West Yorkshire Combined Authority - Thursday 14 March 2024, 10:00am - Feedback Tab - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Thursday, 14th March 2024 at 10:00am

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1 Apologies for Absence

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Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

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3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

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4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 1 February 2024

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(1) DRAFT CA 1 February 2024 - Minutes

5 Bus Reform

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Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Claire Douglas
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

6 West Yorkshire Mass Transit: Outcomes from the first Strategic Outline Case in advance of submission to the DfT and subsequent consultation and engagement activities

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Item 6 - Mass Transit SOC submission and subsequent engagement

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

13 Project Approvals - 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d, 13e

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13 d) 13d Project Approvals - Investment Priority 5 - Delivering Sustainable, Integrated, Inclusive and Affordable Transport

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Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

7 Better Homes Hub

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Item 7 - Better Homes Hub

Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

8 West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040

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Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

9 Rail Strategy

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Item 9 - Rail Strategy

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

10 Local Transport Plan

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Item 10 - Local Transport Plan

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

11 Economic Strategy

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Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

12 Working towards a Child First Approach in the Combined Authority

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Item 12 - Child First Approach

Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

13 a) 13a Investment Zone Programme Approvals - Investment Priority 3 - Creating Great Places and Accelerated Infrastructure

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Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

13 c) 13c Better Homes Hub Project Approvals - Investment Priority 4 - Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental

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Item 13c - IP4 Better Homes Hub - Project Approvals

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
Liz Hunter
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

14 Scrutiny Protocol Review

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Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Alan Reiss, Chief Operating Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair)
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair)
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

15 Corporate Plan 2024-25

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Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair)
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

16 Corporate Delegations

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Item 16 - Corporate delegations

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire

17 Minutes for Information

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Item 17 - Minutes for Information

18 Date of the Next Meeting

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Disclaimer: This transcript was automatically generated, so it may contain errors. Please view the webcast to confirm whether the content is accurate.

1 Apologies for Absence

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:00:00

to be fair, we have got an absolutely packed agenda today, reflective of the effort that we've all put in. Over the last three years, an awful lot of hard work has been put into preparing the decisions we have in front of us on bus reform, mass transit and the proposals for a better homes hub. These are decisions that are not made overnight, but the culmination of months of commitment from colleagues around this table, colleagues working in the Combined Authority and in our partner authorities. Can I thank you all personally for the efforts you've made to get us where we are today, of course, the decisions in front of us and not the only achievements of the last three years we've built thousands of affordable homes. Moreover, the last two years than any equivalent two years since the economic crash in 2010

2 Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

we've invested in new bus stations, in new bus routes and in cheap affairs. We've secured more than 1,000 new green jobs from businesses for young people trained 90,000 adults across our skills programmes, but businesses and entrepreneurs across the region to succeed by investing in support programmes, put safety at the heart of my police and crime plan and recruited over 800 new police officers and staff. I could go on, but you can see from the packed agenda. We've got a lot to get through today, but our success has not gone unnoticed. I was delighted that the secretary of state for levelling up confirmed that the convention of the North that were eligible for further devolution through a level 4 devolution deal which will see amongst the region get further funding and powers over housing, regeneration, skills and transport, amongst other things, the secretary of state confirmed this in a letter which has been shared with all our Combined Authority members and says that the government has confidence in our capacity, governance and culture as an institution and that we are one of the country's most mature devolved institutions. After just three years, as a Mayoral Combined Authority standing on the shoulders of success of the LEP and the Combined Authority before 2021, I think that is an achievement we can all be hugely proud of, and on that note, I think we should progress with a formal items on the agenda. Thank you so

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:02:21

much so Miles, any apologies, please. Apologies for absence may have been received from Councillor, Denise Jeffery and Councillor James go in lovely thank you, and may I welcome Councillor Anderson for the Chair of the Scrutiny Committee to join us at this meeting today. Thank you item 2, any declarations of interest that the members wish to declare.

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

thank you none, okay, item 3, exclusion of press and public officers have advised that the information contained in Appendix 9 to agenda item 13 da 0 in mushroom emission boss, regional area zebra, is treated as exempt under paragraph 3 of Part 1 to schedule 12 of the Local government Act 1972, as it contains information relating to financial or business affairs of particular persons, 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 press and public will be excluded, excluded should members wish to discuss the content of the appendix when we consider item 13 de, are we content to agree the recommendation that the information is exempt

4 Minutes of the Meeting of the Combined Authority held on 1 February 2024

we are content, thank you all so much so item 4 minutes of the 1st of February 2024 turning to these minutes, are there any comments or questions?

For Decision

5 Bus Reform

are we content to confirm these as an accurate record? We are, thank you moving on to Item 5. This is for decision us reform. This paper is for consideration by all of us around this table. It addresses crucial matters regarding the future of our region's buses and proposes significant steps to address existing and long-term challenges facing the system. Buses are a vital service for our communities, relied on by people to get to work, education, the hospital or just simply, to visit family and friends and enjoy everything that our region has to offer.

but we know the current system is not good enough, we hear it from the public all the time, and as politicians, I think I speak for all of us, it can be frustrating, trying to help with the limited ability we have currently to deliver the change that people want to see.

when I was elected mayor in 2021, I pledged to bring buses back under public control, introduce simple affairs, contactless ticketing and greener buses, and this paper reflects that ambition as well, as well as looking to deliver improvements for the travelling public as soon as possible, I knew we needed wider fundamental change to the way buses are run in West Yorkshire. That's why, as a Combined Authority, we issued a notice of intent to establish an enhanced partnership with local bus operators and conduct an assessment of franchising this paper is the product of two years of detailed work following the legal process looking at the options for bus reform, including most recently,

statutory consultation with key stakeholders and the public at large. The outcomes of this consultation on bus reform have been analysed independently and then a response report produced by the Combined Authority officers today we are asked to consider the content of that report in making a decision on what we do next

now before we consider the detail of this matter. Can I ask Caroline Allen, the deputy director for legal governance and compliance to highlight any procedural issues and outline the decision making process that applies in relation to this item? Caroline, thank you,

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:06:21

Mayor and firstly, there's a couple of minor procedural matters to bring to Members' attention at the first one is in relation to

or add an addendum, that's been published to the papers, and this relates to following the publication of the agenda, a minor error has been identified in the published DJ es report research report, which forms part of the appendices to the bus reform item now this report presents a full independent summary of the consultation undertaken,

and in brief, that what the report incorrectly referenced and Leeds City Council Members response as a statutory response for Leeds City Council

and a reference within the elected representative section of the report referenced Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, rather than a councillor for Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council, so those errors

Minor as they are have been corrected, and then a lie and an addendum to that report produced published on the website and circulated to all CA members in advance of this meeting at the the key thing, however, is that the correction of these errors has no impact upon the analysis undertaken by the Authority to consider the consultation responses submitted by either the councillors or authorities referred to or therefore the conclusions and recommendations in the Combined Authority report.

for assurance, our full consultation response at Appendix 2 has correctly included the full Leeds City Council statutory response, within its analysis, publish this in full between pages 8 7 3 and 98, and the incorrect reference to Calderdale Metropolitan Borough Council did not affect the treatment of that response from the Councillor or the Council.

as this was already listed in the collected representative section, so I mentioned that for the purposes of the minutes and for completion and for completeness, the the second point is a minor typographical error in the recommendations to the in the report today.

at 10.00.1 point 5 and 10.1 point 6, the first bullet point at each both recommendations, cross-reference to the mobilisation section of the report for noting, which is correct but erroneously referenced this section 0 when it should reference section 2.1 4 0 to 2.1 5 0, so I mentioned those for clarification Mayor, so perhaps unless anyone has any questions on those points of clarification, I can turn now to outline the decision making process which relates to this item. Please

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:09:00

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:09:04

do. Thank you, thank you, so. Item 5 presents a report and appendices for consideration by Members of the Combined Authority, together with a set of recommendations to the Combined Authority at section 10 of the report.

following a presentation of the report and debate and questions in the usual manner, all combined authority members, with the exception of York as a non-voting non constituent council member, will be asked to consider the recommendations and vote in the usual manner, and at that point it is proposed that I I will take us through those recommendations one by one.

following that and as Members are aware, in accordance with the legislation, the function of deciding whether to make a franchising scheme is a function of the Combined Authority exercisable only by the Mayor acting on behalf of the Combined Authority so following the resolutions of the combined authority including any recommendations made to the Mayor, the Mayor will then consider in the light of all the evidence whether to exercise her decision making authority to make a franchising scheme for West Yorkshire and will make her decision and advise the meeting of that which will be recorded in minutes. I hope that's helpful again if there are any questions on the procedure, I'm

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:10:25

happy to answer those. Thank you any questions on procedure. No, thank you. May I move off to Simon Warburton to talk us through this paper,

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:10:33

please, thank you ma and if I may, I'd just like to spend a few minutes summarising

the content of the report and its appendices which are sizeable in nature, so, as Members will recall, the Combined Authority has been undertaking an assessment of a case for bus franchising under the provisions of the Bus Services Act at its meeting in May of last year, the Combined Authority received a draft of that assessment and approve the assessment to be audited in accordance with the provisions.

in the Act,

and that audited assessment was then brought to the September meeting of the Combined Authority, where it was agreed that we wouldn't take a statutory consultation with a commitment to report the findings of the consultation back to this meeting, and that this is the main purpose of the report today is to set out very clearly what we have heard through the consultation.

and whether that, in any way or materially changes are previous recommendations to the Combined Authority

the consultation ran from October 2023 to January 2024 and it looked to focus on to key audiences, firstly.

under the Act, there are a series of statutory consultees that we are are required to consult with, we'd set that they'll list out a in paragraph 2, point 1 8, and we were or were successful in engaging with those statutory consultees, but also members have been very clear throughout.

that you have sought to say, yours consult widely with the general public and we've set out at 2.00 point 1 9

the range of activities that were undertaken by the team to ensure that we had publicised at the consultation as widely as as possible, the consultation response has been summarised by an external agency DJs research and a member of the management team from DGS is available or are at the meeting should members so require.

we received in total 69 stakeholder organisation responses and a total of 1,176 responses from the members of the public, and we have set out a demographic breakdown of the respondents within the report.

furthermore, the Combined Authority also received a further 2,778 campaign responses and

the conclusion of an ongoing petition, which I should stress, started before the consultation.

containing 12,182.

responses

we've set out in a table 1, the the breadth of response that was received to the central question around whether respondents, supported or opposed the proposed franchising scheme and members will say that 82%, either supported or supported in part, the proposal for a franchising scheme as set out,

in the consultation document I am the consultation document then sought views on each of the five parts of the assessment set out in a traditional Philpott business case, and I'm now just go to.

talk members through the our conclusions.

against the consultation and it in each of these parts, so firstly, the assessment started with a strategic case and we've set out exhaustively in the attached consultation.

a response report and then summarised in the paragraphs in the cover report A the specific comments.

that were that were raised, among considering the responses to the consultation, both in terms of support for and challenges to the strategic case, we believe the evidence presented.

in the strategic case responds to the challenges facing the bus industry and that that is reflected in a coherent set of objectives, and there was broad response, a broad support in the consultation for the need for reform and a particular channel challenges were made in the consultation responses to highlight the importance of bus priority fares and ticketing as well as customer service and information and so as we have considered all of the content within the consultation responses,

we are satisfied as officers to.

I recommend that the Strategic Case continues to address the themes that have been raised.

through the consultation appropriately and

and that the objectives for our bus system.

and the proposals across both models are reaffirms through the consultation.

the second stage of the case is the economic case.

and a wide variety of different comments and concerns were raised or in connection with the the the economic case and some of the issues particularly raised in the consultation response were raised by first West Yorkshire, but also by other bus operators and we've set out in great technical detail.

in Appendix 5 to the consultation response report, our handling of those issues and I, I can advise Members that through the consultation periods.

with First West Yorkshire, in particular myself and the team.

at a number of specific formal meetings to explore fully all of the issues that were raised.

by First which West Yorkshire and their economic advises and as a result of that engagement which, as I say, we've set out fully in the full report, we are confident that the findings of our economic case remain are robust and that both options represents,

very high value for money, for the very simple reason that both options offer benefits to the trouble of public, but that the benefits of of franchising are greater when we compare the two options, and the third part of the case refers.

to the commercial case and again, a number of issues raised, particularly very helpfully.

to test and challenge further our approach to a risk management, and I should stress that there is a there is an important element within this consultation, whereby a number of specific issues, particularly relating to the management case, are and the commercial case, our aspect that we will continue to work on should a decision be taken liked it in this meeting.

for us to to pursue franchising, and so we remain confident that from a commercial perspective either of the bus reforms or options are deliverable, we maintain the view that the critical success factors can be better met with the proposed franchising scheme due to the control and certainty that it would provide over outcomes across the bus network. However, specific comments provided in relation to the details of contracting the approach to asset acquisition, the approach to cross boundary services to facilitating small and medium sized operator participation and the final allocation of routes through the watching strategy would be taken on board should a decision be taken to introduce a a franchising scheme.

thereby further demonstrating the value of the consultation process iv, part of our assessment addressed the financial case and we do recognise that a number of consultees are raised, concerns over future sources of funding or or or and finance.

and whilst we have considered and indeed public authorities always need to consider levels of uncertainty, we still believe that there is a a valid.

the assumption for us to pursue the franchising scheme and, as highlighted in the assessments, financial case conclusions, that Combined Authority would carry more financial risks, both in terms of carrying costs and revenue risks and more asset risk, and and these concerns are recognised and,

but consideration of these points is not altered our view and our advice to the Combined Authority that the franchising scheme remains affordable within available budgets and under different scenarios that we have assessed that.

that remains the case,

the final part of our 5 part case addresses the management case or or and again very helpful points raised in terms of deployment of activities.

and also the the management of risk, we have also had raised with us the need for us to continue to set out in greater detail should a decision be taken to pursue franchising the application, in particular of GP processes, as provided for in law, and we take that responsibility very seriously nonetheless, we we are confident that the consultation has given a good challenge and stress tests to our management case.

and that the management case for either option continue to stand, and indeed at the end of this report, once members have formally considered options, we have also set out the immediate steps that we would take under either scenario, add to ensure that that management case is pursued in a or in a rapid fashion,

immediately following any decision, we have then summarised the series of of further points that have been raised and through the consultation, and I think in particular I would raise three aspects that we've sought to further address.

in considering that the the responses and, in particular, we have

made appropriate changes to the proposed franchising scheme on the back of the consultation, to address two two issues, in particular one the services to be franchise, quite rightly, the consultation raised that the network has changed since the initial assessment period of 2021 now is the appropriate stage for us to or amend the proposed franchising scheme so that it reflects current origin and destination.

pairs that are provided for through the current network, and so we have made that that adjustment at this stage.

secondly, we have also taken on board.

very, very pragmatic suggestions in terms of the dates at which franchise contracts would commence should a decision be taken to do so so that they align with periods between school terms and provide the opportunity to minimise any issues that would otherwise be brought down, and that's been very helpful and advice. The final very per point that we will continue to work very hard on should a decision be taken to pursue the proposed franchising scheme is around the treatment of small and medium sized operators. We recognise that they are

an incredibly important part of the economic mix within West Yorkshire and we've sat out an additional report and the appendices to the this report to ensure that we set out from the outset how we would go about safeguarding the role of small and medium-sized businesses add through this process.

and so a Mayor, having considered the consultation feedback, carefully included a range of risks raised by consultees, our consultation response concludes that the proposed franchising scheme would be deliverable by the Combined Authority.

it is very clear from the consultation received and that the local bus network plays a vital role in West Yorkshire and is strategically important for its future development as well as the day-to-day lives of residents who depend on it to travel to work and education access other vital services and so enjoyed leisure and cultural opportunities across the region. However, buses in west Yorkshire face many challenges which justify significant action to overcome including the currently predicted long term decline in use and shrinking network which is judged as an unacceptable outcome by many who responded.

to our consultation, our work has demonstrated to us that franchising provides the greatest levels of control and direct influence to respond to this above and beyond the enhanced partnership plus at and is therefore recommended to you as the preferred option to achieve the change needed so based on the concept set out throughout the consultation response reaffirms the Assessment's conclusion and recommends to the Mayor and that the Combined Authority proceed with the proposed franchising scheme as the preferred option for bus reform

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:26:53

in West Yorkshire, thank you so much for that thorough.

a description of the work that has gone ahead, thank you so much, so we have about 20 minutes for questions, I'm sure members will have many questions they want to raise, could I encourage people to be pithy and may I Simon also asked for responses to be pithy thank you so much we have a lot to get through today who would like to start with questions.

yes, Sylvia, and then Cathy.

Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council) - 0:27:21

thank you there, so some consultees responded to the consultation with concerns about crossbar boundary services going forward and how they would be considered I represent, Todmorden, which is an area of Calderdale, which has a very important cross boundary services, what reassurances are there about those?

thank you, and this is an important issue that was raised them through

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:27:45

the the the consultation and we recognise that the West Yorkshire is is is not an island, the and the franchising services outside West Yorkshire cannot form part of.

the franchising scheme, as it can only apply in West Yorkshire, but clearly Crow cross boundary services would still be able to operate, and so what we have.

are proposed within our our scheme is a service permit regime which allows the Combined Authority to ensure integration between cross boundary and franchised.

or services is not intended that this permit scheme would in any way be onerous.

and

it is now a and approach which has been a tried and tested under the Greater Manchester model, and we're very satisfied that it will help to address those issues that are quite rightly raised by the Council,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:28:48

thank you, Simon, I'm I'm going to take two questions at a time as there's lots of people who want to ask questions so Cathy then Suzanne Cathy,

Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council) - 0:28:57

thank you, my finances are crucial, please can you reassure the Authority as to the costs involved in how they will be coupled and Susan.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:29:05

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 0:29:11

just looking at at 2.00.3 2.3 to well she says some respondents challenged, the object is around a target of patronage, growth and doubts about whether it could receive achieve this through a franchising scheme, obviously our ambition is to increase patronage, just like a bit of feedback on that and also the 2.5 says about the risk in the economic case.

a number of respondents saying as possible risks in it, how confident are we that those risks can be managed financially, thank you, Simon.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:29:41

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:29:44

thank you so, firstly, with regard to a cost, we each set out very clearly in the report the cost that would be involved in both models so under the franchising proposition, an initial one-off investment by the Combined Authority of 20.4 million pounds over four years would allow us to put in place a.

the necessary management and or

add and contract governance and arrangements, including a new back office and systems to manage the period through to transition, and in addition to that we have set out a minimal or a minimum in the first instance capital investment that would be required in depots we've estimated that's a a 85 point 5 million pounds that reflects the proposed a commercial approach whereby we would look to acquire the largest depots.

in West Yorkshire, thereby removing those depose as a barrier to competition within a franchising approach, I should stress, and that both of those spending activities.

would?

delivered both intellectual property and in the case of the depots or physical assets, to the benefits of the Combined Authority, thank you

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:31:23

very helpful answer, I have Matthew then Councillor Lamb, Matthew

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:31:27

thank you, Lord Mayor, when I read the comments and concerns regarding small operators.

obviously, there are some fantastic small approaches around the district, I think, to watch travel the five towns and provided some really good services, what children they were being under this new model and the franchising.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:31:45

thank you and Councillor Lamb.

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:31:49

I've got quite a few questions, your Mata goal and one or come back to them how many questions you have Councillor Lamb.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:31:54

5 why not split them, just take two, it's time, OK well, one of them

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:00

follows on around small operator, so if I take that one.

I guess we've seen in Manchester that the small operators have gone already and I've had small operators expressed concern to me that

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:32:15

really the practical means of helping them is to give long certainty quickly so that they can actually decide whether to invest or not, otherwise they've got no choice but to do pretty much pack in so again. Some further reassurance on that would be would be useful because the consequence of them dropping out of the market in Manchester is the costs have gone up substantially from what was originally proposed. And so can you give us some reassurance. That's not going to happen here, so I'll I'll leave it to that one because

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:45

there I'm saying allocate so that the first two were following on. OK, thank you, Simon

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:51

thank you, so, yes, the the impact on small operators, we we recognise, is an absolutely critical.

a consideration and and therefore we have looked to learn the lessons from elsewhere, particularly from from Greater Manchester, so the approach that we've set out in in appendix 5.

is is is intended to bring forward a model of smaller size contracts within each zone that will be more suitable to the operations of a small operators. I think the point around a longer term certainties is also something that I've heard through the consultation from small operators at the length of the proposed franchises that we are proposing would actually provide a model of certainty for the market. So whilst there is a competitive process that small operators would need to take themselves through and again from Greater Manchester, we are looking to learn lessons in terms of how we ensure that there are appropriate levels of administration that's required according to the size of of different contracts, that final position of having certainty over the operation of a route for the medium term, it is actually a position for a small operator which they can't necessarily

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:30

guarantee on the or any other model. Thank you so much, I'll come back round to you

well, let's get some and we've got to follow up from that. OK, Cohen

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:34:39

canal, I'm a bit concerned with trying to squeeze this into 20 minutes. It is a massive issue, it's enough, it's not down to us that the agenda so big today it is a challenge prior to the election yesterday please go ahead, it's important we get these issues in, so to be fair, you've missed the point that the small operators have made. The issue is the transition from now until franchising starts and how they have certainty in that period, because for the small operators, that's where they're going, that's when they're gonna fail having certainty once the franchising is in place, that's fine, the bit they need certainty is what happens in the meantime. How do they make investment decisions if you own three or four buses and will need replacing, and you don't have certainty, you're not gonna replace it,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:35:21

thank you please, yeah, I do I do apologise as I should have picked up

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:35:25

on that point. So should a decision be taken, we would then start to develop with operators are a model for the

the residual value management of our fleet and that should provide us with a mechanism to manage our way through the transition, recognising that even if that operator were to find themselves in an unsuccessful position through a competition or enfranchising that him in most cases subject to fleet meeting appropriate standards, we would be be keen to retain the fleet and in West Yorkshire so one of the early activities that I would be instructing and the Team 2 to undertake with the operator community as a whole.

is to start to develop that residual fleet model, which should then give the necessary confidence to the market through that transition

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:20

period. Thank you, Ben you wanted to come in on this point. Yeah, thank you. Just just to build on the points of time has made about smaller operators and which is which absolutely are critical in our

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:36:29

thinking around this. It's worth bearing in mind for for context that most of the small operator contracts form part of the tender service network anyway. So we have that better. We were better able to help manage that process through in the way that Simon instead, and also, as you see from the from the implementation case in the in the work that there will be these contracts will be phased in. This is if, if taken forward, and so therefore it's not as if the the whole of the smaller medium market will be up for grabs in one go, so there'll be a phasing process across West Yorkshire if we if we proceed down this

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:37:07

route. Thank you and Councillor Lamb. I will come back to you and free

Cllr Claire Douglas - 0:37:13

up other questions, so Claire Councillor Douglas and Mandy, thank you. She's going back to the cross-border issue

in representing your care, there are other into local authority combined authority cross borders, can you just give us some reassurance or further information on how that might work to ensure that economic transition from one to another is maintained, thank you and Monday.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:37:35

my question was about small operators, I think is Olmert.

Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 0:37:43

that we look at, how will make it easier to encourage small operators rather than discourage them, because they help us with both markets that we wouldn't otherwise address, thank you, Simon.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:37:58

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:38:00

yeah, for thank you, but so are firstly with with regard to cross boundary, so we then are management model.

should we pursue franchising, one aspect that we have emphasised is a joint working with partners in our our neighboring authorities, we want to be able to keep very close to any changes in market conditions that might present themselves.

or through a transition period so that we can work work closely with our partners in

in local authorities to to address those is the reports later in the agenda demonstrate that such a strong linkage in travel to work areas, in particular between North Yorkshire and West Yorkshire, and that it's absolutely crucial that we stay very close to it through that period. I can guarantee that we would dedicate resources to that and

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:39:00

thank you and just on Monday's point. Do you feel that's been a Dr?

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:39:04

Apologies and so with with regard to transition again are looking to

make use of the residual value fleet model.

and also looking to make use of the Dépôt model, what we are looking to do, that is to remove as many barriers to entry.

into competition or as as possible. So I think it's, I think it's very important to to emphasise that a franchising model is is a commercial model and it is, it is now not a model whereby a public delivery it is involved at all and we want to be able to encourage, should the decision be taken, the most vibrant competition for any franchise that we bring to the market, because it's through that mechanism that we

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:05

can best guarantee value for money. Thank you so much, let's let's move on to Councillor Golton, Councillor Poulsen, Councillor Golton.

Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:40:10

thank you, Mayor.

I want to cover the enhanced bus partnership if that's OK, so one of the options on the table today is the enhanced bus partnership Plus which has been put forward by the bus operators. I think the frustration for many people in West Yorkshire, as well as the politicians around this table is the fact that the current enhanced bus partnership hasn't delivered any improvement in services whatsoever, and I think we're gonna be judging whether an enhanced bus Partnership Plus is going to deliver those advantages based on that performance archway, but in the past three years we've had

the worst reliability of services, a reduction in frequency on most routes and actual reduction of routes and the longest period of industrial unrest that we've seen in our region, so the the record isn't great for the enhanced bus partnership and that implies that the balance of power within that partnership isn't equal and at the moment the operators have got the upper hand so going forward.

if we do choose to have bus franchising as our preference, and it's gonna take a long while to pursue, how are we going to ensure that the bus partnership, which is there already and will exist during that period actually will

be able to tackle more effectively the key.

concerns of the bus riding public around reliability, frequency, the real-time bus information, the pressure from disabled customers is that they want to have more concessionary fare availability, all of those things how are we going to address that so that performance doesn't get even worse while we're negotiating the franchising? Thank

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:42:17

you Councillor Councillor P Wilson,

thank you, Ma yeah mindset to focus on the risk really that's in the report on two areas, one is there doesn't seem to mention anything about a potential legal challenge to the should, so the proposal, and now in other parts of the country there was many years of legal

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 0:42:38

battles attaches extremely high costs.

there is nothing in here about that as a risk, and I think that is a key risk, but going down this route would put, obviously, to the Combined Authority and to taxpayers, and also we've just been mentioned the enhanced partnership plus. Looking in here, the risk really of of not doing that first, that is a lot cheaper and will be a lot quicker to improve things for our users. Now, rather than in many years, we're looking at hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayers' money if we go straight onto the onto the franchising and there is a huge risk to taxpayers who would ultimately be funding this, so really

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:43:20

questions over the risk of the scheme. Thank you. Thank you, Councillor Paulson, Simon

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:25

thank you, but, sorry, Councillor Golton, it raises such some very important points in terms of the performance of the bus network are at present and it was regrettable to see the latest tropical focus report which placed our local operators, add at a very low level and comparative in comparison to other areas with regard to a bus passenger.

satisfaction and we do take that very seriously, we will continue to under any decision that that that is taken today, we will continue in the near term to deploy the bus services improvement plan that you have already agreed, we've continued to work with governments,

to secure additional resources under the visa regime so that we are able to carry forward and certainly for the time being, key initiatives such as the mass barriers such as the superbugs initiatives and the wider.

tactical interventions into the network that we've been bringing forward with the support of of the Transport Committee within our capital programme, we also have provision for the continued roll-out of the real-time passenger information system and and that that will continue regardless and and we have a specific work stream under way with operators at present to address against bust.

ghost boss issues

within that model, which holds back what is otherwise the largest real-time passenger information system in the country outside London, we are significantly ahead of other places, including a place that I used to work towards.

I add in in that regard.

we are investing heavily at the moment in our bus stations through the capital programme and one that will serve to improve the passenger experience a number of our key centres are addressing the needs of our most vulnerable users through the deployment of the new PCSO modelling and continuing to work closely with operators off on that front.

and of course, in the capital programme today there are

a series of bus hotspots as well, that we're seeking to address to continue to improve performance on the road, so my message back to Members is, we will use every tool that's available tools in the natter, regardless of the decisions that are taken today.

to continue to look to turn around those perceptions of the bus offer which are which are hugely.

regrettable, because from perception follows demand

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:46:33

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:37

and therefore it's absolutely critical that that we use the evidence is available to us to t t to drive performance, so with regard to the the risk register, sorry, we have just just double-check that we do address the legal challenge in that and in instigating,

the the project at the outset, the Combined Authority, did set aside a specific reserve to handle legal challenge, or should that presents itself so yeah, we we do have that within our our management case risk

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:47:15

assessment, thank you and maybe if you could forward that where that is in the report to Councillor posts and that could give her some reassurance James and Cathy.

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:47:24

thank you, I'll get to point them a question 2.9 6 in the at papers refers to the issues around staff and in cases in both staff here and staff working for both companies, I think it follows on from the questions being raised about the transition issues as well because it is ratio was around what will be done around looking at all the stuff, obviously we have the worked really hard on recruiting equals recruiting and training new bus drivers,

please, Simon.

thank you, Cathy,

Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council) - 0:47:58

so, given that the next item on this agenda will be looking at the West, Yorkshire mass transit.

can you tell me what impact that will have on the franchising Simon?

thank you ma am.

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:13

so council losses are absolutely right to raise the important issue here that there are.

very loyal teams of staff within our bus companies and a process of change, should that be decided to, could inevitably be a moment of of concern for staff. We have are engaged with employee representatives through the consultation process. They are a statutory consultee within the process. We've had very free-flowing engagement with the in that regard, I made reference before specifically to the Tupi process and the law does provide

are all bus operators or staff, with the right to transfer between operators, and should a new operating company when a particular franchise that that's currently every service that the there's currently operated by or another operator, and it includes the requirement for the new employer to protect them with an that process at that that is something that would clearly be enshrined within our franchise conditions and something that we would manage a very closely going forwards.

with regard to the relationship with mass transit sites should stress, first of all, that within the assessment, and we do note within the consultation reports, that this was something of a cause of full frustration for a number of people who engage through those through the consultation we are very conservative with a small c in terms of,

how we assess the potential of of the franchising and scheme we do not take into account the fact that in parallel in West Yorkshire, we are looking to bring forward a our mass transit system because at this stage it is not part of the fabric and therefore we could not do so but clearly as we have set out,

consistently, through the Local Transport Plan, through the West Yorkshire Plan and so forth, we are looking to secure the most integrated transport proposition across the conurbation as it develops over time the ability for us to be able to remove any competition constraints.

to one integrated ticketing system which franchising provides would clearly give us the opportunity over time, then to develop a bus network and the mass transit system in concert with each other, because it's only through making best use of all three of our future public transport modes bus, rail and mass transit that will be able to satisfy the diversity of travel that West Yorkshire will need to be successful in the future. Thank you send that Benn and then Councillor

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:51:17

Lamb,

and just to build on on Simon's point about integration across motor

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:51:24

public transport, later on the agenda this morning we've got.

and touchpaper to Local Transport Plan for very much hoping that that's the that's the documents, in the framework that we use to integrate these things going forward, so forward reference to that

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:51:36

thanks, thank you, Councillor Lamb, thank you Mary college clerk will we have an opportunity to make a general comment before we get to

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:51:41

decision making?

I see no reason why you can't comment, of course Councillor Les thank you so firstly, as you know Mayor, I'm passionate about improving public transport in my area as a of Weatherby as a cross-border personal, but I would like a bit more reassurance about how we're going to work in partnership we don't live in a bubble, it's welcome that we have your represented at the table here but how we get those transport links and improvements because for a lot of outer areas not just mining, whether the the issue is actually connectivity to other settlements.

be lovely if everyone came to Leeds, but some people do like to go to York and Harrogate and other places, and they need to be able to get there. So some more reassurance on that next question was about consultation think it says in the report and forgive me if I'm misquoting, but there's overwhelming public support for franchising, I'm not sure the evidence backs that up. Given 1,172 responses equates to 0.05% of the population of West Yorkshire, so I wonder if you want to reflect if we can accurately say there's overwhelming public support following on from Councillor Golton's comments. When can passengers expect to see improvements to services

as a result of franchising, so that's simple question.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:53:01

do you want to do the point of order, Simon, if you'd like to answer those first in Italy, I am so sorry, Councillor, I actually missed

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:53:07

your third question, which you might just repeat, no promise when can passengers expect to see improvements in their services?

thank you so first of all, with regard to cross cross boundary partnership.

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:53:19

yes, I mentioned before that we would be looking to dedicate significant resource to cross boundary partnership in the planning of

or a future, a network, and, of course, one of the central advantages that a franchising proposition would give us in this regard is that we could discuss with our partners over the boundary with a far greater degree of confidence in terms of what we would be able to secure wait within West Yorkshire.

I, I think that would really help to strengthen the cross boundary partnership, and actually we've seen those near neighbours in Greater Manchester do that very well recently, as they've been rolling out.

the north-east Greater Manchester.

the network and we are about to see some of that those services are operating into into West Yorkshire over the coming weeks, so I think there is a model, and that holds itself in that regard, I've asked, Alex, just check to the specific reference that we've made to public responses.

within the public responses that we received within the consultation, there was overwhelming support what I should stress is that the consultation is not intended to be in any way, shape or form a referendum it is, it is intended to gather information that helps to ensure that not only the assessment but the final deployment of any model that is decided upon,

is as relevant consultees as we can possibly make it, and that's where the real value lies, I would suggest,

within the consultation.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:55:12

have I missed and improvements, sorry, improvements in the data, so

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:55:16

we've set out the timetable in the assessment for bus franchising, it is a, it is a process that would take us through to actually say delivery on the streets in 2027, and that's for good reason.

as we have discussed or earlier in the meeting, there are genuine commercial implications are associated with the deployment of a bus franchising system, it must not be undertaken lightly and we have to ensure.

that we provide the right periods of engagement with markets right through that process, that is not to suggest that we do not intend, as the Combined Authority, to continue to deliver improvements on the street to between, and I mentioned, a number of the initiatives,

in response to Councillor Golton's early earlier reply, Adam yesterday with the Transport Committee, we were reviewing where we go next in terms of the deployment of improvements to services through through beat-up, so we will continue to deliver improvements out there through any period of transition.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:56:32

thank you, Councillor Lamb, and then Councillor Booth, thank you, sir, I'll try and finish on others from so Manchester obviously have been

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:56:40

slightly ahead of us on this one, the costs have gone up substantially from what were originally projected, so one question is what have we learned and how can we be reassured that the numbers are right?

here the second question, I've had a lot of confusion from residents. Some people think coming into public control is the same as coming into public ownership which it isn't. Some people think that's a good thing, some people think it's a bad thing. Can we be really clear? Private operators will still make a profit out of this, they just won't have, the risk and effects will have a guaranteed profit because the taxpayer will have the risk instead and the final question Do you

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:20

want to pause their can't get Lamb and Abbey and Councillor Paulson, and then you can go in the next round? Councillor Wilson

yeah mindset slightly closer to home in capacity issues and a combined authority to actually run what would be a huge operation and then we struggled to fill key roles within the mass transit team in transport.

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 0:57:42

How confident are we that we've got the right people in place and we can get the right people in place if this goes ahead to run what would

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:57:49

be a massive operation? Thank you, Simon, thank you so. Wow with

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:57:53

regard to judges are in in costs in Greater Manchester we are staying so close to Greater Manchester to understand

any changes and there are a number of aspects within.

there are proposals that that look to address some of the challenges that Greater Manchester face, not not least some of the issues, due to quite a protected or legal period, that then constraint Greater Manchester's mobilisation period and, in particular, our approach to

Dépôt acquisition has taken on board a number of the lessons that Greater Manchester upload for themselves.

as they'd gone through that process, Councillor Lamb is absolutely right there

that a franchising process is a process of public control, it is a commercial exercise

we would fully expect that any franchises would make a suitable commercial margin through the exercise or and we've set out that we will, we hope, very clearly and very transparently with an the proposition, Councillor Poulsen raises an early and incredibly important point we are.

increasingly seeing now, as the Combined Authority are very strong responses to recruitment activities that we are are taking out to the market, I think the success of this Combined Authority and as a whole has demonstrated to people that West Yorkshire Combined Authority is a place to try to come, come and work we understand very clearly the capabilities that we need to bring Ed we understand where those capabilities are.

are best located as permanent staff inside the organisation where they are best located as a professional advice that we bring it to the organisation, so I take the point very seriously, it is an aspect that we would continue to monitor against our our risk register, but at this stage I'm confident that we're moving in the right direction in terms of our recruitment projects, thank you, James, and then back to

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:00:15

Councillor Lamb.

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:00:19

thank you my, I wanted to raise an issue around.

if we move into this around public consultation around service change, all the councillors around the table in the room have had the experience, and the way could we find the bus company.

is changing a service, you contact them, they say, Well, we made our minds up, and that's that we've had it in our ward where last parts and they're sleeping cough I know, in Leeds Dock, at the moment the 29 books are being withdrawn.

just a couple of examples show if we had a lot more time, every Councillor in the room could come up with an example, how would we how under franchising?

would the public be involved in setting routes and times having a network more suitable, and one that's just octopus companies in the

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:01:06

situation at the moment, police Simon, thank you, Councillor P Wilson.

sorry, it was just it's just Councillor Lamb apologies.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:01:13

so yeah, James Kelly, you'll be glad to know.

so on the money with it set out in the report, we're looking at

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:01:22

somewhere between 350 and 400 million pounds for franchising over the period of time, specifically which budgets is that coming from and if those budgets aren't available there's a lot of assumptions around grants and things like that if that isn't where is the money going to come from? Are we in a position to rule out introducing a mayoral precept which could be 600 to 800 pounds a year per household in West Yorkshire to fund the cost of or franchising if you can't find the

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:01:50

money elsewhere?

Simon,

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:01:56

thank you ma I or I'm not sure I recognise the number in a combination of about a million a million households, so, but we I, I can were there to talk that through with or with we've kept Councillor Lamb.

lighter at the two principal costs are the the transition costs and the purchase of depots those are provided for within.

the gainshare benefits the West Yorkshire accrued through the devolution deal the additional costs that that he set out somewhere in the order of 250 million pounds.

reflects an ongoing commitment that would be required under either approach in order for us to be able to meet the objectives that we have set for an improved bus fleet in West Yorkshire, and whether we were pursuing that through franchising or partnership, we would be using the same revenue base as a financing tool in part in addition to ongoing government grants.

if those government grants were not to come forward, then we would still have an operating fleets, but we would have an operating plate, there was more at a Eurosceptic standard, such a 0 emission standard, so it would not impact on the operation of the network, what we have looked set out is where we would need to go in order to achieve the 0 emission fleet objectives that we have to date we've had a very strong partnership, in fact we have an item on the agenda lighter.

with government in securing funding for Zero emission buses, if we were to continue to benefit from that strong relationship with government going forwards and then we would certainly be able to.

put ourselves in a position of delivering that level of fleet

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:04:01

investment, thank you, and did you address Sir James's point?

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:04:05

at consultation on service changes, so should it be seeking a taken on bus franchising, one important aspect that we would then need to undertake with bad guidance is to look at

the

the governance model through the Transport Committee and the Combined Authority are going forward, because, first and foremost.

the form of accountability for a franchising system back to the public would be through yourselves as members of the Combined Authority and then into members of the Transport Committee, and we would take guidance from you as members as to the approach that you would like us to then take.

in terms of regular consultation with

the general public as we go through the rounds of franchise, letting but I think the central point to make is that would very much be in

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:05:08

your hands as elected members, thank you any more questions, or would you like to make a comment, Councillor Lamb?

yes, thank you, ma yeah, it's just a general comments before we go to decision making, and I joined the Combined Authority not quite a year

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:05:22

ago and I've been looking at this issue and came at it with an open mind genuinely I don't have an ideological view against franchising. I can see lots of benefits to equally and E plus. I can see lots of benefits from that, so I I've come to a pragmatic view of what do people actually want the they're suddenly used to having to wait for buses, but I don't think they want to have to wait for improvements to bus services and the quickest cheapest

and best value for the fair payer and taxpayer in the short term is through E P plus. That's not to rule out franchising and, to my mind, the pragmatic approach here, particularly given the should be quite rightly been raised. We don't know yet. The impact of mass transit in some cases, where potentially building in a competition. I'm concerned the Combined Authority doesn't have the capacity to do both at the same time in parallel, so my view is we should be looking at enhanced partnership plus now that can deliver a bus service improvements quickly within months. It depends on the bus operators, which I accept. The stick stick of franchising is always there if they don't deliver or don't step up to the plate

and to me that is the most sensible way to go forward. Thank you,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:06:42

Councillor Lamb and Councillor Lewis, thank you listened carefully to what Councillor Lamb says, but I think to be honest, the bus companies

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:06:49

have had long enough people in my ward and the parts of Leeds and West Yorkshire served by rival West Yorkshire have the country's worst bus service or any of us who rely on that bus services. Knowing that for a long time and frankly, I think the operators have had long enough to have have that they've had.

without going too far back in history, but we've had the time since Thatcher privatised buses to deliver a good bus service, we've had numerous partnership arrangements in place over the last couple of decades, OK we are like say, with large parts of West Yorkshire having the country's worst both were worth bus service.

recognised by the independent transport.

passenger focus service, so I think the time is right to move on the bus companies have had their chance, but now it's it, we need to be moving along with other regions of the country that are moving into franchise and, or indeed London which never moved away to us to have the transport we deserve, so I hear what Councillor Lamb says I can I I know he's looked at it very carefully, I do think that both companies have had their chance and this time we need to move on for people in West Yorkshire.

thank you, Councillor Mowat

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:07:54

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 1:07:57

yeah, thank you myself, Councillor Lewis and Councillor Golton, all represent neighbouring wards. I don't think any of us can say that because the bus company to work in our areas of strategic gain undated now inundated now with people complaining about various routes or 1 10, the 4 4 6 4 4 7 God knows what other routes that they just ought to stop running on time. They're not, it's just not fit for purpose anymore, so I'm shocked that the opposition group on the Council, based on marginal West Yorkshire back. We need a fit for purpose bus network. We need to move forward with this. Thank you so much, Councillor Booth

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:08:28

yeah, I think we're all in agreement, we need better services across West Yorkshire, but we want them now, we don't want them after years and years and years of legal battles, that's likely to happen has happened elsewhere in the country we want and our residents deserve

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 1:08:44

better services now and passing the risk from the operators to the taxpayers is not clear to people and there needs to be very aware of what the decision is being made today. Monday,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:08:55

Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:08:58

the links, in fact, some of the such a comprehensive set of papers for us all to consider, I think.

for the people of West Yorkshire not having a services where they need them when they need them to get where they want. To is really essential and improvements hasn't taken place over a long period of time, whatever the decision is and if it is franchising. I think it would be good to consult with businesses and colleges of how we drum up that that usage and patronage of buses to get kids to college, who can't get there and have to take two buses and to get people to work, and so may be consulting with the institutions and the businesses as well as the people. It is an important step forward. Thank you, Ben

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:09:39

well, thank you very, it's just to respond to the point about risk and, as someone said earlier, that the

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:09:46

we have looked very carefully at risk, it's it is the case at the moment, of course, of the public sector does bear some lots of the practical risk for the implications when bus operators remove services, because that's that's the role that the tender service or network plays so it's a pity there are.

it's probably important to bear in mind that the it isn't that complete transfer that there is reassuring at the moment, thank you, thank you if everyone is content, Simon, do you want to just come back

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:10:16

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:10:19

on this current it was it was just just to clarify for four members so that the process as set out under the Bus Services Act requires a decision to be taken directly or on a franchise and scheme that,

but there isn't an option that's provided for to potentially return to this franchising scheme, if a decision is taken not to pursue the franchising scheme, we would have to undertake a fresh fresh assessment that studies that the requirement under the Act

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:10:53

and that first assessment, I'm assuming, would be a period of time,

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:10:57

yes, this this one has been about two years in preparation.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:11:04

thank you OK, donkey looking around, it seems, like all questions and statements have been made, I'll be ready to vote in the recommend on the recommendations, good thank you, and if I could pass over to Caroline to take us through the recommendations.

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:11:21

thank you Merthyr there are seven recommendations in front of the in front of Members today.

and given the importance of this decision, I do propose to take Members through them, one by one, so I know we don't usually do that, so apologies, but for clarity can we look at recommendation 10.1 point 1 that the Combined Authority notes the completion of the consultation process, its extent and the responses received. We're happy to approve

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:11:46

that recommendation. Yes, thank you. That would be helpful actually, if we could raise hands. These are important recommendations. Thank

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:11:57

you. Moving on Caroline 10.1, point 2, that the Authority notes and considers the contents of the consultation response report at Appendix 2 and associated documents, including the bus reform assessment, and endorses the combined authorities' response to the consultation summarised in the report and set out at Appendix 2. Are we happy to recommend

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:16

thank you.

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:12:21

10 point I'm noting at 1.00 abstention.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:25

I would say yes, sorry again against apologies, apologies against that recommendation, please make yourself known, thank you, I'm moving on

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:12:38

Caroline 10.1, point 3, that the Combined Authority recommends to the Mayor that she makes a franchising scheme as set out at Appendix 3 complying with all associated statutory requirements rather than recommending that the Combined Authority pursues an enhanced partnership plus so those in favour of the recommendation please show

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:13:01

in favour, thank you and against thank you Caroline.

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:13:06

10.1 point for when the Mayor has decided whether or not to make a franchising scheme, agree to adopt and publish the combined authorities' response to the consultation, together with the mayor's decision, as a report to be published by the Combined Authority under section 1 2 3 G 1 of the Transport Act 2000 and in accordance with section 1 2 3 G 2 of the Act to give notice to the traffic commissioner, could I see a show of hands in support of that recommendation?

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:13:36

so for thank you and against.

abstentions, thank you.

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:13:41

10.1, point 5 if the Mayor decides to make a franchising scheme.

to publish the scheme set out at Appendix 3 on behalf of the Mayor, at the same time as the consultation response report to be published under section 1 2 3 G 1 of the Act and at the same time publish a transitional notice in the terms set out in Appendix 4 and then within 14 days of the date upon which that is published, to give notice to the traffic commissioner of its publication on behalf of the Mayor if the Mayor, so decides, or alternatively, the Combined Authority as required by the public service vehicles, registration of local services, franchising schemes, transitional provisions and amendments, England Regulations 2018 Further to agree that in conducting procurement process for the provision of local services, the Combined Authority will facilitate the involvement of small and medium-sized operators in the provision of local services as set out at Appendix 5 and finally to commence with mobilisation of franchising, noting section 2.1 4 0 to 2.1 6 0 of this report on mobilisation, could I am take a votes in favour of that recommendation. Thank you, and against

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:15:00

and abstentions. Thank you

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:15:04

10.1 point 6 if the Mayor recommends that the Combined Authority pursues enhanced partnership plus to commence with mobilisation of enhanced partnership plus, noting section 2.1 4 0 to 2.1 6 0 of this report on mobilisation, those in favour of that,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:15:28

in favour, thank you, and against and abstentions.

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:15:35

one abstention, thank you and finally 10.1 point 7 that the Combined Authority approves the repurposing of the remaining 2,883,150 pounds funding approved for the preparation of the assessment to be used for initial mobilisation costs those in favour.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:15:54

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:15:59

thank you against abstention, thank you, thank you ma that those are the combined authorities recommendations to you.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:16:04

thank you, colleagues, for your recommendations. I now believe I am in a position to take a formal decision. There is some formal wording that I need to go through first in order to take that decision. I have read and considered the report and associated documents presented to me at this meeting in full, including the bus reform assessment consultation response report proposed franchising scheme, draft transition notice and the position paper on the impact of small and medium sized operators. I've also taken into account the information presented to me to date, including a briefing with the Combined Authority officers on Monday, the 12th of March, which included a detailed discussion of the Combined Authority, reports and associated documents and the provision of the programme transition risk registers. I note that, in line with statutory requirements, the combined authority has completed an assessment of the proposed franchising scheme, in accordance with section 12.3 B Transport Act. 2000 has obtained a report from an independent auditor of that assessment, in accordance with section 12.12 3 1 2 3 de Transport Act 2000, and has carried out a consultation in respect of the proposed franchising scheme on 10th of October 2023 to 7th of January 2024, in accordance with sections 1 to 3 e and 1 2 3 F Transport Act 2000. I have also considered the recommendation of the members of the Combined Authority that I make the franchising scheme and that the transitional notice is published. I am satisfied that making the West Yorkshire franchising scheme offers clear strategic benefits and greater opportunities to achieve the combined authorities, objectives and ambitions for West Yorkshire, and that it is justifiable in terms of delivering high value for money, its affordable and deliverable, as has been assessed.

consequently, having considered all of the evidence and being satisfied that all legal requirements have been complied with, I hereby decide, on behalf of the Combined Authority and in accordance with section 1 2 3, G 4 of the Transport Act, 2000, as amended by the Bus Services Act 2017 to make the West Yorkshire franchising scheme and publish the transitional notice set out in Appendix 4 of the Combined Authority.

what a historic moment for West Yorkshire. We are bringing buses back into public control and we are putting passengers first, and this is the biggest change to the way that buses are run for our region s over the last 40 years and will impact on generations to come. We know that buses are vital for our communities and that franchising will help us build that better, connected West Yorkshire that better connected bus network that works for all. There is clear, as we've had public support for this outcome, but of course we know that change will not happen overnight. The hard work we've been doing to improve the bus network continues, why? We work at pace to bring this new way of running the buses to residents across the region, and we will crack on

at pace, delivering the changes that the public want to see, which is why we will continue to invest in new routes, to reconnect communities, to improve bus stations, stops and shelters and to improve that passenger experience what a moment for West Yorkshire what a moment for devolution and I am delighted to make this decision for the people of West Yorkshire thank you also much for your recommendations, thank you.

6 West Yorkshire Mass Transit: Outcomes from the first Strategic Outline Case in advance of submission to the DfT and subsequent consultation and engagement activities

right moving on to the next item on the agenda, thank you so much, we are moving on to mass transit, I know that Councillor at Hinchcliffe has to leave at 12.15, so we will then move on after mass transit to item 13 in order to make sure that we have covered as many of the transport items as possible so the next item on the agenda is equally important to achieving our ambitions to create that better connected region.

that works for all an important step in our progress to achieve a mass transit system. This report provides an update on the progress and development of mass transit phase 1 strategic outline case and sets out our plans to submit it to government. This is a major step forward to work towards securing more funding and delivering the significant infrastructure project. Mass transit will be transformational for West Yorkshire, helping our communities to thrive, our economy to flourish, benefiting generations to come with greater opportunity and prosperity. The project will still need to progress to an outline and then a full business case with a detailed assessment by government and at this stage is, of course important to note that any decision today does not pre-empt the exact route, which of course will be subject to a full public consultation. I think there is a point of clarification on a recommendation. Caroline would like to address

thank you may just just very briefly, 12.1, the first bullet point

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:21:35

just for clarification. This should be seeking authority to delegate submission of the strategic outline case to the D F T, to the Executive Director for Transport in consultation with the Mayor. So I just make that point 4 4 for clarification for members when you consider the recommendations and also for the minutes. Thank you

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:21:57

Chair, thank you, and can I hand over to Councillor Hinchcliffe as Chair of the Transport Committee and then over to Simon thank you

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 1:22:03

Mayor. So this is really great serious paper here and the progress that has been made rapid progress over the last year. We wouldn't have this without having Meryl devolution, and it's great seen investments of going into it to deliver at pace, so I just really welcome this. Getting streetscape outline business case, it's gonna get the whole of West Yorkshire and transport is just so fundamental to improving our economic outcomes for all our residents. So great to see this paper here and I'll pass over to officers, thank you, Simon,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:22:30

thank you Ma.

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:22:33

so I think his members are aware we are in a unique position as West Yorkshire are at present in that we are the one city region in the country that has secured the scale of development funding already for the West Yorkshire mass transit system and we have continued to receive an statements of assurance at a national level and that future funds are available to progress our initiative subject to us presenting,

comply with business cases into government in a timely fashion, really that's very much.

the purpose of of this report today, so so we, we have previously agreed, as a Combined Authority, the vision for a long-term mass transit system, as part that identified very clearly our intention to pursue a first.

face this report and summarises a large body of work that Luke and colleagues have been working on two now bring forward a coherent case for that first phase. The stage that we are at at present is what's term strategic outline case and it's a critical stage for roads both in terms of reaffirming the support from the Department for Transport but also now being able to start to bring our proposals out into the public domain so that we can properly engage and consult.

with stakeholders and and the general public, so, having undertaken the process of review of options as set out in the report, we have concluded a phase 1 approach, which takes two parts, first of all, phase 1, A the Leeds or Bradford.

at Lines, we have identified that there is a a good case to be made for these two lines, the Leeds line operating between St James's University hospital White, Rose via a Leeds City Centre and Alan Road.

and for the Bradford line to operate from St James's University, hospitals are both lines capitalising on a shared alignment through the city centre.

through to Bradford Forster Square via Leeds City Centre and the plans a new railway station south of Bradford City Centre in addition, we continue to see the longer term case for the extension of the Leeds line through to Dewsbury and so what we are propose is a phase 1 B which has reduced relying a development project reflecting that Kirkley Council is now embarking on a process of review of the Kirkley Local Plan.

which is looking to conclude in in 2027, and we are requested the release of funds to date to support that programme so that it can run in a timely fashion and, alongside the development of the Kirk lies a local plan we set out in the report our current understanding of costs benefits and I am funding so a first phase network of this scale is likely to cost somewhere in the order of 2 billion pounds we are at a very early stage in terms of

an understanding costs, but if we set those costs, alongside the statements that that we have seen, we we are within the envelope that has previously been suggested for a value for money perspective at this very early stage we would advise, as a team who have now worked on a number of light rail schemes across across the country that we would like to be in the order of parity in terms of cost and benefits and that's where we find ourselves at present so we can advise the Combined Authority that at this stage we are in the right position.

in terms of a value for money statement with significantly more economic benefits to secure as we move towards the

identification of specific preferred alignment to start to work with the development community, there will be a requirement under national policy for a local funding contribution we believe that may be in the likely or likely region of 500 million pounds in total, which would equate to a borrowing requirement of somewhere in the order of

30 million pounds per annum over a likely a 30 year borrowing period, and we, we are now commissioning work to give advice into the Combined Authority over the coming months around our options are for for raising that, so we are we are seeking today are,

your approval for us to submit the strategic outline case into the formal Department for Transport assurance process, that is a process that will that road largely artificial level through the period between now and at the end of May.

and then

we would expect to see I mean ministerial sign-off that would then trigger for look and team work then towards the outline business case.

stage, we are also seeking approval for us to make preparations for a summer route options consultation, so at this stage we are not proposing through either of the lines that I've described, one specific route alignment, it's very important that we bring forward the options that we have been considering through.

those corridors are so that they can be the subject of a public consultation we haven't published maps showing those at this stage because that would inevitably lead into a former public engagement in advance of a formal consultation, and it is right within the

the arrangements that we have in place with the Department that they should go through their assurance process before

that consultation starts, and we would then look to run that consultation through the summer, provided the opportunity for stakeholders and communities to provide their views on the options before we then undertake further work and bring forward a proposed.

specific route alignments for then, a subsequent statutory consultation as at the year where, so thank you Chair, thank you so

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:30:07

much and it is pleasing to see that its three local authority regions that will be well there will benefit from mass transit. So our thoughts and questions, Councillor Lamb, thank you. Well I'm happy to be able to change tack on. This will be the wholeheartedly supportive

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:30:25

of of of where we've got to on this one, so we may have disagreements on some things, but actually I think one of the strengths of this Combined Authority is having cross-party representation on it and I think it. It's it it, so I'm sure it's irritating at times but but I couldn't possibly comment, Councillor Lamb

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:30:45

but I think it is a strength, and long may it continue on this issue to me this is the game changer for for the region, potentially in terms of public transport, and I think the points I wanted to make at this stage are to some absolutely support the recommendations in the paper but,

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:31:05

as we said in our private briefing, that is really important, that we do all we can to take the politics out of this and speak with one voice. There are some of us round the table who still bear the scars from previous failed attempts to deliver mass transit for Leeds in particular, and I think as difficult as it is at times, I think, strategically, we all share the ambition, some of the detail we may have differing views and it will be a challenge for all of us, but I think it is crucial that we work as one and when we're speaking to government, it's with one voice and there's nothing between us, so at the governance structures and things as we approach it, it's crucial that opposition groups and other parties are kept involved, informed that the views and I would love this to be going out to whether the first of I'm a realist as well. We have to deliver what's practical and sensible. The one thing I would ask at this stage is, I don't know the point. We really look at making sure, whether, through an integrated means or by a direct line, I think probably integrated as the approach we're really looking at getting the airport LinkedIn Leeds and Bradford is the,

the sensible place to start, but it's absolutely crucial, I think, for the economic growth of the city and the region that there's a much easier public transport related way of getting from wherever you are. If you start on a bus jump on, the tram finish on a train, that's fine. If it's integrated for getting the airport connectivity, I think it's absolutely crucial at the earliest stage. So there the points I wanted to make, but and I hope other colleagues will agree, this is one where we can absolutely work together on our other differences aside and deliver something transformative, not just for this region, but I think we should be talking to partners in your Carragher's Craven Selvey as well and making sure they're connected into into this in some way.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:32:56

thank you, Councillor Lamb, and now we are franchising the bus network, we will get exactly that integration that you so need and demand, so I'm I'm

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:33:09

well well, the the buses hopefully will go to where the mass transit end, so that's a good thing, any questions, yes, Councillor Poulsen and Councillor Golton, yes, thank you, Mayor, obviously the first

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 1:33:24

stage route, the Bradford Leeds 1 process public tram is being announced.

I hope going forward we're gonna be a bit like Manchester where then it can extend and extend over many, many years and and we're looking going forward of land use, you know we don't want people to buy a new house and then we have to purchase it and pull it down in the future we need to be looking at where development is going to be where there's going to be growth.

and housing and in industry going forward so that we can make sure we

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:33:56

have a future proof network, so thank you so we thank you, Councillor Paul, so she would take the questions altogether and then respond so Councillor Golton,

Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 1:34:04

following on from Councillor Lamb's point about, there has also been moved from the same hymn sheet, no matter what political party you are to get decent infrastructure for our area fully support the mass transit system, but following on from Councillor Lamb's allusion to change in administration, sometimes having,

negative impacts on plans made with a previous administration I remember going to see the

the coalition and all of a sudden, having a Lib Dem Minister that told us he didn't like trams, he liked buses, so our our plans have to be readjusted and ultimately didn't reach completion, it would be good to have an assurance from Mayor Braben.

the discussions have already taken place with those people with the hands on the machinery, potentially in a few months' time, to ensure that there won't be such an about face in terms of our model ambitions in mass transit, and then, secondly, it was more of a an issue around where we've chosen to put our initial in investment, because most of that investment seems to.

duplicate infrastructure, which is already there or has recently been invested in. So, for instance, we've just got a brand new train station that was supposed to make a big difference at White Rose, and now that's going to be ultimately the destination for our first Leeds line and the same going to Bradford. It seems to be in parallel on our map with good local rail lines and and national rail lines, and it will be, it would be good to understand the rationale because some people, this will be saying there's more investment going to the same places you know and they're having to wait for their term, so having a good rationale for that would be helpful. I think thank you, I'm

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:36:03

assuming that Councillor Hinchcliffe is responding to that point and then I'll come to yourself Cathy

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 1:36:11

yeah, I think it's important to note, really, this is a massive opportunity with all the transport stuff we're discussing today we've been under-invested in for decades in transport and this what we are discussing today is it's wonderful that we're here to be able to do this because actually at West Yorkshire mass transit does something difference in buses does something different to heavy rail? We use heavy rail in this region as mass transit because we have nothing else so but heavy rail is meant to get and strengthen city to city

it is what it doesn't do, what mass transit will do is stop between time, so we actually stopped in those places which are not of any transport links at the moment to be able to connect them to the major citizen towns either side, so I I think, because we're not used to having proper transport in this region, we don't understand the difference between all of them, but they all do different things and they all need to be integrated, and then that really lifts our economy so that there's a fantastic opportunity here, but I think, as you see, it, developed Councillor Dalton, you know, you'll see that the additional benefits you get from mass transit, that you don't get with heavy rail and you don't get with bus and just to connect with correct you. The links between Leeds and Bradford and on the rail are not good at all.

and although that's why government have committed to electrifying that line for example 12 minutes, and that more work needs to progress at pace, because I, I can assure you, as somebody else who travels between Leeds and for frequently, that service is not good enough at

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:35

all, thank you thank you and Simon if you could answer those points and then I'd come to.

Councillor Scott and Councillor Lewis, thank you, certainly so are

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:42

firstly good with regard to the airport we do have within the West Yorkshire Transport Fund capital programme.

the

Leeds Bradford Airport Station scheme that is coming towards a conclusion in terms of preparation of a full business case, I'm looking forward to bringing that forward to the Combined Authority combining

that provision on the local rail line, then with interchange here in the centre, will provide huge opportunities for us to capitalise on the asset that that is the airport, and I think it's pointless this is very well made.

in terms of a future expansion plans, Councillor Poulsen, it makes it a very good point, two very good points, firstly.

once we, once we have got to the point of having established the core hub of a system and there are greater capital costs associated with that first part of the system, then I'll die very subsequently the case because there are depots and power sources and first generation fleet and such considerations that that play into the first lines. As we've set out in the vision, we absolutely want to be able to provide the conditions for the system to continue to expanded in many ways. The model that we're establishing with Kirk lies through the review of the local plan. That is the way for us to be able to to to to address this so that we can start to set out, through future iterations of local plans where we would go with with mass transit and and address those issues that the that you raise around around development or in terms of the the case for the two alignment. I think it's incredibly important

to consider the whole corridor benefits that are associated with like rail schemes, and so the the the point is is well made that that we want to be able we wanted to be able to connect White Rose with a range of destinations through our our rail system or and it's great that the station work there is is coming towards a conclusion said that that that will become a reality.

this intervention is is about the entire continued growth and regeneration of the city of Leeds to the south, it it's about where a development might go in the future in support of a reinvigorated Elland Road, it's about all of the development that we've already seen and will continue to see.

all of the Southbank, and I think if we look at corridors,

elsewhere were light rail schemes have fundamentally changed the development potential, add through whole corridors, that's where the economic benefit lies, rather than simply at the point to point and in many ways the the the same case applies then to to the Bradford line what we know through Network North and continued close working that we have.

with colleagues within the Department of Transport is that at a national level, a government wants to be able to promote the Bradford, to Leeds rail line as a fast city to city connection, which is Councillor Hinchcliffe quite rightly points out. It is not at the moment, so actually a large amount of the support that we've seen from from from central government for the Bradford line is predicated, others, bringing forward a tram system that then serves all of the

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:41:33

communities in between the two cities, well, which of course again the rail line struggles to do at present or and also supports the fundamental regeneration that the investment in that new station in Bradford will bring about in Bradford. So the gateway and then finally to address that long-standing issue that we've had in Bradford of two rail turbine I that are not well connected to each other, so there are a series of benefits through these corridors, and it's as I think Councillor Golton makes a really important point that as we move forwards, consultation is gonna be incredibly important that we set that out. This isn't just about point to point, this is about a whole corridor approach to travel and development. Thank you so much

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:42:18

Councillor Scott, Councillor Lewis and then Monday continence just a

Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council) - 1:42:22

general comment. Thank you, Anne for the excellent rapport, and it's good news as the whole for West Yorkshire and Kirklees are embarking on the a review of their local plan. So for us to be counted into phase B, that's really exceptional achievement here, particularly to take into consideration what we're trying to achieve, and the people in Dewsbury will be really happy

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:42:50

thank you and Councillor Allen, thank you. I won't break the

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:42:55

cross-party consensus, Councillor Golton, by talking by expanding on your point about political parties that support the menopause transport schemes, I think it is really important we work if we work together on this, I think I think it's worth reflecting now in terms of looking at the real case around what we're doing with mass transit, to look at some of the much broader case around different areas of public policy. We're building for this, so it's a key significant transport scheme, with people talked about, but within a and I look at it through a elite lens for a short moment. You know we agreed the regeneration partnership with the deadlock around how we bring forward new housing development. Key to that is mass transit. It's really important transport, but it also affects other areas of public policy where we want to see things delivering. Of course, you know the route potentially could link together some really key institutions in Leeds like the two hospitals Elland Road one of the most important institutions.

in the city bar, none one other and as we've talked about linking, unlike previous schemes, Lincoln together on the first phase is three of the five districts in West Yorkshire, I don't think it is a really strong case for putting forward here and I think we all welcome the support here.

thank you, and just to reassure Councillor Golton as well that

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:44:17

discussions have been had regularly at the heart of, and the potentially a new government, so we hopefully have support across the

Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:44:29

benches Mandy, thank you, it's great nice to see this and mass transit is something that we so desperately need.

with the the two things that have been on the agenda so far, there is an opportunity here to increase skills in the region and keep those skills in the region so around transport, planning around building and around all the other things around that can we make sure that when we're doing this work we try and take advantage of keeping as much money in the region and increasingly as many skills in the region as we can to benefit from this in the in the holistic approach to great

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:45:02

point if I may just for because of time bringing Councillor Daycare, Sylvia,

Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council) - 1:45:09

some the

the importance of the hospitals in Leeds because, of course, they are important for everybody across West Yorkshire and so although Calderdale isn't going to benefit directly from mass transit anytime soon, improvements in public transport in Leeds, and particularly the connectivity to the hospitals, is absolutely crucial for all of us.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:45:33

Simon on those three points, thank you that thank you for the straps

Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council) - 1:45:37

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:45:40

open to the support from Members, I think the one substantive issue for me to address as these the issue around skills America, a couple of important initiatives there so we are looking at and any engagement with the market at the moment on our

core or supply partners through to preparation of a full business case, and we are making social value and, in particular, the the development of a of a West Yorkshire skills base, critical consideration with an that engagement with the market, secondly, we've had some fantastic engagement,

recently with a number of our our universities and we do, we do benefit from some globally valuable.

centres of excellence in terms of transport planning within our universities, not just or at Leeds, but but but it's also at Huddersfield some great approaches from those sectors. Recently we're looking forward to working closer with them to see how their work can come closer of benefit from mass transit. Thank you, and certainly

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:46:54

that point about the hospital is really valid and a vital for the whole of our region. Thank you OK, do so, no more questions

I think it's been important just to step through the recommendations if that's OK, so let's note are we happy to note the the strategic outline business case work and delegate submission of the this to the d f t to the Mayor and Executive Director of Transport for submission to the D F T happy to note thank you just for affected so so sorry that the delegation is the Simon Lucas in consultation itself thank

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:47:32

you can I just ask, obviously time is pressing depending on the election, how does that work?

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:47:36

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:47:40

so the the the process is inclusive going to before it made the second

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:47:45

0. Yes, I'm absolutely so we, we will be submit the business case this

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:47:49

month it it's an official, sir submission or and therefore is business as usual and are not impacted on by the local government election

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:48:02

process. Thank you. We don't want any delay. Are we happy to approve the continued development of phase 1 A of the mass transit programme and to commence work on the development of the outline business case and the Transport and Works Act order application?

we are. Thank you and are we happy to approve the commencing wider stakeholder engagement, March 2024 and public consultation on Phase 1, A in the summer 2024 happy to approve thank you and why are we happy to approve the allocation of up to a million pounds of funds from the mass transit budget? Excuse me to support the Dewsbury lined development project in parallel with the development of the future of Coakley's Local Plan. Are we happy to approve a hearty approval from Councillor Scott? There are quite right to so

if colleagues will indulge me, but in order to help timings for Councillor Hinchcliffe, we're going to jump to Item 13 to the transport items, then we will take a short break,

and we have biscuits, so nobody needs faint to faint

13 Project Approvals

so please do bear that in mind, make sure you get a drink and it has been a long meeting so far, so over to item 13, let's move to that item just bear with me, so item is 13 this project approvals we are going to go firstly to the today the da Item 13 D,

which as you flick through your own paperwork.

13 d) 13d Project Approvals - Investment Priority 5 - Delivering Sustainable, Integrated, Inclusive and Affordable Transport

you might get there sooner than me, and this is project approvals investment priority, 5, delivering sustainable, integrated, inclusive and affordable transport, this focuses on transport with investments in bus priority schemes, rail schemes and active travel. Now can I remind members scheme 10 contains an exempt appendix if members wish to discuss the exempt appendix we might have to suspend the live stream, can I ask Members, if they want to discuss the Appendix 10 scheme 10 Appendix exempt appendix?

no, thank you, so can I hand over to, firstly, I think, to Simon Warburton to talk us through the Bradford Interchange, just this is a good moment for that update on Bradford Interchange. If you wouldn't

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:50:34

mind, Simon, that we thank you most so in advance of colleagues who John drama to the table taking members through the the various investment proposals, I just wanted to provide a short update to members on the current position with regard to Bradford Interchange. Members will be aware that on the 4th of January, regrettably

we had to cease bus operations through Bradford it's change.

due to a number of

concerns that had arisen from a concrete falls into the basement of the facility and recognising our health and safety duties first and foremost.

I would be very grateful for the support from members of both the Combined Authority and the Council in terms of that very difficult decision, huge support from both council officers, bus operator staff and also our own teams here in the Combined Authority in the subsequent days to put in place arrangements around the Jacobs Well area to continue to provide an operating facility. We recognise that that is very much or a temporary facility, or through that period we have instigated work to fully survey. The state of the structure are provided, shows that that is by no means a small undertaking. It's a

it's a significant and quite unusual structure that we that we have in place, and members will recognise those incredibly important for us to be able to assure ourselves that it's appropriate to run what are 12 tub vehicles over that facility, work had already been underway at Providence, changes a Combined Authority who had identified

some of the challenges associated with the structure in Bradford and you had put together funds to to support or an improvement, I think, regrettably, in the undertaking of those works during a period of

increased amounts of heavy rainfall as we're seeing not only on our own facilities but as we've recently said along, are our railway lines or as as well, some of those issues have accelerated faster, that this was the reason why we needed to act in the coming weeks the survey work should bring us to an initial conclusion around the scale of work that would be needed.

in order to reinstate the facility at that stage, I will be able to give members.

a full picture

with with regard to t to where we go next, however, we do recognise that it is an exceptional year that lies ahead for us

in Bradford city centre there are huge amounts of works currently underway in the city centre, all intended to ensure that we can show Bradford and its very best lights as part of a 2025 city of culture, we, as a Combined Authority, are a committed partner with one or the city of culture and so we've also instigated a work in partnership with Council officers to consider alternative locations should improve.

that the work that is required and means that we will struggled to have the facility open for perhaps the 2025, again, I'll be able to advise members far more clearly as to the arrangements that would be put in place and should that come to pass over the coming weeks in the in the meantime, we have a weekly monitoring process in place with the council and operators to look at the performance week on week, we have been introducing additional passenger waiting facilities and also driver and staff rest.

arrangements are to best support the operation that we have are in place, and I can only continue to thank both elected members and travellers for battery models through what has been a very difficult

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:55:40

period, thank you, and thank you to colleagues on the front line who are dealing on a daily basis with some of the difficulties Councillor Hinchcliffe,

thanks man. Thank you, Simon, for that updates and obviously it has

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 1:55:51

been a huge inconvenience and continues to be for the travelling public in Bradford district and particularly always wet weather as well. There's no bus station and to shelter in is it's not an ideal situation at all? Obviously you, you'd gave some updates to Bradford councillors a few weeks ago and I was asked on on Tuesday at Full Council to make sure that those answers were circulated as quickly as possible and in fact one of those was about staff and how they are how they're accommodated actually,

to make sure that there you know the welfare is well looked after whilst this situation continues, I think it would be also useful if the Combined Authority could do a bit of customer feedback from the people who are awaiting round the city centre for buses how the arrangements are working for them and you know what is it like when you obviously approach the

the gritters at Bradford Interchange and I have is that work so just so that we can put in any improvements, so can we need to make it as as good as possible for people during this time and of course look forward to seeing what the survey results are and talking to you about the next steps as quickly as possible. Obviously, time is of the essence and we're all very eager to know the outcome. Thank you. Thank

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:57:04

you. Catapults yeah, just quickly on the back of I'd like to thank

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 1:57:09

Simon, he attended a virtual meeting with Councillors in Bradford to give us an update. So what sounds like we're getting to the stage there might be quite a an update to come, overshot long-term option, so could I ask that maybe that or a meeting set-up again when we get to that stage to give us an up-to-date position? Thank you, and

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:57:25

hopefully the people of Bradford will know that we're doing our very best to make sure that there is as much information as possible, so people are inconvenienced with this issue, but safety of the public has to be a priority, so of course is disruptive, but hopefully we can put mitigations in place. Thank you, Sam, so let's move on to the substantive nature of this item. The project approvals

is the a Transport Committee delegation fo, for Item 13 de the King's Road sustainable transport corridor 13 de 2 bus highway hotspot improvements?

Item 3 Huddersfield Rilke's Station connections TCF, in Dewsbury, Batley and Chidswell, sustainable travel corridor, Harrogate Railway Station Gateway, Skipton Railway Station Gateway, Selby Station Gateway in TCF, Berkeley's speed limits, review and the corridor improvement scheme. The zebra buses item 10 active travel fund capability fund is the following item. Are there any comments on any of these schemes people would like to raise or questions

no, thank you, that's it's very straightforward Ben.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:58:46

thank you, thank you just one coming from me, which is.

members will know the three of those schemes relate to station

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:58:53

projects outside of the West Yorkshire boundary that they would develop as part of the transforming cities fund projects.

some years back and we, with the creation of the New York and North Yorkshire Combined Authority, we'd like to explore a conversation with them about transferring those schemes to two that come out Authority in due course, I think.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:59:15

thank you and I couldn't possibly comment and who I would like to be the mayor of the North, Yorkshire, gorilla apologies may have just

Caroline Allen, Deputy Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:59:21

spotted there's just one point of that. We just need to slightly revise which that para 4.6 5, which is a delegation in relation to the one of these schemes. We, the point is the delegation is to the director of transport policy and delivery, which is, of course, a vacancy at the moment. So if Members are satisfied, can we correct that to be a delegation to the Executive Director of the transport that's at paragraph 4.6 5 little Roman numeral 6, thank you. We're

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:59:51

happy to amend that. Thank you brilliant, so let's move on to approvals for the change request. The delivery of these schemes to commence and full approval of combined authorities, funding contributions of 0. Obviously, the detailed recommended recommendations are set out in the report were all happy to approve, yes, thank you, so let's take a very, very short break at this point, please do avail yourself of tea and coffee and we will take a break.

for five minutes only, thank you very much.

7 Better Homes Hub

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:00:25

thank you and welcome back to the Combined Authority meeting, and we are continuing our progress through the agenda item 7, better homes hub, this is an update on the programme focusing on the development of a retrofit one-stop shop we know homes are responsible for about 30% of carbon dioxide each year in West Yorkshire.

of sadly our housing stock is older and leakier than the national average, and fuel poverty is also, sadly, more widespread in our region. For all of these reasons, retrofitting homes is a key priority for me and the C. A. Our vision is everyone in West Yorkshire can live in a warm, comfortable and carbon low carbon home. We're making progress to improve sustainability of our housing stock and can I thank the members of the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership for working with us on this. But 80% of our housing stock in the region is owned.

or privately rented, and it's a challenge to retrofit these homes because it's very different. The incentives for homeowners and landlords is very different. It's a big commitment, with many choices and even if you choose to make improvements, you may not know where to go for trusted information. Advice may not know which contractors to trust, to complete quality work and may not know how to finance the project. That's why I'm very excited. We're looking to establish a one-stop shop, a single front door, to help people navigate these decisions and accelerate the number of retrofit homes in the region. The team will be developing the business case. Looking at all the options with a plan for this brought back to the CA in the autumn of this year, so may I pass over to Liz Hunter, are directing a director of policing, environment and place. Liz. Thank you very much, Mayor, so, as you say, we need to do an awful lot of different things across

Liz Hunter - 2:02:32

our housing sector to be able to achieve the aims you've set out the paper sets out the things that we're already doing so. We are already delivering with the with the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership

to deliver a retrofit within their homes and both through government money we and also going further with our own money, particularly on solar PV and battery this year we're looking to launch a low interest loan to homeowners and we're also I am creating a collective buying scheme again to try and reduce costs for homeowners but as you rightly say, we need to do more and this page sets out and the idea of a one-stop-shop in the paper you'll see that we've set out different models, we have the energy saving Trust as a client-side adviser to us which is really helpful to understand what's happening internationally, as well as what's happening in places like Scotland who are already developing some of these approaches for the public

so what we're looking for to today is to is to update you where we are and the work that's going to happen and seek your endorsement that we continue, particularly with the business case on the One-Stop-Shop paragraph 2 12 sets out the different models that that could look like and for different parts of the population they'll probably want different to take different paths and journeys with us on a one-stop-shop journey, but we would like to have your endorsement that we look at the different options, including an all inclusive model which you've you've looked at some of the background, information that does go a step further from beyond, just providing advice and facilitating

actually into enabling us to be responsible and for actually retrofit into people's home if they so wish and want to see that as part of the approach, so I'm happy to take questions back, thank you any questions on this item, Councillor Poulsen.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:04:16

yeah, I obviously welcome welcome the the report and what will come as the next staff. Do you go through the options? One of the things that really concerns me is a lot of our most vulnerable people live in some of our older housing, and lots of them do get these calls or people calling round offering. You know, I'll do you a free energy assessment of your property, only you can apply for this grant and that grant and show some of them are very genuine, but they're not all genuine and I think people are quite confused now over in the market when they hear different companies doing different things in different schemes, but

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 2:04:51

what is it and what isn't genuine? So I wonder if that consultant would be fed into the the thought process going forward to make it a lot clearer for people

Key

thank you Les, definitely that's the that's the aim is to become a

Liz Hunter - 2:05:06

trusted place for that advice and also to work with suppliers so that we too can can make sure that the people who are 3 was through a one-stop going into people's homes, Ochil states, it's a really important area and we're certainly through some of this work also trying to understand some of those different barriers for different groups as well.

so yeah really take it on board, and thank you for that absolutely about trust, Cathy Scott, Councillor Scouts, thank you. It's just a

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:05:31

general comment. This is a great opportunity to protect our most

Cllr Cathy Scott (Kirklees Council) - 2:05:35

vulnerable and having one point, a one-stop shop for a place of trusted information is something I would a huge achievement because we see things that do happen from day to day, not regard not only in households but other things for vulnerable people, but this is really good.

8 West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040

thank you. So much are we, it seems, questions we've come, we've had

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:05:57

in the questions that people have had, so are we happy to note the report's contents and endorse the development of a business case for the One Stop Shop we are, thank you so much. This is good news for our region and moving on to something in the same wheelhouse. I wish Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040. We know that West Yorkshire is home to 2.3 5 million people, all of whom are entitled to that safe, secure and affordable place to stay call home. Since the start of my term, we'd been working hard with partners to deliver better quality and affordable homes, and I'm pleased to say last year alone we collectively delivered over 3,500 affordable homes, the highest number of completions in West Yorkshire since 2010 and the economic crash representing 25% of all new homes in the region. We're going to build many more using our brownfield housing fund, which includes over 800 affordable homes in contract, to be built so far, with more in the pipeline. So I'm delighted last year to sign strategic place partnership with homes, England to see 40,000 new homes developed in West Yorkshire over the next decade and pleased to see work happening already to develop plans across the region to turn these homes into a reality. But we have to do more, which is why we've developed the West Yorkshire housing strategy, and this is for approval, is a comprehensive document developed with Council partners and reflects our commitment shaping the future of housing in our region, aligning with our wider goals of inclusive growth, sustainability and community wellbeing. And can I thank the place Regeneration and Housing Committee who have steered this work, ready for approval today and back over to you, Liz,

9 Rail Strategy

thank you, Mayor, you set out the vision for what we've tried to achieve through this document and, as you say, we've worked really

Liz Hunter - 2:07:47

closely in partnership with West Yorkshire Housing Partnership, the home with homes, England with our District partners, you've all fed in and we did a public consultation as well. Part of the reason for having a housing strategy. We are not trying to to duplicate what happens at a local authority level where you will have statutory plans yourselves and but we're really trying to add value with this document and looking at the kind of regional opportunities and challenges and being able to create the case for change. The case for greater funding for some of the challenges that this document rightly points out and there are challenges. I don't think we shy away from those but greater funding for the flexibility that we've called for from government in the past and obviously the link to LA to level for devolution. We think, having this strategy gives us that base to be able to continue those conf conversations with confidence, because it gives us that regional evidence base about the challenges and opportunities, but also really links into those local priorities that we've talked extensively to your teams about and gives it hopefully that spatial elements about where we are wanting to work on the street, strategically important places in each of the areas and oppose effort. Question spokesman, thank you any questions on the housing strategy.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:08:57

No, thank you so much. Are we happy to approve the West Yorkshire Housing Strategy 2040 with any final amendments delegated to the Chief Executive in consultation with myself as Mayor? We are, thank you so much so, moving on to the rail strategy, which is an update on the outcome of the public consultation regarding our rail strategy, I've discussed here on a number of occasions over the last three years my disappointment in the decisions this government has made on rail investment. I do not need to remind any colleagues in this room the consequence of the decisions of the integrated rail plan, which cancelled plans for Northern powerhouse Rail in full. And the eastern leg of HS2 all before the decision to cancel HS2 to the north completely last autumn. However, there are some positives. Investment in transparent Andrew upgrade is welcome, unnecessary. Obviously there's an inconvenience for me and my daily commute, but those that it will definitely be better when this is completed and the new station in Bradford with a link to this field really welcome by all of us, and I know that Councillor Hinchcliffe has got to go and meet the Minister to discuss this in more detail in Bradford. But these commitments are not enough to deliver the ambitions we have for our region and will not support the needs of our economy or our commitment to decarbonisation and Councillor Lewis and myself recently wrote to the prime minister set out the importance of the T shaped station in Leeds and keeping the safeguarding around Leeds station, the expansion of which is vital not only to leave our shores, Cheshire but the whole of the North. This strategy forms part of our plan for a fully integrated transport system that's fit for the 21st century. It will help ensure government share our ambitions for our region and fully understand what investment West Yorkshire needs if we are to succeed. So if I may pass over to Councillor Hinchcliffe and then over to Simon, thank you, yes, I mean there's lots in here to recommend it.

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 2:10:56

Obviously a lot of us will recognise our priorities in this strategy, of course, from myself. Obviously, the new stations central Bradford which really welcome the announcement about connecting to Huddersfield, so that that is good news. I think it's also important for us just to emphasise, as you said ma, about the Leeds T-shirt station. I believe it says we are crucial decision-making time for government, really unless Leeds station it has increased capacity. All the improvements we are talking about for our own districts won't have the benefit that we need them to have, so it is integral to everything that we're trying to do here, so just a plea, really that's really important for us Canal me, if I may say I will come to Councillor Lewis beforehand, just to reiterate,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:11:43

R Q, our commitment to Leeds station and our region, but also the letter that was sent to the government to ensure that they're aware of how important that T-shape station is

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:11:58

thank you just to add on the points around the safeguarded Land.

Leeds station is full, the site is very constrained with existing and future development of the safeguarded land is the only realistic option for large scale changes to lead station we know passenger numbers are much higher than they were 20 years ago.

with a projected demand going even higher, we need to have a proper plan about how how the busy station in the north of England, in the biggest city with only one rail station is to have a proper plan for enhanced rail in the future and on the safeguarded land is so important on that otherwise the d f t could be making this decision which,

which constraints rail services, not just for Leeds, of course, actually wants to get out of Leeds city centre Leeds, it is not particularly well served by heavy rail, but also for the whole north of England and the country, leat, stasis biggest source of delays for services right across the North and for services as far north as Edinburgh as far south as Bristol so it is so important to get Leeds station right.

without this aid, the safeguarded land is lost in eat shops on so many opportunities and there will be so many trade-offs between existing services, new services, onward travel, bus connectivity, pick-up drop off and things like that. I'll leave it there now, nowhere under I will try to run this meeting like good public transport time for ease, or I can't underestimate how important that is not to jump to decisions around Leeds station. Thank you so much, Simon, do you want to just talk us through that and I find me then County Councillor

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:13:34

Daycare, regarding Coleston son. Thank you ma am I, I think, boo

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:13:40

between yourself, Councillor interest and Councillor Lewis, you. You've already set out that much of the critical content of the Rail Strategy, a document of and we're really pleased to be able to bring forward this final draft for VE for approval

the the the one, with the relevant that I would stress, or alongside the absolutely critical points that have been raised.

in terms of the Bradford hub and the Leeds hub is, the rail strategy seeks to set out just just how critically important our local rail lines are across West Yorkshire Councillor Hinchcliffe made the point earlier that the rail system at the moment is the closest that we have to a mass transit system.

him in West Yorkshire and the level of growth of travel into Leeds station in particular is is is a real testament to just how important it is to the economy, so very pleased that we can bring this forward and then have a very, very clear statement of priorities that we can impress.

on both Network Rail and they have to

thank you so much, Councillor Daykin, thank you me and yes.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:14:57

we're really pleased to see that.

Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council) - 2:15:00

the programme includes electrification of the Calder Valley line and I will not be let off the train in Halifax by my officers if I didn't say that they consider the case for electric pay, the business case for that to be stronger than that for the Harrogate line.

also, just to say that again, the improvements to Leeds and Bradford are absolutely essential to Calderdale.

because it just impacts on us all, the time as we are trying to travel about, and finally, I note that this work is currently developing a freight strategy, freight is very important on the Calder Valley line again, and that's something we really have to get to grips with in the decarbonisation and that element of freight.

thank you so much any further comments.

10 Local Transport Plan

happy to approve the rail strategy executive summary and the full

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:15:46

document as the rail policy for West Yorkshire noted the outcome of the public consultation happy to approve. Thank you so much. Moving on to Item 10 Local Transport Plan, loads of transport papers on the agenda, MA buses, mass transit and rail. This plan brings it altogether, outlining the public engagement we will need to do on the new West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan. The previous plan was felt like a different era 2017. A lot happened since then has changed the way people and businesses use transport, so will need to update our plan not just to make it relevant to the present day, but to respond to the challenges we see coming down the line over the coming 15 years. So may I hand over to Councillor Hinchcliffe and then over to Simon. Thank you. Yes, this is a really essential piece of work for everything we've been talking about and going forward it's worth

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 2:16:38

noting as well that all the districts are also fitting into this with their own plans. It's important that all work together as one whole, as I'll hand over to Simon

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) - 2:16:47

I thank you again, I, I think, very little.

Simon Warburton, Executive Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:16:53

more to add. What we're looking to focus on, in particular, is to make sure the, as we present a strategy for a future transport network in West Yorkshire, that we set it out in a very spatial form at the, but and by that what I mean is that everybody can understand what does this mean for the the different parts of West Yorkshire, and does this come together well as a as a coherent network, and that's what we're proposing to engage on this summer? Thank you. So are we happy, as a

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:17:31

committee to approve sorry, Councillor Lamb, sorry, no, it's fine and

it's just a just one point on this, which just follows on from what Simon just said, it probably won't surprise you, not everybody feels included in the Transport Plan for West Yorkshire.

actually, I am grateful for the work we're doing in my area to try and bring some improvements forward, but it is missing things off the map was wasn't helpful, but equally I think it's crucial that everybody in West Yorkshire knows this transport plan is for them and there is a clear plan for every part and picking up on the cross boundary issues that we talked about earlier than its addressing those and that the world doesn't start and end at the West Yorkshire boundary and we need to make sure we got a good continuation and I'm I'm sure you'll have added another comments that mean that how we can deal with that much better now, but it's just really important that all communities are feeling the benefit and though this is for them

and Councillor Lamb, I absolutely see the opportunity, particularly having a new new Mayoral Combined Authority in North Yorkshire. We already have great relationships in South Yorkshire. I'm hoping that the Mayor's actually in Yorkshire can work very closely together that it's not just as you say one little silo that actually that connectivity is across the whole of Yorkshire so noted thank you so much. Are we happy to approve the 8 week public engagement to commence in June?

on the proposed vision, objectives and approach of the West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan and that the finalisation of the engagement documents delegated to the Executive Director of Transport post input from the Transport Committee in May, we are happy to approve the

11 Economic Strategy

thank you all so much team, thank you. So I will move on to Item 11 economic strategy. This is the economic strategy for our region, providing an update on the development, the team of collated and assessed a wide range of evidence, working with Council partners to interpret it, and we've engaged stakeholders across the region to assess the evidence and develop a set of actions. And earlier this week I welcomed a panel of independent external experts to provide feedback and challenge on our evidence base and we've had fantastic input and discussion with our wider committees and groups. But first, if I could hand over to Councillor James Lewis chair of the business committee and then over to Phoenix, Comey and po-faced, our director of inclusive economy, skills and culture, so Jane

Banks murder have a lot to say on this paper, but it really sort of sets out the progress that we have been making and the engagement that

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:20:01

has been going on when we had a great round table with the committee this week looking at some of the issues not coming with a paper with recommendations offset the paper's recommendations that are having a really good discussion around some of the issues we need to take forward, so it is a

a good piece of work look forward to the final strategy coming forward.

thank you Phoenix,

thank you, Lord Mayor.

as has already been considered,

Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:20:27

Work on the common strategy is under way and, as we know with these things, you always starts with the evidence, to make sure you have a good understanding of your strengths, where your weaknesses are or the challenges look like and and where the opportunities could come from so where we are right now in the process is we are at the end of the evidence gathering phase in the assessment of that evidence and, as the mayor said, we've assessed that if you've had a challenged and hopefully within the next day or two we will publish all that evidence that we've covered there's a fair bit of work still under way and as we become ready we will publish that to this until a bit of a lot more work to do on that front.

we will then move on from here to begin to work through the conclusions we've drawn, what those mean in terms of our priorities and our actions, and how we will then work together to to deliver those, and, as part of that, we need to make sure we have an agreement on what a key outcomes are and what the indicators we will use to to adhere to should be able to identify or confirm whether we'd be successful or not.

the paper sets out really in three broad air headline areas where the challenges are coming from in terms of opportunities, access to opportunities.

which usually is around skills, its attainment and its utilisation.

around poverty deprivation, health inequalities and also put activity and the challenges around that, but the evidence 1, when Members have looked at that hopefully will show also that West Yorkshire has a lot of strengths, a lot of opportunities, and that's where we look into focus now to be able to write a strategy that makes good up front ticks takes advantage of that

so for the sake of time, I will leave it there and happy to take any questions, thank you, Felix Annan was very excited to see the

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:22:28

clustering the Venn diagram, that engineers are at the heart of that diagram and whether that's engineering in digital or whether that's manufacturing it's a really important as a focus for us, so any thoughts on the economic strategy Councillor Golton thanks that there are

Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 2:22:51

it's a very possible information, rich document, and I think it's been very good at analyzing what the challenges are for business in in West Yorkshire, and that was one of the areas that I just wanted to raises an issue because it felt like the economic strategy was really,

a business support strategy and they appreciate the private sector. Ism that delivers the high number of jobs in the general economy. But one of the things that is recognises that economists further north you get tend to have a much higher level of public sector employment as well, which which have a really big impact on all our local economies and all the different communities that we're living, and one of the things that I wanted to see addressed. Part potentially is, for instance, the care sector, because that's obviously going to be a growth industry in the future. It's not always going to be delivered by big business and, in fact, when it is delivered by big business, it can be a very high cost for local authorities and therefore local taxpayers, and it would be nice to see where that sector fits in to the clusters that are mentioned here because I I don't see it recognised in any of them. Whenever we talk about health, it tends to be about health tech and the jobs that are available in that, but not in terms of the jobs which are delivered within our communities themselves. So I'd just like to see that developed as the economic strategy goes forward, so very good pointer Phoenix

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:24:21

will take that away, thank you so much, Councillor Golton, good stuff, any further comments on the economic strategy, Councillor Decker,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:24:27

thank you very quickly, the report does touch on the importance of infrastructure and connectivity and just decide that.

Cllr Silvia Dacre (Calderdale Council) - 2:24:35

just remind everyone, particularly for Calderdale and I think to some extent catalyze digital connectivity and some of the rural areas is still a really big issue and without the infrastructure it's hard to take advantage of of the plans that the and the strategy so just want to bear that in mind please thank you maybe drill down into where those cold spots are and whether that's impacting on their

12 Working towards a Child First Approach in the Combined Authority

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:24:57

economy. Et cetera, I'm sure that's covered already, it is Costa's. Thank you so much happy to note the progress or updated the development of a new economic strategy for West Yorkshire. We are. Thank you so much, so please, yes, Councillor Hinchcliffe, if sorry, if I just give my apologies, that I have to leave the meeting earlier,

Cllr Matthew Morley Wakefield Council - 2:25:19

but I just wanted to go without saying. Thank you very much. The Combined Authority for the with the significant investment you're planning to make today, in the city of culture for perhaps 2025 or, as you know, your views were there. Yesterday, yourself, Arts Council, visited Bradford and were very impressed by all the work that is happening there, so it's really wonderful to see that, and thank you very much really for the supporter and obviously, investment, that the Combined Authority discussing today, so I just want to give my support for that, but unfortunately what we're here for the actual item. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor Nash Cliff, it's a privilege to be the

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:25:51

Mayor leading up to the Bradford City of culture. So thank you for that. So let's move on to Item 12, working towards a child first approach in the Combined Authority. I'm really excited by this paper seeks endorsement for adopting a child first approach within the CA and initiating the development of a framework and a charter, and these initiatives will be co produced with children in West Yorkshire to ensure their voices shape our future endeavours and it's aligned to the vision of a brighter West Yorkshire outlined in the West. Yorkshire Plan emphasises collaboration with children to achieve shared goals. They are our future and we need to listen to them. Examples of best practice from various councils underscores the importance of integrating children's voices across different sectors. Can I hand over to Lisa to just talk us through the details of the report and thank you very much, Mary's, as you rightly say, this is about how we can bring children very much to the forefront of our

Liz Hunter - 2:26:48

considerations when we're thinking and developing our policies PR projects. Interventions. Et cetera, we completely recognise the some really great work happening at district level, and we also have some examples within the combined authority that we put into the report already, but as always, we can we can do more, and so we're looking basically as you, as you've already said, to develop a framework and a charter with children

to ask them how they want to be engaged, how they want to work with us, and we've set out a few things and towards the end of the paper about the things that we think we ought to be doing, but what test those with children so we're looking today for your endorsement trustee to carry on with this piece of work and to develop the charter and the framework.

thank you very much, Liz, and certainly the the young people and

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:27:36

children that attended Convention of the North blew everybody away, that they were so articulate, and it's a great challenge to leaders, are we happy to approve a child first approach and we have a couple of questions thank you, Councillor Lamb yeah, thank you yeah I've really pleased to see this report the child friendly Julian Leeds has been

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 2:27:56

ongoing for since 2010 which myself, Councillor Golton and Councillor Lewis have all been involved with in different ways.

it, as you said, the decisions we make will disproportionately affect children and young people across the region, and it's important that their voice is captured. The the point I want to add, I was the chair of children homeless groups in Leeds for five years and we did a piece of work about child friendly about five years ago and be well worth having a look at the conclusion of the big thing what we'd made good progress in Leeds. The big missing bit was making this an issue for everybody, which I feel this is what this is trying to do so

it's a challenge of mindset for people in Simon's team to really think about how tree, how to capture children's voices, that the the biggest. I must give him around planning and development where it's seen as a thing for grown-ups when we have our Planning Inspectorate. It's notable to me. There are children at the table and young people giving their voices. Despite the fact we're planning the homes up to 2040 and beyond, there will be for them, so it really is important that we do this, but there is good learning around and many of us keen to help with this, because that's it makes our policymaking more powerful and having done lots of sessions where, as part of our scrutiny and quoted some big sessions with young people, and they ask all the right questions and they're not sure to ask them and it helps to make better policy by involving them at every stage in the process. So the key is it isn't just a token thing that we do that absolutely we genuinely embed the voice of children and young people into every decision that we make. Thank you, Councillor Lamb, we'll definitely do that and certainly the were. The voices of young women in our research

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:29:38

for Safer Parks has amended the design of parks, hopefully across the country they the needs of young women whereby an afterthought so, we absolutely need them round the table right at the beginning I had Councillor Sylvia Decker know somebody from this side, I know it's fine at Monday,

Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 2:30:03

I really like this report, I think it's a great opportunity to put children at the heart of everything. I would like to think that.

13 a) 13a Investment Zone Programme Approvals - Investment Priority 3 - Creating Great Places and Accelerated Infrastructure

we start to use reading age as a metric of how well we are improving things for children. I don't know that we use that. Currently we may well do, but at the other county or other regions do, and I think it's a really good measure to see what our outcomes are starting to change. Some great suggestion will take that away, and thank you for your

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:30:29

contributions. Are we happy to approve the child first approach through further engagement with children and the development of the framework and the charter? We are all happy to approve. Thank you so much. Moving on to Item 13, A project approvals investment zone, a programme approvals, and this is the first report and projects in relation to the investment zone, which was confirmed by the secretary of state for levelling-up Michael Gove conventionally of the north. Creating job opportunities in Leeds, Huddersfield and Bradford it's being developed collaboratively with our councils in universities. Thank you. Thank you for the joint work. If I could come to Councillor Lewis on this item and then to Liz thanks, Mayor, I am really excited

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:31:10

by this. We've

it can be a real opportunity to around a couple of sectors we know are strong in terms of economic growth, overtime and the CA o overtime we've had really strong engagement between Combined Authority, the councils, the universities, there'd been really crucial at partners here, I know there's nobody here from the university but I think it's worth recognising their role and the strength of having so many really good universities in West Yorkshire.

should be something we can lever into if we look about how we increase.

and strengthen productivity in our economy. So it has been a great piece of work. The funding is very welcome. The commitment so can actually get on with it, and I really look forward to work with everybody on delivering this. Thank you. Thank you, Les, and thank

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:31:57

you. So I suggest you are definitely on the only universities they are been, they have been co signed, it was an easy requirement, have come

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:32:01

in to do that, but I think that's really been helpful in terms of that working relationship with the universities. We already talked earlier about the kind of sector so health, tech and digital tech are two clusters and we have tried to choose from and we tried to persuade government that one wasn't enough for West Yorkshire. We needed at least two of them so really pleased that

Liz Hunter - 2:32:18

we managed to convince government of that. For us, it is a mixture of revenue and capital. There's 80 million over the first five years, with a with 80 million for a second five years. And what we're asking for today is to start the development. So teams across districts are already working really hard, but this asks for 6.4 million to to continue the developments work across ourselves and partners and to get this moving. We have not quite finalised all the final hurdles with governments that have the money in the door, but we're really close so asking for your agreement that we continue at risk, but you know at risk, with a hopefully with them, with a fair degree of of certainty given, as you rightly said at the start Mayor, that the secretary of state announced this at the convention of of the North them and then just one other thing to mention in the in this paper, there is also a change request around Enterprise, West Yorkshire, for an extension to the timeframe to 2025, so just want to make sure that we capture that also in people's asking for approval. Thank you. Thank you any questions on the investment zones, it's a great opportunity

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:33:27

for our region, great stuff so happy to approve and also the change request. Thank you so much moving on to another project approval, which is creating great places and accelerated infrastructure. 0 sorry, one second

just let's move on to the next item, which is the local nature recovery strategy, creating great places, as I said, and I pledged to tackle the climate environment, emergency, restoring nature, biodiversity and wildlife habitats at the heart of that ambition. This next report outlines are proposed approach to creating West Yorkshire as first local nature recovery strategy. So if I can pass over again to Liz just to talk us through, maybe the headlines, thank you. So this again is development money to actually develop the strategy and

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:34:22

will be working with the climate Environment Committee. To do this, we are doing this on behalf of each of the West Yorkshire Districts and, as you can see from the paper, we have funding from government to do so. We've topped it up with some of our own. In order to be able to bring forward the strategy map, areas of protected and important areas of biodiversity and really use data and consultation and engagement with landowners and others through this process and obviously will keep the Combined Authority up to date as we go through

13 c) 13c Better Homes Hub Project Approvals - Investment Priority 4 - Tackling the Climate Emergency and Environmental

thank you so much any comments, no happy to approve the scheme

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:34:59

delivery to commence and for full approval of the Combined Authority's funding contribution, as the you see the recommendations as set out all happy to approve goods, thank you so much moving on to better homes Hub, this links to our earlier discussion about the better homes hub and it seeks funding for further demonstrate a project in Leeds testing retrofitting of back to back homes which will help inform our future interventions through the better homes hub. And you'll remember we approved the first demonstrator in Calderdale and I'm pleased to see the next one come forward. Work continues with all of our local authority partners to bring forward similar proposals in their areas. Liz

thank you very much, so just to add that this is in two parts, so for

Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 2:35:40

the Leeds area based schemes are part Walmart, which we're asking for for your con for the contribution today.

part of the innovation here is about how different funding pots can actually come together in one place, which is not always easy to do, and then we're also looking for a kind of pot to development cost, and that is thinking about how we can use low carbon technology, such as a heat source pump add a kind of a street level. So all we're looking for today is the part one which has 1.7 million and then development costs and a further m pot for evaluation at 240 K. So those are the two requests for today. Thank you

Liz Hunter - 2:36:20

so it's such a good and important work are we do we have any comments

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:36:28

on this happy to approve the change request, the scheme delivered to commence of a full approval of the combined authorities, funding contribution, the detailed recommendations, as I said, are set out in the programme, thank you so moving on to

if I may.

moving on beyond the into the into the excuse me, one sec.

thank you so much. Thank you. This next approval is about our latest

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:37:08

investment in culture and creative industries. The first item for approval is 500,000 to continue with West Yorkshire local visitor economy. Partnership, as you know, is a collaboration between the five West Yorkshire Councils and the CA working together to drive forward management and growth of the local visitor economy, and the schemes are going to support the implementation of a destination management plan which will seek to attract more visitors and tourists to the region. The second approval, in the paper as Councillor Hinchcliffe referred to, is our commitment to support the delivery of Bradford City of culture 2025. What a great year is going to be, I'm so excited about what's being planned. The proposal is for the see, a

to fund 5.7 million pounds to support the year long programme of cultural events, festivals and celebrations, bearing in mind this is a small amount in comparison to the funding that has been coalesced around the yeah, the City of culture is going to bring local and global audiences to Bradford and West Yorkshire as well as cultural impacts the year will provide significant significant economic growth to the region and surrounding areas while showcasing West Yorkshire as dynamic creative industries.

and heritage

13e (2). Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture

13e (3). British Library North

and then the final approval in the paper is for the delegation of approvals of the British Library North scheme to the Place Regeneration Housing Committee in future, and I was delighted that the project was awarded another 10 million pounds from government and also delighted I may say that the national poetry centre was also awarded 5 billion pounds which just shows that West Yorkshire is definitely on the map when it comes to culture, so may I pass over to feeling.

Felix Kumi-Ampofo, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:38:57

thank you very much, Ma if Rubio said, it's all the the purpose sets out sort of 3 at 6.00 3 has three recommendations on.

with reference city of culture, UK City of culture launch planned in the autumn of this year, our contribution, which will come up to 6 million pounds with three 300,000 that was approved a few months ago, will be part of the over 40 million pounds that is,

being pulled together to deliver this incredible year of culture built on the years of culture that we've had in Leeds and in Kirklees, and we've now having in Wakefield and come to do so, hopefully members are happy to approve that visitor economy partnership is a national initiative.

the Combined Authority has already approved the setting up of this partnership, the Mayor chairs the partnership board, and this is seeking the revenue funding needed, Lee City Council is leading the work with the infrastructure already has on behalf of all the other local authorities, and this funding will allow us to be able to get the work that has been set out in the plan and promised to government to get underway, and you've already mentioned the British Library.

investment governments has said, made it clear to ask the investment at the 10 million pounds will come via the Combined Authority, and we will work with the British Library, just like the poetry, sent out to work through their business case and all the technical aspects, what are we seeking as a delegation to the place committee to look through the capital works and the Carter committee will work with partners on the content, so that's what I was thinking. Thank you. Thank you. Phoenix and

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:40:44

questions or comments, Councillor Lamb, Councillor Coulson, it's just that. It's just a quick comment, so 31 absolutely welcome that 13 3 wholeheartedly welcome that 32, just so it's recorded. I don't support that recommendation. My view is these things can and should be delivered without putting pressure on the taxpayer, and I think Bradford could use some money in much better ways. At the minute we've seen from the example of Leeds, or perhaps don't share your view on this, that it was not a success, the year of culture and it could have been better and it could have been delivered without putting pressure on the taxpayer. So I don't support 13 8 2, thank you, Councillor Lamb, and as chair of the culture committee, you will be surprised to

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:41:30

be no, that I disagree with your assessment of what did work and I was yesterday at Bradford University as part of spirit 2012. How we are assess the outcomes of culture and the impacts are not just on wellbeing, but also on skills and jobs, on sense of place and belonging and regeneration, and I think the public, the public sector, has a role to play there. So you won't be surprised that I disagree with those comments, Councillor Poulsen,

yeah, thank you, yeah, just on the the funding, well, it should be a total of 6 million for city of culture and say thank the Combined Authority, hopefully that will.

Cllr Rebecca Poulsen Bradford Council - 2:42:09

approve this funding and I really hope that it will benefit the whole of the Bradford District. There are concerns that sometimes seems far too city centric and we are a very wide ranging rural that district and we are waiting to hear. Maybe you have inside information over what the programme will involve, but we are waiting to hear the programme and we hope it will roll out across and benefit everybody across the district and going forward. So thank you in advance for the for the support. Thank you, Councillor pulsar, and just to reiterate

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:42:45

my commitment to investment from the Combined Authority to

years of culture that it is important that they are attractive not just to the rural areas of Bradford, but to the people of West Yorkshire, and that's why it's important we get transport right because people can't get to these great events if the transport doesn't work, so thank you for your support at Councillor Golton.

thanks ma am. I just wanted to pick up from Councillor Lamb's comments

Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 2:43:11

about at least 2023, as I said, that the the legacy of it is something which is disputed, and I would expect that the Combined Authority would also be closely following the evaluation of the Year of culture in terms of how it commits its own resources to further cultural events. I have to say, though, from what I have seen around how Bradford year of culture is being organised, it's being done so on a completely different premise, and there has been a lot of caretaker to ensure that there is significant legacy and capital investment in the cultural infrastructure. 2 to correspond with the activities which will take part during that year, and I think it will benefit from being associated with. I'm officially

vehicle in terms of the city of culture model, so I I would support you in supporting the city of culture at Bradford, thank you, and if I may just say that one of the of the top of my head, where the outcomes

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:44:20

from the Wild Barn, which was a specific project that the CA funded was a spike in women applying to the college of construction,

which surely as Councillor Lamb would applaud, women are often outside of construction in in plumbing and carpentry, etc and also it was the inspiration for the development of the women of West Yorkshire network, which is currently over 400 members, bringing women together to support a careers advice skills, tackle climate emergency and so on. Councillor Lamb yeah sorry well our invitation to comment.

and wholeheartedly that I'm not saying these things about I'm showing them, the point of principle is all of the cost, and so much of the costume fall on the taxpayer, there's lots of benefits to be had from promoting culture, and one of the concerns on learning from Leeds is the council of cancelled culture that people enjoy every year to try and fund one of things that they could enjoy. What and that's a real shame, so hopefully Bradford will learn the lessons and do something better and focus on the legacy. Your points are noted. Thank you, Councillor Lamb,

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:45:28

are we happy to approve the funding for delivery of these schemes to commence and full approval of the combined authorities, funding contributions, the detailed recommendations you'll see in the report?

14 Scrutiny Protocol Review

happy to approve. Thank you so much, Oakey Dulcie, moving swiftly on to the Scrutiny protocol and Councillor, you have been very patient. Thank you so much for joining us today. This is the Scrutiny Members' report which makes recommendations to the Authority as to the implementation of the government's news quotes scrutiny protocol. It goes on to seek early comments on a draft Scrutiny vision for the Combined Authority and seek agreement to a proposed committee structure to be implemented from the new municipal year. As Members will be aware, the government has made implementation of the Scrutiny protocol a condition of receiving Level 4 devolution. We must confirm we've implemented it by the 1st of March 2025. Scrutiny is a vitally important, vitally important function and any attempt to improve the effectiveness and strength of scrutiny should be welcomed. We need greater transparency and accountability. I attended the Corporate Scrutiny Committee meeting last week, which formally approved this Scrutiny. Members report that meeting allows a cross party group of Councillors from across the region to challenge me in public on achievement of my pledges and wider organisational priorities, and the wide ranging questions covered, reinforced to me, the interconnectivity of issues and the benefits of a holistic scrutiny function which this report addresses. May I welcome Councillor Barry Anderson, the Chair of the Corporate Scrutiny, to thank you for your hard work. Your committee are members of the working group for producing this report. Would you like to speak for a few moments on your working group's report and recommendations? Thank you for. Your report could be better, as we have done yourself, but in general

Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair) - 2:47:25

terms, what I would like to see is the importance of good and excellent scrutiny, how it can add value to everything that we're doing and also working cross-party. Surely everybody can feel they've contributed to this discussion and the views that were expressed today's agenda is proof of the size of it. The work that you've got to do, and hopefully scrutiny, can add value to moving these things forward,

the Mayor herself has made the ambitions of openness transparent, being more transparent and challenging, and I think scrutiny should be able to try and help deliver more on that and, as has been said, with recent letter from Ms Geyer.

Michael Gove

tells us we've got to do, it was related or not, we've basically got to do it, but the issues that we've tried to address are columns. We have not been successful in getting enough people to come to Scrutiny, so we've got to look at a new way of delivering it and delivering to the benefit of people. We also need to try and identify more time to scrutinise and to add value. We also need to look at different types of scrutiny, not necessarily just meeting once every so often

there'd be going out into the communities and hearing what people have got to see so that we can start delivering. We also need to improve the quality of scrutiny. There is not a criticism of what's gone in the past, but I think the review that you set up when you first set it up. This is the outcome of that review and we can move things forward, but it's important that we add value to the work being done by the other committees that we've got within WYCA, and I would like to thank all my fellow Scrutiny people for what they did, but at the end of the day, what I want is to make WYCA fit for purpose so that we can take on even more freedoms and flexibilities in the future and deliver for everyone in West Yorkshire. Thank you. Thank you so much and I really do share your ambitions. Thank you

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:49:24

Alan recently a chief operating officer, do you want to pick up any further thoughts, I think Councillor Anderson Les as sort of covered it. Thank you ma. If I could just clarify for the for the committee,

Alan Reiss, Chief Operating Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:49:39

I'm I'm conscious of time thanks to Councillor Anderson for his report, it was simply to say that what we're looking for from the Combined Authority is a is agreement to the general direction of the report, so agreement that we move to a single committee structure with a pool of members, etc and that the independent remuneration panel be convened to provide advice on

on remuneration for members, the plan then, is for officers to bring back a further report on the detail at the next meeting of the Combined Authority which the EGM in June.

thank you for that clarification, any questions, yes, Councillor Golton, Councillor thanks Chair sorry, Mayor.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:50:15

I disagree with the conclusions that have come out of this report, I

Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 2:50:21

think it is a retrograde step to reduce the level of a formal scrutiny in a combined authority which is on the cusp of actually taking on even more responsibility I think we should be warned by the experience that has happened in Teesside where there needs to be a

particularly

intense focus on decisions which are taken at a sub regional basis, and I think the way forward, if you want to add rigour to the scrutiny process, is perhaps for the constituent authorities to be closer aligned with the scrutiny if a structure that exists at the Combined Authority so that they can share that scrutiny.

responsibility. I believe such a joint case for

reviewing that is taking place for the combined authority in West Midlands.

because of course, they have issues with their governance as well, and the centre for governance and scrutiny is overseeing that work. I would suggest that we have a similar piece of work commissioned from that organisation to look at how we can improve our scrutiny here in West Yorkshire, and I just give the example of it is very hard to call in any decision that is taken at a West Yorkshire Combined Authority level that affects a particular local authority and I think that kind of attention needs to be addressed as we take this scrutiny review forward. Thank you, Councillor Golton, and I will come back to you

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:51:58

Councillor because in our conversations and discussions, the very fact that we are getting greater powers and responsibilities that interconnected nature of responsibilities is, has better scrutiny when people have understanding of different portfolios and are not in silos, and I believe that the three committees potentially would just give you that narrow band bandwidth of understanding that Councillor Anderson, I wonder if you want to come back

sorry, but I don't agree back because I I do genuinely think that the

Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair) - 2:52:35

way forward as to how good it better structured because we've got a number of experts in various scrutiny boards, but if we can do a lot more work in through working groups we will be able to do that though there's no reason why we couldn't work and shouldn't work with individual authorities but at the end of the day,

we need to get people who understand WYCA from top to bottom and I would argue at the moment and I don't remember any disrespect to my fellow Scrutiny Members, but some of them I don't think totally understand the interconnectivity when you are talking about one thing the effect it has on the other and how it's important to get the budget right to make sure that the transport can be delivered to make sure that the employment proposals can be delivered to make sure that we can do things but the cultural offer I think people need to live and understand some people are very good at acting in their silos.

we cannot often see outside of their own particular silo, and it's one thing that struck me since I came down here after you replace me in Leeds, I've brought down some of the skills and the leanings,

took from Leeds and hopefully as a result of that I've put my imprint on trying to move WYCA forward, wasn't perfect, nor is it going to be perfect, I hope so in the future thank you Councillor, I am Councillor Lamb.

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:54:00

yeah, thank you ma, firstly, I'd like to thank Councillor Anderson for the work he's done and the skill that he's brought to Scrutiny at

Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair) - 2:54:05

WYCA, I think he's taken it to a new and, if more effective level.

to respond to Councillor Golton's point, I think the quality of scrutiny is more important than the quantity of scrutiny and I think in this instance onboard, actually it does make sense having that broad overview of the whole Combined Authority and understanding how all the bits connect together is crucial.

I think one thing I would just add is the real value and power of pre-decision scrutiny, I'm trying to make sure that's captured in the proposals as they are developed, it is incredibly powerful to have that that oversight before a decision is taken rather than just reserving it to to what happens afterwards and then criticising sorry, I hope that's something we'll do and there's a wider point that needs to be addressed as perhaps been overlooked through devolution nationally and locally. That's what that's a bigger supporter of devolution, as I am, it's been a hugely increased pressure on elected members.

without anything correspondent. No one's gonna sit with great sympathy for elected members in anything, but the role has transformed. I was first elected in 2007. The workload just in the constituent council, is enormous compared to what it was then and adding the

Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 2:55:24

responsibilities we've all got to the Combined Authority. There needs to be some thinking about how that can be practically delivered and making sure that it is properly remunerated, because an awful lot of people who also need to do a job running business have caring responsibilities, etc and to be able to commit to the level and give the detailed scrutiny, for example, that we want they need to have. They need to have the ability to do that.

thank you so much, I do I agree that we need to ensure that these

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:55:52

opportunities are open to everybody, particularly those with caring responsibilities, Monday Hi thanks for that, Councillor Anderson, I

Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair) - 2:56:00

think in West Yorkshire, where experts in textiles, and that includes

Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 2:56:05

warp and weft as we weave and so as we work in vertical scrutiny absolutely should be horizontal, otherwise we miss the gap between the vertical, so I think it's a great great move forward to do that.

15 Corporate Plan 2024-25

weft and weave. I need the T shirt with that on. Thank you. So can we

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:56:20

move to approvals for the proposal to adopter scrutiny protocol compliance single committee structure from 24 25 municipal year, to be confirmed at the annual meeting following assessment of the API to the Councillors point and a more detailed report proposing other recommendations will be implemented over the next 12 months. Happy to approve. Thank you so much so, moving on, if I could just ask for your patients, we all probably overrun 5 more minutes as we just canter through the last items Item 15 Corporate Plan 24 25 this outlines the initial high level draft of our corporate plan for review and feedback. It outlines our strategic priorities for the upcoming year

and are building upon the budget and business plans approved by the CA 1st of February 24 very much work in progress, as our first draft will be important to bring to you today. So you can see the approach we're taking, if I may hand over to Ben to talk us through the report given the tunnel can produce anything more than the new have said only to

Cllr Barry Anderson (Chair) - 2:57:24

say that we will obviously be revising the Corporate Plan in the light of the decisions taken this morning and bringing back a final version to the to the June meeting of the Cabinet authority and ideally we

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:57:33

will be sharing a revised draft

in the intervening time

16 Corporate Delegations

thank you. Any comments on the corporate plan were happy to approve

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:57:42

the approach to the development of the corporate plan 24 25 we are, thank you so much, nearly there, folks, Item 16 Corporate Delegation. The final report proposes granting a time-limited delegation to the Chief Executive in consultation with myself and the Mayor post, the Second of May and with engagement with the Combined Authority members to enable him to progress any changes to director level structure and associated recruitment in the period between now and the next meeting of the Authority in June. This will ensure there is no delay in the delivery of the authority's priorities. Can I hand back over to Ben to talk us through the details

17 Minutes for Information

18 Date of the Next Meeting

Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:58:24

thank you, Chair. I again not wish to add to what you have said again. We will need to look at this in the light of the decisions taken this morning and, as the paper says, we will engage with you on any proposals that will begin to take forward over the next during the pre-election period. Any comments. Thank you add all we have to

Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 2:58:41

approve granting the Chief Executive time limit or authority in consultation with me as mayor, to create or adjust director level positions and appointments until the next meeting of the CA 20th of June happy to approve. Thank you so much. This brings this epoch and historic meeting to a close, and when your grandchildren are jumping on a franchised bus that links with mass transit, you will be able to say I was at that meeting and I was part of that new journey that brighter West Yorkshire that we all hope for. So thank you again, if I may, personally, for the collaboration that kindness the support, the guidance that you have given to me over the last three years as your mayor and I really really hope to see you all again or after the Mayor election, thank you so minutes for meeting, thank you very much for the attendance, and just to end remind Members of the date of the next meeting 20th of June which will be the a GM. Thank you. Thank you all so much and have a good rest of your day.