
more detail on when in spring 2027 we're looking at franchising and what the plan is in place
if there are other issues linked to the local elections.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:18:27
Thank you, Councillor, and yes, it was quite frustrating after the election how things
sort of cascaded out, but I'm sure everybody has learned from that and hopefully there
won't be any repeat. However, Paul, any risks?
A programme of this complexity always has risks, of course, in different levels, which is why
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:18:52
I mentioned that the workstreams and the programme tracks the risk, and indeed it's part of the
corporate risk register that we have.
I think in terms of risk to delivery of round one, the risks really revolve around the two
fundamental issues.
one is around contract award and one is around depot acquisitions, both of which I've touched
on already.
So as we've mentioned, for the large contracts, we already have assigned the contracts.
We're in a mobilisation period to get us to the date in the end of May for those Round
One depots in the large contracts.
We're in a standstill period for the smaller contracts, which will be, and the date of
introduction of those will follow shortly afterwards.
So, the mobilisation activity for both is well underway.
The depot acquisitions, which I've mentioned,
assuming those contracts are exchanged and completed upon,
then that really takes away the final major risks to the
programme, which means that the mobilisation can continue.
So, I don't perceive the elections, per se,
as being presenting a risk. There are risks, other risks attached to the programme as I've
mentioned. But it's all about getting the mobilisation, making sure that the operators
that we are onboarding deliver upon what their commitments are and we hit those dates. But
I do not see any reason why we cannot hit those dates where we are today, Councillor
Edwards. And Councillor Edwards, remember that through
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:20:34
Purda we're still working. It just means we can't talk about it. But the work will still
be ongoing in the mobilisation and delivery. Councillor Thompson.
Thank you, Mayor. Councillor Tom Thompson from Leeds.
Cllr Eleanor Thomson (Leeds City Council) - 0:20:47
So really concerned that the transition is as smooth as possible for passengers and for
drivers as well. And especially in areas like Leeds where not
all the routes will be franchised at once and the split doesn't feel logical.
So, for example, our busses come from Hunsley, not from Bramley.
and the passengers know what to expect, which bus will be run by whom and when.
But also concerned that we don't see further deterioration of the routes that are in later
rounds, just given our ‑‑ given experience of things like rail franchises when they've
come to an end, that lack of investment, running down of services, that sort of loss of will
to keep doing a good job. Just concerned about protection of services
in the non -franchised areas while that process is running through. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:21:39
Thank you so much and that's critical because as Mayor I'm the passenger in chief and I
have to see everything through the passenger's eyes and what we don't want is a Weaver bus
coming and then another type of bus coming and who can you use the app on this bus. We
have had lots of conversations about that experience stood at the bus stop. So Paul
Would you like to just talk through our solutions?
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:22:06
Councillor Thompson, I think you're right to be concerned,
and it's very much our concern to make sure that the customer
experience is seamless.
We consciously took the decision,
certainly in terms of the network a while ago,
that we did not want to have a radical change of the network on
day one.
We wanted to effectively take over the existing network,
so that customers would not notice a big difference.
What was, I'm sure, there is lots of ambition and lots
of customers who would say, I want lots of changes.
But the view we've taken primarily is around making
sure that the customers, as far as the network is
concerned, do not notice a difference.
And in terms of the operation, the fact that
there is some continuity from one operator to another
It probably helps in some ways so that staff do not feel
vulnerable or want to leave the business.
So there is less of a risk, I think, in that situation
in terms of transition.
The biggest risk is around the part of the network being
franchised and part of it not being franchised and how we
tell customers what the difference is in terms of
affairs and ticketing proposition, which as I may
have said, we've been working very closely to try to minimise
what that would look like.
I think there are always going to be risks in terms of the,
what operators choose to do commercially between this point
and the start of franchising.
And that's why maintaining those operations,
which I know Tim does on a regular basis,
is hugely important to make sure there is as much continuity
as possible.
So you're right to be concerned.
I certainly would share that concern but all the efforts are about minimising the disruption
to customers such that in effect they don't notice a difference apart from lots of new
busses and over time improvements in the service quality.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:24:09
Thank you and Paul would the control centre be part of that sort of better reliability
and so on and when would that be coming on stream?
I think that's useful for members.
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:24:18
The control centre absolutely is very much part of round one.
So we are aiming to have a control centre, functioning control centre, not across the
whole working day, so it will be core hours for round one and then progressively extended,
but that will be a major tool for us to affect improvements in reliability along with the
performance standards that are built into the contracts as well.
So we would expect over time both the control centre and the monitoring performance that
is now in our control to be to affect an improvement of the customer experience and the reliability.
The control centre is in operation for round one.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:25:02
And also Councillor Thompson spoke about drivers.
And if you could just tell the members about the engagement we've had with bus drivers
around uniforms and scope of busses, et cetera?
Mr.
Yes, certainly.
We maintain a regular dialogue through the
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:25:19
Trades Union primarily with representatives from all the
major bus groups.
That's been ongoing for, well, over 15, 18 months,
I believe.
So that happens every one or two months.
But more critically as part of that, we have engaged
with them on bus cab design, so the new busses that we're building have taken into account
where we can what the drivers were saying in terms of cab design, which has been helpful.
We're also going to be talking to them very shortly about uniform design and what is currently
provided their shortcomings and their good parts,
because it does vary between operators.
And also about something which I know is very close to your heart,
Tracey, is in terms of driver welfare,
and trying to understand from drivers exactly where the pinch
points are in terms of what can be done easily and affordably to
make an improvement in terms of driver welfare.
We're already doing a lot in terms of ensuring that the depot
facilities, bus station, crew rooms have basic facilities for staff but we
want to actually engage with them more fully about the whole proposition about
driver warfare and how over time we can make it better. Thank you, any further
commentary? Councillor Hinchliffe. Thank you Mayor and thank you for the kind words
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:26:52
Cllr Tom Hinchcliffe - 0:26:54
about Peter Carlull earlier. I've got pretty rather large shoes to fill so
thank you for having me on this board. I do have a question about engagement
with students and I'm sorry if this has been covered before but I've been in touch with
the Leeds Student Union Network who represent the three major universities in Leeds and
I'm sure it's the same for colleagues from across West Yorkshire that they have concerns
about provision for part -time students and people that commute from outside of the main
student areas in Heading Lane Hyde Park in Leeds. So yeah just a question about engagement
with them going forward please.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:28
Thank you Paul. Do you want to take that one? Thank you.
I'm happy to take this one Mayor, thank you yes.
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:27:36
So we do periodically meet with student groups and student bodies that you describe Councillor Lynchliffe.
Happy to continue to do that and if you want to pass on my contact details have to have a conversation.
I think just by way of context some of the fares that are in place for students in West Yorkshire at the moment are wholly commercial.
So bus operators choose to put those discounts in place.
we make no contribution to those.
They see that as both useful and beneficial
because there's clearly corridors that generate growth
and give them benefit from a fair box perspective.
But as the student population shifts and moves over time,
clearly not everyone can benefit from those arrangements.
Our intention under our future weave affairs
is to make that a universal offer for West Yorkshire,
not to be somewhere that is corridor specific
or regionally focused.
So it shouldn't matter in future,
where you live and the place you go to study for your ability to access those kind of fairs.
It's our intention to bring forward those wider proposals later this year, currently
planned for December, so we can look forward to having that conversation in more detail
then.
Thank you.
And also when we're looking at fairs and the overall network, when we're in control, fully
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:28:42
in control, looking at night busses for students, we've had a fair bit of feedback that for
the night time economy, night busses would be really valuable and where they would go.
We already have one between Leeds and Bradford. Would we expand that? But yes, please keep
that conversation going and do take up Tim's offer to speak in more detail.
Councillor Anderson.
Matt Edwards - 0:29:08
Councillor Anderson, Wakefield Council. Our Prime Minister gave us a nice announcement
last time we met in here that the fares were going to be capped even lower. I'm just trying
Cllr Councillor Keith Anderson Wakefield Council - 0:29:17
I understand how that has impacted the plans because there's a risk to building there because
it's going to be, I presume there's going to be funding following from central government
to support that.
Is that going to be put on the risk register that obviously central government funding
is always a risk with political parties and changes?
Will we cover that off in the P &L sessions to actually understand what that risk is to
us as an authority?
And I presume it seems unfortunate to have a headache of having to rerun the numbers
around that.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:29:49
And, yes, just for knowledge as well, bringing in the Mayor's Fair, we were the first to
do it.
That has saved the people of West Yorkshire £80 million.
That has been really impactful and people really do value that.
So I do welcome the £2 fair.
But as you say, negotiations with DFT have started and will be ongoing.
But Tim, do you want to answer that one?
Yeah, no, so you're absolutely right.
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:30:18
It does have implications in terms of the decisions we take, in terms of our fares and
pricing policy, as I mentioned to Councillor Inchliffe, we'll be bringing that back in
December.
Absolutely, we are expecting DFT to increase the levels of available funding because the
National Fare Cap will be going from £3 to £2, as you say, and that has indications
and the decisions that we make locally in respect of the arrangements for both mayor's
fairs but also the day tickets, so we subsidise that day ticket too.
We've worked up a number of options and we have some options that we are presenting privately
to bus operators at the moment because as you'd expect they are commercially in confidence
in terms of the implications to them in terms of their fare box as well but we are working
through those at pace as best we can.
Absolutely we need to bring back as a component part of the P &L that we've talked about already
in this meeting, the implications of subsidy required to provide fares are to lower than
otherwise commercially available price.
But what that also does in terms of generating pattern recognition, again we've seen good
pattern risk growth both when the national fare cap was introduced elsewhere and when
we put our two pound fare cap in initially back in 2022, we saw good growth at that time.
We are absolutely expecting the same again, but as you say at the moment that scheme for
next year only lasts for one calendar year.
we'll be making the case to DFT that this should be something that continues
into the future beyond that as well. Thank you Tim. Councillor Judson. Thank you
Mayor. Just going back to depot acquisition if I can. Just getting back
Cllr Councillor Andrew Judson Bradford Council - 0:31:41
to the the Keighley depot. They have an adjacent car park, Chapel Street car park.
Now the local mosque is having serious problems with parking. They recognise this
problem and have been trying to buy this car park for some time. Now the rollout
of Weaver and the development of this depot is still a little bit shady we
don't just know exactly what's going to be happening now in the interest of
moving things forward and alleviating the serious traffic problems we've got
there and getting certainty on this car park when will the plans for this
depot be rolled out in more detail so we can actually get a good idea of whether
this car park is feasible for the local mosque. Thank you. Paul. I can certainly
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:24
take away the issue I wasn't aware about the the requests from the mosque we are
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:32:27
in negotiations with the landlords and the because there's a there's part of
the property which is freehold part of it is leasehold we're in negotiations
with with all respective landowners in on those depots but have not concluded
those I think probably what would be appropriate if I arranged to make sure
we have conversations with officers to brief yourselves
about what we are doing with Keith Lee in terms of,
and the intentions are by way of acquisitions.
So I can certainly arrange that in the short term and make sure
we factor in whatever the issues are with the mosque
trying to buy the land.
But I'm not aware of the detail, but I suggest we have a proper
conversation to make sure your officers are aware.
Yeah, thank you for raising that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:12
And what would be helpful, I think, is, oh,
you might not know everything, but a sort of ballpark date when people can make decisions.
So if you have an idea of when those negotiations would maybe be finalised, that might help
Councillor Johnson to speak to the community. Councillor Botley.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 0:33:43
Thank you, Mayor. Who will be responsible for the standing area around bus stops, the
whole point of this change is to improve the service to customers. Do we have a guarantee
that no services will be cut or rationalised until a given time has progressed?
Thank you, Councillor Buckley. That's a two pronged question about bus stops and also
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:08
time scales. Paul.
If I take the second part and hand it across to Tim on the first part.
Thank you, Tim.
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:34:19
In terms of the network, as I said in response to Councillor Thompson,
we consciously made a decision to ensure that the network was sustained as best as possible,
ready for franchising, and then to be able to take informed decisions about how we want that network to change.
Those decisions would be taken by ultimately in terms of major
decisions by the Weaver board as we go forward.
But they'll be taken on the basis of data and what the
rationales are and what the costs of making
those changes are.
So post -franchising, there aren't today any plans to make
any changes to the network, but we would expect inevitably that
the network will need to evolve and respond to what customers' wants and needs are.
That's the purpose of one of the benefits of franchising.
But as of now, there are no intentions to change the network until we have franchised
the network.
Thank you, Tim.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:35:25
Yes, in terms of bus stops, Councillor Buckley, the immediate kind of demise and footprint
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:35:27
of the bus stop itself is responsible to the CA, clearly the surrounding public realm,
So the immediate areas surrounding it are responsible
for the highway authority, i .e. the local authority.
It's not a precise measurement.
So I think, again, if there are specific cases that you want us
to look at, we'd be happy to do so.
There's quite often confusion from customers, understandably,
in terms of the ownership of those different public realm
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:35:50
elements, for example, there might be a waste bin that people
believe to be, because it's adjacent to the bus stop,
that it's the transport authority when in fact it's the
local authority's responsibility to enter, and so on.
But I think what we absolutely want to do is to work with you
and your local authorities to make that safe,
that space around the stops and shelters a safe space.
And there's a lot of work for us to do in terms of public realm
improvements, be that lighting, vegetation
removement, you know, CCTV, where even appropriate,
making sure that those things are fit for purpose.
If there are particular problem areas,
how do we get interventions in place to deal with those?
Because clearly what we don't want is brand new reaver stops
in places which are problematic, cause problems in terms of community issues, be that congregation
of people or whatever it may be.
So it really needs that local level of engagement from you in your communities to help us shape
that future plan.
Thank you, Tim.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:45
And as members know, the safety of women and girls is a priority in our police and crime
plan.
And that will also inform the decisions we take about bus stops and like Tim was saying
about CCTV and lighting and the ability for the travelling public
to use the Safer Travel app to tell us where they feel unsafe.
And that may be about the bus stop itself or where it's
situated and so on.
So we will have those ongoing conversations with yourselves as
a local authority and, you know, our ambitions too.
We've come to the end of the questions,
but I can't, it's remiss of me not to hear the voices of
Caulderdale and Kirklees if Councillor Smith or Councillor Commons would like to add anything.
Councillor Commons.
Thanks, chair.
Councillor Commons from Caulderdale.
Cllr Bob Felstead Chair - Scrutiny Committee - 0:37:35
I did have a question and didn't get it in time.
If you can just help me with this one.
About acquisition of the depots, as you go away, Caulderdale has reduced dramatically
in size, the depot.
I know we're in round three of the transition.
Is there any plans to refurbish this depot or to expand it?
It is vastly smaller than it used to be.
Thank you, Councillor.
Paul?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:38:02
Thank you.
Yes, certainly, Councillor Collins, the network design in Corderdale, which has been drawn
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:38:10
up, has factored in the fact that FERS had decided to sell part of the depot on the other
side of the road.
And of course, that depot also includes a number of school busses,
which will be spread out into other operators.
So the network which is planned for Corderdale in round three is,
or the depot will be adequate for that depot, for that size of network.
And furthermore, would have the space for the electrification work,
which we plan to do in that depot.
So the work and the assessment of what's required,
the number of vehicles that that depot will need to
operate a network, allowing for electrification has
been done, and we are confident that the depot
will be adequate for our needs.
Thank you.
And as you know, our ambition is for the whole
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:39:07
fleet to be fully electric as we go forward, but that
will be a phased approach because of the ability to
get the charging infrastructure in in time
for the phasing.
but our ambitions are definitely beyond where we are once we get to 2028.
But thank you for raising that, Councillor.
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:39:25
I'd just like that to be revisited, if we can with the size of it.
You may not be aware, I was part of the team that actually reduced the dead pour in a previous life
and I've seen the struggles and the problems that the Halifax
Cllr Councillor Darren Commons Calderdale Council - 0:39:38
dead poise is having at the moment now with the reduced capacity.
So if it's possible we could revisit that and see if there's any further things we can
expand on.
Thank you, Councillor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:39:48
Paul, would you mind taking away?
Let's have a one -on -one in the first instance to understand the issue.
We'll certainly present the plans to Councillor CUMMING's Super Friday confidence.
Thank you.
Thank you so much.
Councillor Smith, any comments?
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:40:01
Good morning.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:02
Cllr Mark Smith - 0:40:06
First of all, I stand here today in place of Councillor Harley, so I don't have as
deeper knowledge.
But just going back to the question made regarding possible future restriction of services, what
is to prevent the proposed franchisees from in the future restricting services?
Because we will be running it.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:26
But Paul, would you like to answer that?
Cllr Mark Smith - 0:40:29
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 0:40:30
No, I mean, it's an understandable question.
One of the benefits of franchising, one of the many
benefits, is the fact that we can determine the network
and we can decide what we want to do with it.
So the operators are franchised to us, running a
network which we specify the times, the frequencies, the
times of day.
So that is contractualized and indeed the performance
against that network is also contractualized that they have
to adhere to.
So an operator in a franchise environment cannot change
the network.
We are the ones that can do that.
Clearly, if there are conversations where they think
there will be an enhancement, then that's not to stop them
bringing that forward and having a conversation with us.
But the control very much sits with the authority.
Thank you so much.
Yeah, thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:41:24
I thought that was a wide -ranging conversation.
I thought I'd give it a bit of time for everybody
to have an opportunity to speak.
So thank you for your interest.
And again, if we could just in these early days make sure that
everybody just tries to get on top of the,
where we're currently at, the opportunities and, you know,
what the future looks like, I would be enormously grateful.
Because this is a team sport.
It is not just a CA decision.
It is all of us in West Yorkshire.
And as members of the Weaver Board, making big decisions going forward, you know, knowledge
is strength.
So, thank you so much for your attentions.
So, we're just noting this report and the information that it gives us on bus franchising.
So, thank you so much for the feedback.
And certainly, we will ensure we have full oversight of the network as part of the Weaver
services launching in spring 2027.
So, thank you for that.
That draws us to the end of this meeting.

7 Date of the Next Meeting

Thank you for the attendance and contributions.
And just to remind members of the date of the next
meeting, 22nd of October, 2026.
So, thank you, and I look forward to seeing you all then.
And thank you to whoever is watching,
and to members of the public for taking an interest.
Thanks all.