Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee - Thursday 6 March 2025, 11:00am - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

Place, Regeneration and Housing Committee
Thursday, 6th March 2025 at 11:00am 

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  1. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  2. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  3. Aamina-Noor Shah Committee Services Officer
  4. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  2. Annette Joseph
  3. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  4. Rachael Dennis
  5. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  6. Peter Glover, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  3. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  4. Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  6. Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Ms. Katie Kavanagh
  2. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  3. Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Ms. Katie Kavanagh
  5. Cllr Michael Graham (Wakefield Council)
  6. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  7. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  8. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  9. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  10. Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative)
  11. Ms. Katie Kavanagh
  12. Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative)
  13. Richard Butterfield, Advisory Representative (Historic England)
  14. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  15. Cllr Ben Burton (York Council)
  16. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  17. Ms. Katie Kavanagh
  18. Ben Aspinall (Private Sector Representative)
  19. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  20. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  21. Cllr Ben Burton (York Council)
  22. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  23. Stephen Moore
  24. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  25. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  26. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  27. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  28. Rachael Dennis
  29. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Ms. Katie Kavanagh
  2. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  2. Helen Forman
  3. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  4. Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Helen Forman
  6. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  7. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  8. Helen Forman
  9. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  10. Cllr Ben Burton (York Council)
  11. Helen Forman
  12. Richard Butterfield, Advisory Representative (Historic England)
  13. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  14. Helen Forman
  15. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  2. Allison Gillespie (Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  4. Cllr Ben Burton (York Council)
  5. Allison Gillespie (Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  6. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative)
  9. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  10. Ben Aspinall (Private Sector Representative)
  11. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  12. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  13. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  14. Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council)
  15. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
  16. Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  18. Stephen Moore
  19. Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw (Bradford Council)
  20. Cllr Ben Burton (York Council)
  21. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  22. Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council)
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  1. Webcast Finished

1 Apologies for Absence

Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:00:00
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:00:02
You
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:00:13
Okay, good morning everyone good to see everybody here
Have we got apologies for absence recorded I
Think we're expecting two more of our colleagues perhaps the trains are later some excuse
Let's see apologies for being received from Councillor Moses Crook, please counsel Councillor
Jessica Lennox Leeds Council and Tamzin Hart Jones
Aamina-Noor Shah Committee Services Officer - 0:00:42
Kathy Elliott and has sent in her apologies and Jennifer Connolly is attending today on her behalf
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:00:47
Okay, thank you very much. Thank you. Can I draw your attention to?

2 Declaration of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

declaration of interest

3 Exempt Information - Possible Exclusion of the Press and Public

Okay.

4 Minutes of the Meeting held on 14 November 2025

And there are no items requiring exclusion of the press.
And can we agree the minutes of the last meeting?

5 Chair's Update

Okay.
Thank you.
Just a couple of updates.
It's Annette, the deputy chair's last meeting, and I'd like to thank you, Annette, for all
the contributions and all the effort that you've put into it.
And thank you for chairing at the last meeting.
I did appreciate that.
Would you like to say a few words?
Thank you.
I'd just like to say thank you to all of you.
It's been a real education that's been great
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:01:38
being on this panel and deputy chairing this panel.
The reason why I've stepped down
Annette Joseph - 0:01:43
is because housing regeneration
is kind of outside of my field of expertise
And I feel like the context which has been really tough for me
So I feel like it's getting the proper focus it deserves from me
So I'm stepping down so that somebody else can you know, give it more focus
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:02:04
Thank you. Okay. Well, thanks so much for your contribution
And then can I welcome Rachel Dennis? It's your first meeting
Rachael Dennis - 0:02:10
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:02:16
So we're very pleased that you've taken this appointment out and I'm sure you'll work as well and with us as Andy Wallhead did
Well, I'm sure you'll fill them very well, so it's good to see you here.
And we'd like to congratulate Kathy Elliott on her appointment as Chief Exec of the NHS Cheshire and Merseyside.
And we do thank Kathy for all the work she's done. Jennifer, would you like to say a few words?
Peter Glover, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:02:39
Yeah, thank you. Kathy will be leaving the role as Chair of the Integrated Care Board for West Yorkshire
towards the end of May and likewise echo the congratulations on her new role.
The ICB remains committed to supporting this committee in the way that we have
Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:02:56
done so far and reviewing the arrangements for who will step into this
role. That may be the chair once they're appointed or it may be another
representative but we'll consult with you on that and make a nomination. Thank you.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:03:22
Okay, and I'm pleased to update the committee on the outcome of the levelling up front consultation
with government confirming that our two Leeds -based projects have had their original funding now
reconfirmed, five million to the National Poetry Centre and ten million for the British
Library North.
So that's really good news.
Both projects will act as a cultural anchor for the transformational regeneration of the
And act as a catalyst for further housing and economic growth
So that's really good news and also homes England have announced nearly 30 million of funding to kick -start the regeneration
of the Brackford City Village one of our priority sites to the strategic partnership
Officers are now working closely across the partnership to plan the next stages of this ambitious program
So I do thank all partners for the work to secure this important funding a lot of hard work
gone into this but it's obviously paying off so it's really good news. Okay so

6 Monitoring Indicators

we'll go on to item six and Sarah is going to take us through this.
Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:04:32
So as always we we cover the monitoring indicators the indicators that we
published on the state of the region every time there's a new data available based on the previous committee.
So this time we have four indicators.
Net additional dwellings, private rents,
indicators on digital connectivity. On top of those we added two supplementary indicators that we thought would be useful for the debate around
affordable housing starts and completions.
In terms of net additional dwellings, there's been a significant increase in the fiscal year 23 -24,
with a net increase of more than 8 ,000 units, the highest delivery since 2018 -2019,
and the fifth highest annual delivery in 23 years since we have data.
This is more than just going within the UK trend as we reached 3 .4 percent of the net
additional dwellings in the country, one of the highest contributions we had since the
financial crisis and above the historical levels even before that period.
We saw this increase in additional dwellings everywhere except for Wickfield, which had
some quite good years prior to 2324. In terms of delivery adjusted by
population, Leeds was the leading district and the only local authority
with a performance above England's average. Delivery was also positive on
the affordable completion, so in 2324 we had 1766
additional affordable homes. The highest year of completion in the 21st century
so far. The data may be subject to revisions but so far that's what we have.
Here in terms of local authorities the picture was more heterogeneous with
Kirklees and Wakefield had the highest increases while Calderdale and Leeds
with some minor declines.
And Wakefield, on a per capita basis,
add on affordable housing completions
better rate than the English average.
Affordable housing starts, they recovered from last year
around 1 ,326.
It's 3 .1 % of all affordable housing starts in England.
It is in line with what we observed in the last decade
since we have data. In terms of private rents, rents rose significantly below
English average in the last 12 months, January to January, below 4 % while it was
9 % in England, with significant variations within local
authorities, with Calderdale with the highest rate at 7 % and Wakefield at 1%.
House prices grew faster in the last 12 months in West Yorkshire, slightly below
6 % and in England 3%.
But when we take into consideration
longer -term picture since 2015 house prices have been rising in more or less in line with England average. On
digital connectivity
I just want to highlight that West Yorkshire is the combined authority with the highest share of premises with full fiber around
87 % followed by Greater Manchester at 83 and West Midlands at 82%.
Thanks very much for that.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:08:13
Anyone wishing to comment or ask a question?
I had a question.
So the net additional dwellings, does that
include student accommodation?
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:08:23
I believe so, but I have to confirm.
Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:08:34
And another question.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:08:38
are the students covered in the per capita measurements as well it is
Guilherme Rodrigues Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:08:42
population estimates so I believe so
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:08:57
no no okay thanks very much and they want I but the committee notes the
messages from the the recommendation is the committee notes the messages from
the monitoring indicators thanks very much is that agreed

7 Housing Strategy Implementation Plan

thank you item seven the housing implementation plan and I think Katie's
going to take us through this yeah thank you chair and so I'll take the paper as
Ms. Katie Kavanagh - 0:09:24
read but just writing a quick summary so the housing strategy was launched in
July last year and since then we've been doing some work in terms of how we can
and define work streams of activities
that will support delivering against the objectives
in the housing strategy.
The development of the housing strategy
was in the context of multiple challenges
across West Yorkshire, record levels of homelessness
and the number of households in temporary accommodation,
the affordability of both market sale
and rental accommodation,
existing homes that are older and more difficult to heat
as well as wider health inequalities.
So in terms of the housing strategy implementation plan,
we set out defined work streams of activities
that will help us achieve those outcomes.
And monitoring of that is through two tools.
The first is a highlight report included at Appendix 1,
which summarises key milestones for each objective
over the next 12 months
and provides a regular update on activities,
as well as including activities
and priority actions for the forthcoming period.
And the next is a Power BI dashboard
giving a series of contextual and performance indicators,
providing a picture of the changing market we're operating in
and areas where our work is directly making a difference.
A summary of the indicators included in a table within the report and some sample screenshots
are included in appendix two of the actual dashboard itself which is still in development.
Happy to take any comments or questions on the format and the content of the proposed
reporting.
Thank you.
Thanks very much, Katie.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:10:47
Any comments, any questions?
Yes, Jennifer.
Thank you.
Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:10:54
So there's some great opportunities to link the health and housing work through this implementation strategy.
And after the last meeting, Kathy shared some of the good practice that had already been going on around fuel poverty.
So specifically relating sections 3 .4 and 3 .5 of the implementation plan.
So we've shared those good examples, but we'd like to offer the committee a chance to review in a bit more detail the health and housing work that's underway.
We've been working with Carl to look at that collectively, so we'd like to offer that to the committee for the next meeting to bring something there.
In response to this particular paper, it'd be interesting to understand how the plan will align with the West Yorkshire Estates Plan, the NHS West Yorkshire Estates Plan, because we talked about the chance to bring those two things together.
So the priority spatial geographic areas for house building and then NHS estates and that wider infrastructure thinking, how should we take that forward?
And then a couple of final points.
I think there's the chance to reference the ICB strategy
within the implementation plan because that'll just kind
of give us that chance to connect the two.
And for the year ahead, the NHS has a requirement for all ICBs
to look at the enabling of neighbourhood health.
So there's a real chance to, again, kind of link this up
and it'd be great to see that requirement referenced in there so that we're linking
the strategic opportunities and that we can highlight some of the good work that's underway
already through a further paper on health and housing if that's useful.
Ms. Katie Kavanagh - 0:12:52
So just to come back on that, I think there have been discussions alongside some of the
actions that we've got listed within the implementation plan around the future of the OnePublic Estate
and how we can work better across the different organisations.
So some of that is in train.
We do have reference to the ICBN coordination within the wider implementation plan as well
but within the highlight report we've picked out specific actions that we've done over
the past four to five months and the ones that we're doing going forward.
but absolutely keen to progress with those things. Thank you.
Cllr Michael Graham (Wakefield Council) - 0:13:33
Thank you. Yeah I think at Colesdale we've been actively involved in the
development of the strategy and to help inform the actions based on our
priorities as well obviously and that's what we do is we look at the wider
priorities and our own priorities and I know that these have included the
delivery of new homes including affordable new homes and also meeting
the challenges of the retrofit agenda which is particularly challenging in
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:13:59
in Colesdale with a lot of our housing stock that's there as this echoed across
other boroughs in the in the region but and also addressing the issues of
homelessness which is everywhere is putting budgetary pressures on us as
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:14:16
well you know and I think yeah you know I think building on what Jennifer was
saying that strategy has taken a wider approach to housing agenda which is
really welcomed. So previously there's you know we see the focus on new homes
but I think that recognition that we need to consider the broader housing
agenda, bringing in in health, bringing in all of this other sort of economic and
social sort of factors. So I think yeah considering that broader housing agenda
to fully meet the needs of each local authority is really is really important
and I know that obviously our offices are heavily involved and will continue to be
heavily involved and you know we appreciate that involvement. I just think
it you know we really need to look at that wider picture which I know we are
but I'm just being supportive of that wider picture. Thank you. I think you're just pointing out that
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:15:05
that's what we need to do and we know that the officers are doing that and
I'm back at the ranch in all our districts but it is important that this
is a priority it's the mayor's priority and we need to make sure that that this
is top of the agenda.
Did you want, sorry.
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:15:25
And I think it's like it is, obviously it's a priority
across the whole of the region and stuff.
And while a lot of our, the strategic approach will overall
chime and work within each authority,
there obviously are gonna be individual peculiarities
based on our own places and our own topography
and our own housing stock and all of the other factors
that are there and I suppose it's just looking at that as a whole.
Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative) - 0:16:00
Thank you Chair. I just had two sort of small points that I kind of picked out
as I was reading through if that's okay. So the first one was there was a point
a comment in 3 .13 about close engagement with key internal external
stakeholders which is obviously fantastic and it's all happening. I was
wondering has there been much private sector engagement? Yeah so we have a
Ms. Katie Kavanagh - 0:16:28
developer forum that operates twice per year and so we're doing we've slightly
changed the format going forward so there'll be a roundtable with a specific
group of people that we've identified with the core group and then a wider
for later in the year towards the end of the year as well. So that's the
approach we're taking at the moment and I'm really keen for as much
engagement as we can manage really. So just to add I'm involved with
Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative) - 0:16:57
the Chambers Property Forum and if we can help in any way please shout. Just
one follow -up question if that's okay. Just a point about I think with regards
to safety there's a mention of urban design and design reviews and a network
of urban designers for West Yorkshire in the context of safety in the public realm and
just to welcome that and agree with that point I think it's good.
Richard Butterfield, Advisory Representative (Historic England) - 0:17:26
Thank you, I think it's fabulous the information that Cathy shared, it's really great to take
that more integrated approach in terms of not just building more houses but building
and adapting houses so that they're just better for people
and they address some of those health challenges
that we've got.
I think just a couple of points on that.
One is, from my perspective, we'd be delighted
to help and collaborate on that work,
looking at perhaps particularly some of the particular
health challenges and issues that arise
from different building types, for example,
and really sort of understanding the granularity
of the housing stock and the issues that they present.
And I think that could both help to inform
perhaps a more nuanced action plan
around delivering improvements,
but also just finding those appropriate retrofit approaches
that enable the old housing stock that we've got
to continue to be useful,
because there's no way we're going to sweep away
all the old housing stock and replace it with new build.
We've got to have a kind of a make do and mend approach with that and and through that I think maintain the
Identity and
Place value that those those properties have as well. So
Yeah, so I think we miss working and we you know, really pleased to kind of help
Program work and I think there's a particular challenge here because in terms of delivering that
Retrofit work. It's one thing doing with more
buildings from the last 70 years that are kind of comprehensive program of social housing,
it's a bit more challenging with housing in the private sector and just the diversity
and variety of that and it does feel like there's quite a lot more work to be done on
that agenda.
Thank you, really positive.
I think there is more work to be done obviously and it's about building the right houses
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:19:31
really isn't it for the need of the people really. I'll let you come in but Ben wants to say something else.
Cllr Ben Burton (York Council) - 0:19:44
Yeah thank you. Yeah I thought it was really great and some of the finer detail around local authority planning capacity and some of the work streams are really helpful in terms of what we need for delivering these.
I just had a couple of kind of points for if there's opportunity to put some more
detailed targets in especially around the specialist and supported housing
in the sector and whether there is some details we can put in there so that you can track
those and measure them over time would be good to see. And then the other one, I've
raised it before, but on the retrofit one, there's no specific mention to anything around
heat pumps and decarbonisation of heating systems, which is going to be the biggest
challenge really for 2038. So it's whether there can be something added to that going
forward. If not, obviously it's a very difficult thing to tackle, probably on the harder ones,
but it'd be good to see something around that in there, I think.
Do you want to come in and sweep up, Kate?
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:20:34
Ms. Katie Kavanagh - 0:20:37
I think it's probably just worth noting that the information in the reporting today
doesn't cover everything that we're doing at the moment,
it's just a snapshot in time and there will be other work streams coming forwards.
I can't speak to the heat pump point because that's not within my service area,
but in terms of specialists and supported housing, it is on our radar
and it is something that we're looking at how we can support better in collaboration with our local authority partners.
Ben, I think you want it.
Ben Aspinall (Private Sector Representative) - 0:21:09
Yeah, thank you. Just a quick point. I suppose when I was reading the papers I felt that the
the
targets
there's quite a lot of them and
and so I endorse
the fact that we need to be looking at the wider scope of the housing strategy and house
marketing.
So it's a bit difficult to get away from that, but I just wondered whether there's any opportunity
to have a series of core targets, the headline targets, and then maybe some of the more detailed
ones just to make it a bit more presentable, public facing perhaps as well, some of the
headlines.
And I just wondered also that whether there was any reference in there might missed it but to
private sector capital leave it in so, you know, it's kind of there's a lot
metrics around the numbers of houses and
types of house number but I think a financial metric quite important so you can you've got a sort of gearing and
multiplier effect of what that you're doing
Do you want to comment on that?
Thanks, yeah.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:22:17
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:22:19
That's really helpful.
I was challenging the team to be quite ambitious with the targets, which is why there's quite
a few in there and they cut across quite a few different topics.
But I think in terms of how we present it, we can have a look at that to really make
sure we're focusing on the top ones and then some of the other metrics are probably enablers
of those.
So let's take that away.
I think the private sector leverage is also a really good one and certainly on the Brownfield
Housing Fund.
I don't have the numbers to hand,
but there's the degree to which that
has enabled a significant amount of housing
to come forward, which is mostly private sector funded,
I think is one that we should keep track of and enable you
as a committee to see what that looks like,
particularly as we move into, and we'll come on to this
in a later paper about devolution,
as we move into a single settlement approach
and how we're making sure that our money kind of goes further.
So let's think about the money side of the metrics,
which we probably haven't done in this paper,
but it's elsewhere but maybe we can bring it in and then if I may chair just
on the on the heat pumps really helpful point we've done quite a bit of work
around what that needs to look like for our carbon pathways work and I think
this committee has had updates before about what we're doing around our home
Cllr Ben Burton (York Council) - 0:23:26
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:23:29
energy West Yorkshire work on that retrofit so if we made sure why don't we
bring a report back around retrofits to this committee for you to see where
we're up to on that and the the work but also some of the next steps that we that
that we need to take, because we certainly see electrification of domestic heating as
a real key element to get us there.
Thank you, Chair.
Stephen Moore - 0:23:52
Yeah, just to pick up on the point, the retrofit point, because I know we've highlighted it
in the report about skills, and I just wondered in that, in the developer engagement, can
that be a wrap around as well for retrofit?
Is there a way to bring those more into the discussion?
Yes, I sit on the economy committee,
which also now has employment and skills within it.
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:24:23
And I know, and in fact I was gonna make a comment anyway,
before you said that, but I know that there is work
going on, for example, I know that WIC has funded some work,
and I specifically know about it in Calderdale,
which is skilling up people to be able to do retrofitting and stuff.
So I mean Liz probably can give a sort of a more comprehensive view.
But I was going to comment that it's really interesting sitting on various different committees
because actually you get to see how some of this stuff actually does interlink together.
And I know that there is sort of quite a push to work on that sort of green economy.
Now I don't know whether there's enough going on of it,
But I know certainly that there are organizations being funded
to skill people up for retrofitting
that are being funded by the combined authority
through the skills programs and stuff.
Good.
Encouraging.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:25:13
Thank you.
Do you want to come in, though?
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:25:19
I think, as I've got it, you've summarized it very well.
So if we bring a paper next time on retrofit,
we'll cover the skills piece, because we recognize
both the scale of the challenge in terms of that transition
that we're going to have to have in terms of boilers
to heat pumps, et cetera, but also the opportunity.
And I think if we can be at the forefront of some
of these changes, it means that our people here
can be skilled up and then potentially have the opportunity
to sell that elsewhere.
So I think the economic benefit of some of the retrofit
programs is certainly something we're trying to work on.
And as well as the skills element,
that links into some work we're doing around the supply chain
as well and just making sure that the supply chain is ready.
and part of that is about having a greater degree of certainty about what's
coming because at the moment the stop -start nature of some of the funding
means it's quite tricky for some of our businesses to make sure that they can
scale up at the right pace so one of the pieces of work that we're doing around
retrofit is trying to have a more of a kind of 10 -year or how many years plan
and particularly working with the West Yorkshire Housing Partnership and
social housing providers in particular to think about what that looks like but
We also recognize the wider housing stock,
hence why we've got financial products, which we've talked
to you about before, loans, et cetera, which are out there.
But we do want to think about what other financial products
there might be to enable and to give confidence
to those making the investments, which then give confidence
to the supply chain to invest in things like skills.
So you might say it's a complicated mix.
And we are trying to do a number of different things,
whether we're doing it at the scale and pace we need to,
I think is one of the challenges we keep coming back to.
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:26:55
And also, so I know within Colvedale there's a, you know, Valent, the people who make boilers,
that they have, they don't have a production factory but they have a, I don't know quite
what they call it, sort of like a skills hub in Colvedale where they train up engineers.
So they train up engineers how to fit their own boilers but they also train, and similar,
similarly made boilers but they were in and I went round and had a look and they
also but they have they're training people up to use to fit heat pumps and
air source heat pumps and ground source heat pumps so that so the private
sector is also is also on that skills that skills road of making sure that
people skip this are really skilled up I mean they did highlight the fact that
lots of engineers are sort of coming towards retirement age and that in sort
of five to ten years we might end up with a really bad shortage of of
engineers in order to be able to sort of do some of these things, but they yeah, it was it's interesting that you know
Yes as local authorities we could we do things like authority to do things the government could do things
But actually private sector also do doing it on there, which is really encouraging that we're all heading in the same direction
Rachael Dennis - 0:28:07
Thank you and I'm just you know
Welcome the real clarity of objectives and the outcomes here and as the partnership we've got
work streams that align to many of your outcomes and what we will do off the
back of this is to revisit those to make sure that we're as aligned as possible
so I'm so really glad to see and you know I think that the the social
housing sector has got a lot to offer to to to support these so the partnership
will definitely be focused on on what you've got in here so thank you
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:28:42
Okay, anyone else? Okay, the recommendations are set out in 2 .1, 2 .3. Can we agree with them? Thank you.

8 Remediation Plan

Ms. Katie Kavanagh - 0:28:59
I'd like to make remediation poem, Katie. You're on again. Me again. Thank you. So we brought a paper to the last committee
outlining the new ask of combined authorities to take a role in speeding up
the remediation of buildings with dangerous cladding. Since then we've
prepared a draft and remediation acceleration plan for West Yorkshire
which is appended to the report. This was shared with MHCLG at the end of
November. It outlines the proposed role of the combined authority alongside our
partners in speeding up remediation across West Yorkshire. Since we
shared that draft plan with MHCLG. They've published their own government guidance and so a national remediation
acceleration plan and further guidance for regulators and we're mindful that we need to update our draft plan to align with that national guidance as well
and subject to sufficient capacity.
We're also awaiting some further data on the scope of the challenge of buildings between 11 to 18 meters
which is expected in about a month's time, which will further help us shape the plan for the region.
And at this stage we'd welcome any comments or questions relating to the draft plan and the proposed role of the combined authority in the space
Thank you
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:30:06
Any comments any questions
Okay, thank you so much for that report and the recommendation is set out at 2 .1. Can we agree that

9 Dementia Task Force

Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:30:31
Item 9 is the Dementia Task Force. Helen is going to take us through this.
Helen Forman - 0:30:40
Yes. Thank you chair. Yes it's an update on the work of the Dementia Task Force
which was set up in March 2022 so now approaching its third birthday and so
some of the work especially the work we've done on housing stock proposed and
existing, maturing now as set out in the document.
And we're looking at next steps of how to work with health and
social care partners on some of the services around housing.
So one thing to add to the report is that it says that we
wrote to Matthew Pennecock about the work of the task force to
encourage government to look at building regulations in
light of the housing criteria that we've noted and
and encourage them to push forward national changes to housing stock
based on the number of people with dementia doubling in the next 25 years.
And he wrote back very quickly with a positive response,
so just to add that to the report.
Really, it's to ask today whether you've got any views on those next steps,
which are in 3 .8 of the report,
and any comments you have on the work done to date.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:31:53
Thanks for that Helen. Any questions, any comments? Jennifer, I thought you might.
Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:07
Thank you, great to see the report and really really positive about the aim being really
explicit there about the join up working to help improve services for people living with dementia,
so I really support that.
Is there anything, it was great to hear about the workshop
in January and bringing people together to think about that
and aligning it to the dementia strategy.
Is there anything that the ICB needs to respond to
or could be taking action on?
It says in there the recommendation from the strategy,
changes to signposting communication,
information recording, and support for carers.
Is there anything that we could be doing on that
that was sort of clear in the recommendations from that session,
anything you think we could be taking forward?
Helen Forman - 0:32:54
I think there are a couple of things that stand out.
One was the general emphasis in that workshop with housing providers
and people who support people living with dementia,
that training would be welcomed in the sector
so that people who are kind of on the front line of housing services are aware of what
dementia feels like and what it's like to live with the condition.
It's something that's come up before in workshops that we've done.
We had a round table in February last year where particularly kind of because older people,
people with dementia are not a homogenous group, there's a need for a culturally competent
service as well and culturally competent training so that's something that we are
looking to to try to to find some funding for and there are other things
in the report I think the main the main way that will probably work with the ICB
on this is through the dementia strategy that Alzheimer's Society is now writing
So we're in this several points within that and housing is one.
So Natasha Moore who's leading that for the Alzheimer's Society
is going to use the results from that workshop to feed into her strategy.
So yeah we'll just keep in touch.
Thank you.
Is there anything we can pick up in the link?
Okay, yeah. Thank you.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:34:30
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:34:33
Yeah, I know that Colfell officers have obviously been working closely on this with the command
authority and we're really pleased that you came to talk, that we had a meeting with the
registered providers, housing associations and stuff and I think that's been really beneficial
for you to be able to explain the work that's been going on around this.
That's really good, including on how you want registered providers to engage and everything.
And I'm just wondering if there's similar opportunities for private sector housing providers.
Yeah, thanks.
Thanks.
Yeah, we'd love to work with private housing providers.
Helen Forman - 0:35:21
And we've taken an item to our housing developer forum,
which we run here at Wellington House,
to flag up the work that we're doing with that group.
We're also, we've kind of developed a network of architects
that know about the criteria
and hoping to kind of work in that way.
There is one housing developer who is looking
to develop the criteria as a kind of accreditation badge.
And we haven't, although that's at the early stages,
that would be great, although they are just building
for social housing providers at the moment,
but they also do other work, so it's a start.
Yeah, I mean, dementia, people living with dementia
are across all sectors of society, so, you know,
and like I said, there's one million of them now.
There's gonna be two million in 25 years.
So we need all all homes to be ready for that for those numbers just to help people live in their homes for
For as long as this is safe. Yeah, which is what most people want to do
We're working on it
No, yes
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:36:38
Cllr Ben Burton (York Council) - 0:36:43
Yeah, it was just a quick one to say there. I tried to pick up on the Dementia Ready Housing Champions and so I think it's a really good idea to see in there.
I know at York Council a while ago we had someone who was a Dementia Champion and that really, even though it wasn't the core part of their job, it just really helped to have a name specified person driving it on.
I think it's just good to see that kind of thing being used across other members of the housing partnership
I think it's something we could draw on in other things that
The mayor will combine authorities trying to achieve elsewhere for just trying to make sure that those
Focuses picked up by all the partners that we work on by having named individuals working on it
Helen Forman - 0:37:18
Thank you happy to share any learnings that we have
Richard Butterfield, Advisory Representative (Historic England) - 0:37:27
Yeah, it's really a really welcome perspective.
I think it's part and parcel of sort of future -proofing housing stock for an aging population, isn't
it?
It's about helping people to remain independent in their own homes as well.
So it's got a really massive benefit that it can bring.
And it'd be really good to find out more about that network of architects and the kind of
approaches that you're taking, particularly with adaptation.
So that all sounds really good, and again,
another brilliant sort of linkage
that is being made through the committee.
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:38:01
Yeah, and does it sort of extend as well
to sort of layout of housing, and not just inside the house,
but the sort of planning around housing development
and integrated transport and all of those aspects as well
to make any of those bits more dementia friendly and well just generally people
friendly. Yeah you raised that's a really good point and most of the criteria
Helen Forman - 0:38:25
about eight of them refer to the internal layout of the home but it's
really really important that the neighborhood also is welcoming and easy
to access and helps people retain independence so we focus quite a lot on
the front door and you know the transition from inside to outside
because if you're being able to get outside then you immediately got that
you know stimuli stimulus and social interaction but also there is one
criterion for living close to a good selection of amenities which means
there's something to do and you know safe access to those within within one
kilometer is one of the criteria and it's not always possible in every
housing development but it sure does make a massive difference so yeah
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:39:22
anyone else okay thanks very much for that Helen and the recommendation is on
2 .1 if we can agree that

10 Implications of Devolution White Paper

Thank you.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:39:37
Item 10. Alison's going to take us through an update on the latest
on the step forward on the recommendations in the paper. Thank you
Allison Gillespie (Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:39:48
Chair. So I'll take the paper as read but I'll just talk us through a few points.
So the English devolution white paper as you probably know was published in mid
December 2024. So that seems quite a while ago now but this committee hasn't met since then.
So we thought it was an important moment for us to reflect on some of the content in that white paper.
So the paper we've written in your packs gives a bit of the context around the West Yorkshire Combined Authorities devolution journey so far
and also how government engaged combined authorities ahead of the publication of the white paper.
It also notes that works underway across the combined authority to influence the final content of the English devolution bill and paragraph
3 .8 provides details of some of the work streams that are ongoing many of which are led by our economic and strategy functions in the
combined authority
And that includes work on the local growth plan, which we have brought to you a previous meeting
So hopefully you'll be familiar with that and in terms of areas which will have an impact on the remit of this committee
I set out a paragraph 3 .16, some of the details of the revised evolution framework.
So that's the package of powers and responsibilities proposed to be conferred.
So I draw your attention to the integrated settlement, which we've noted in these meetings before.
So that provides a potential opportunity for us to shape future funding programmes to meet our specific needs in West Yorkshire.
And then also there are references to housing and strategic planning.
So the white paper sets out responsibilities for mayors to prepare a spatial development strategy and an ability to set the strategic direction
For any future affordable homes program funding so there are lots of other themes are relevant to place so culture
transport skills and we welcome comments across all of those themes, but
It's probably important to say we're kind of waiting further information on lots of the things that out in the white paper and in
Conversation with government on some of them
And then internally in the organisation, work streams are still kind of forming to respond and prepare.
But we're just really interested today to kind of hear your reflections on the proposed changes and the ambitions set out in the White Paper as a whole.
So that's all I was going to say and happy to take questions. And we've got colleagues in the room, obviously Hannah Andrews here, who leads on our planning work and Katie on housing and we'll do our best to answer any questions.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:42:04
Yeah, thanks for that. Right, any questions? Ben?
Cllr Ben Burton (York Council) - 0:42:13
This one, I was about to admit I was a little bit behind on this thing because York has only just got a mayor, so we're a bit behind.
But just to expand a little bit on the Community Infrastructure Levy and the plans around that, obviously that'll be a next step, won't it, in terms of the mayoral community infrastructure levy.
obviously that's quite a big opportunity for raising money in the future it seems
for opportunities but it's kind of new to me so I was just interested. Yeah so I
Allison Gillespie (Officer, West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:42:37
mean I think we're still working through the detail of what that means but for us
it's not that new because it was also included in our previous evolution round
we haven't implemented that it's a it's a it's a choice as I understand it and
So we'll need to work through the detail of how that fits
in terms of our wider financial approach
to funding infrastructure.
I don't know whether you have any further comments on it
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:06
at this point, but I think it's one of the ones that's still
on our list to have conversations about
with the wider Washington leaders and chief execs.
Thanks.
Just to add, I think as we grow the types and number
of projects we're involved in, then things like mass transit,
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:22
we're obviously looking at all the different ways
that that could be funded.
So we haven't come to a conclusion on that as yet.
So as Alison says, it's part of the mix.
We haven't enacted it.
So in some ways, we're in a similar place.
But in others, we have done some thinking around it.
But again, it could be one that we come back to the committee
on and also how it relates, as we were talking earlier,
about the integrated settlement and also
about the private sector leverage
Because if we think about pots of money that
might be available to us and the ways and means of which we can
leverage those, there's only so much money in which
is the right mechanism to try and do that.
Lisa Littlefair (Private Sector Representative) - 0:44:09
Thank you, Chas.
Confusing.
So yeah, looking great.
really positive moves for devolution I'm really supportive of that. I just got a
question about the economic development regeneration sort of set of
responsibilities and this sort of partnership with Department for Business and
Trade. It talks about culture, heritage, visitor economy, business support but
nothing really about kind of inward investment or that sort of deeper kind
of economic growth point with business.
Is that something that West Yorkshire sees as a priority?
I know other combat authorities do it a little bit differently.
Is that something you're thinking about?
Yeah, good question.
Because I think it's fair to say,
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:44:59
and part of the reason to have this conversation is that
governments have put this out as their white paper
and were supportive of it.
However, there's still a conversation
to be had about what more, or kind of how it's applied.
And there are certainly certain areas like business,
like on skills, where we're in conversation about what does
this really look like and how further can we go actually
beyond what's already been published.
And I think there's an opportunity to influence that.
We're working quite closely with the kind of new,
is it the office for OFI, I think is the title of it.
And I can't remember what the acronym stands for,
because there's too many acronyms.
So we are working with government
to try and strengthen the links with them
about what inward investment could look like.
But clearly, we are interested in making sure
that we have the right powers at a regional level.
And I think particularly that link between investment
and skills and how we are working through actually
further changes that have come since the devolution white
paper about work and health, et cetera, as part of it.
So that's not a very specific answer,
But I think if there are specific things that you think
we should be pushing for that you see in other places,
then it would be great to hear that.
And we can feed it into the work that we're doing.
Ben Aspinall (Private Sector Representative) - 0:46:23
Yeah, thanks.
I mean, I'm very, very supportive
of the whole evolution, gender, and glad to think
that things are gathering momentum at last.
I just wanted to pick up the specific point about the workshop about helping to support
the approach to regeneration.
I sent you an email in February, Liz via Kate, with some ideas.
and I think it's really important that you take some soundings from the private sector
and from the industry about how to shape those resources going forwards to maximum effect
and I made a point earlier about maximising that private sector leverage and gearing because
There's so many things and there will only be so much money
Inevitably and it will things it'll be tight and they'll be difficult choices, but having that clear
narrative about what what the
priorities are
Perhaps what are the market failures that we're trying to overcome with the funding that we we get
Just needs to be really really really clear and I think it needs to be really clearly communicated to the private sector as well
So I think we can help with that.
And I'd just like to, you know, I'd be very keen to obviously be involved in that more detailed workshop.
And I just encourage you to try and organise it as soon as possible so that we can feed in.
So that we feel as though we've got meaningful input rather than this is now been happening and this is how it's going to happen.
and sort of imposed on the private sector,
I think you'll get more if we're more upfront.
Yeah, I think that's right.
You don't want it to be done to you.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:48:29
You want to be able to shape it and work with it as well.
And this is why we have this committee here,
working with the private sector.
We value the private sector here very much.
We can't, you know, councils and the combined authority can't do anything without the private
sector, so it really is important that we do take that on board.
Anyone else?
I think you wanted, didn't you?
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:48:58
Yeah, I mean, I think there's so much possibility.
This is really exciting, I think, you know, the sort of steps towards devolution, and
I think that the whole thing about, you know, integrated settlements, I mean, we've been
talking about in councils, we want single settlements
and stuff as well, we want to be able to choose
where our money goes, set our priorities,
and I think it's great that the combined authority
with us as the constituent local authorities
are helping to shape those priorities,
set those priorities so that they can just be funded
rather than, and then we can choose how to use
the money within that, and I think that's really important.
And I think it's really interesting about the fact that we have, the committee structure
has changed a bit in order to, I think, and I don't think it's about reducing input, I
think it's about joining those things up because actually everything is so massively interlinked.
You can't separate out health and employment and housing, everything in transport, everything
is really interlinked.
So I know that this is what's behind the local growth plan, so that everything's looked at holistically.
I suppose I just want to make a case for making sure that that principle is held on to, so that we really are working in a sort of holistic way,
especially in the light of some of the, there has been talk in some areas around first come first served for some sort of budget areas, and that's quite concerning, I think.
So I've made myself some notes because I have got a lot to say on this, I'm afraid.
So some bits of place regeneration development work might not happen as quickly in some areas
as other areas, but it doesn't mean that they're not important.
So I think they're important to local regeneration and the part of it.
But yes, so some bits might come along a bit later, but it doesn't mean that they're not
important for local regeneration, the part that they have to play in regional
regeneration and how these play into encouraging and sustaining growth which
obviously you know locally, regionally and nationally is one of the priorities
that we want all that growth to happen but it can't you know especially for
cold though which is quite small you know we can't do it all in one go you
know we've been really behind in house building really recognize that over the
sort of like the decades that's coming on now with our local plan and we're
getting houses built you know we've got applications coming in and there's a lot
really positive stuff going on there and we've got quite a lot of different
projects in Southeast Colterdare for example which will work together to
create homes, employment, sustainable, integrated transport, all of that growth.
So we've got garden suburbs, we've got a new rail station planned for Elland, the
access package which is to help integrate the railway station with
other forms of sustainable transport. We've got the Clifton Enterprise Zone
which will provide jobs locally and regionally,
and then sort of road modifications in Brick House.
And these are all linked to each other.
They're also linked to the wider regeneration projects,
such as increasing capacity at Leeds Station,
and as well as local, regional, national public health
and environmental sustainability policies
and desired outcomes.
So all of it is all just in this great big sort
of package together, but we can't do it all in one go.
and I'm sort of worried about that first come first serve sort of budgetary sort of thing
because actually for us if one of you know so we've got these five different things happening
in South East Cork, if one of those fails they all fail really. So I would just say
just keep the whole thing about integrated settlements and the whole thing about this
greater devolution is about being able to work holistically so that needs to be taken
through on the detail as well. That's just a little plea really to just keep that.
Sorry if that was a bit rants. Not meant to be rantsy.
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:52:52
I think we've got the plug from For Colderdorf.
It's not just for that. That's obviously the example I know because that's my portfolio
Cllr Sarah Courtney (Calderdale Council) - 0:53:04
and where I'm you know sort of based and everything but I know that that will be replicated in
in other authorities and it's about I suppose it's just sort of saying you
know if we're looking at things holistically you have to look at the
funding holistically as well not just go oh well actually you didn't get your
bidding quick enough you didn't get your business case quick enough in for that
therefore it's not important because actually it's part of a bigger wider
strategic push for all of us. I think we got the message and I think if the mayor
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 0:53:36
was here she'd say we're Team Yorkshire and we're all together on this I'm
sure she would. Right, the recommendation is set up. Sorry, sorry.
Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:53:53
Sorry, what was it? Thank you. Just to flag the, in there it talks about the, in the
white paper about the potential to look at the health within that de -relation and
just to remind colleagues I think we're in a quite good place with that because
we've already got a partnership agreement between the ICB and the combined authority,
having Cathy on this committee and Ian on the Climate and Environment Committee and
we've got the Mayor and Ben on the Integrated Care Partnership board for the health and
care partners. So we've got some of that governance in place that is referred to in the white
The other aspect in the white paper is around a bespoke duty for health improvement, but
there's a lot to be worked out in what that really means.
But again, I think we're in a strong position with that work.
So the kind of the work that we've talked about in terms of the links between health
and housing, so keeping that well up on the agenda I think is important.
And another area that's referred to in the document is the work and health agenda, and
That work and health plan was signed off
by the combined authority last week.
And we've got a launch on Monday.
And building on what you've just said there, Councillor Courtney,
I think what's been great in developing that is we've really
had the community co -production.
We've had local authorities, both in that instance
through Employment and Skills colleagues and Public Health
and ICB at Place colleagues, DWP.
and our businesses as employers all in that space working on this together so that we
get that kind of holistic input and that's something that we want to continue looking
at how we're building through the health and housing work in a similar way. And I think
that that place join up has been one of the real strengths to come out of some of this
work. We've had a health and work partnership at West Yorkshire level which has enabled
some of that join up at place to come about because you know as much as we you
know try and work really closely everywhere being able to make sure we've
got that right engagement and so I'd encourage that continued focus on join
up at place and thinking about for the ICB part of this the real opportunity is
in the kind of neighborhood health approach which is where the
Jennifer Connolly, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:56:26
neighbourhood working that's so strong in play in our local authorities could
really connect so I think it's a real opportunity at local authority and ICB
place level to connect on that neighbourhood health bringing in the
employment and homes and social connections you know jobs, homes and
friends key things that keep us all well.
Thank you chair just I think just a quick observation going back to the
Stephen Moore - 0:56:52
on the point about inward investment as well.
Just looking at the white paper,
I think it's probably more of a plea to say that
it is a very complex landscape for businesses,
it's business support.
It's always attempted to make it simple,
but it never really does.
And it's not fault of any organization
like Combined Authority,
it's just that business is so varied.
So it's just a plea in that consistency
Consistency in terms of you know, the the front door is probably the main thing please but also
Happy to support with this. I was involved in the fed into the sort of online work
That's been undertaken at the moment
but just that plea to kind of keep it simple and keep a focus on the
You know what the business wants as opposed to necessarily what support we think the business wants if that makes sense, but just an observation
Cllr Alex Ross-Shaw (Bradford Council) - 0:57:53
Thank you, Chair. Just backing up what Councillor Conlon was saying really, just on how we think
as a combined authority where things sit between local authorities and a combined authority,
probably a good opportunity to do that work ahead of any government decisions around evolution.
In our authority, economic development has kind of split a bit between me and someone
else now, so I'm not as close to it as I was a couple of years ago, but you have those
issues of where the teams sit, how they do, where's the balance between their combined
authority and the local authority or how do you split the economic development
Cllr Ben Burton (York Council) - 0:58:25
function between having a centralized combined authority function and having
teamed locally because there's always a risk or a fear that low -hanging fruit
might be centralized in one authority so how do you make sure that economic
development spread out through the region while still getting the critical
mass of what you want to achieve through devolution and we can do that thinking
now prior to the government doing anything because you know the
government are going further on devolution but they see it very much
through the lens of combined authorities and you can tell because when they think
about local authority devolution referred to as double devolution which
to me is just like well it's just devolution but for them it's like an
extra barrier between buzz and evolution, or in the centre.
So I think it's good for us to do that,
thinking of how do we envisage economic development
and inclusive growth working, and where it sits,
so as and when opportunities come,
we've kind of got an agreed way of doing it,
and people are bought in.
And then also just, back in what Councillor Courtney said,
just on thinking about those,
the tension effectively,
into between having a robust assurance process where the best schemes with the
highest benefit cost ratios go forward whilst also accepting a strategic growth
measure of saying we need to intervene in the market here, we've got a failing
economy in that sector, in that place and also some teams will be a fraction of
the size in some authorities and they are in others and therefore your
capacity to do that feasibility work is so different. I know the combined
authorities done quite well in feasibility money and trying to make
sure we can breach that gap but that will be a challenge so there's always
going to be a balance you won't simply be able to have a kind of on paper
methodology that then works for the whole region because it will there's
such big disparities within the region and within districts as well so on that
housing perp you know looking at the Bradford stats thinking probably areas
in Bradford are double that and half it and that's just within one area so I
I think it's probably a bit we can do as well,
just in advance of any government decision.
Thank you, that's really helpful
and some really helpful comments.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:00:44
And just to say, it sounds like there's support
for a private workshop on some of this,
so we'll set that up if that's all right with you, Chair.
I think we recognize, and hopefully as a partnership,
recognize that housing and regeneration,
everybody's not in the same place.
And as you rightly say, Councilor O 'Shirwell,
where each place is going to require something different.
And I think in the past, because we've had particular pots
of money, everyone's gone, OK, well, we
need to share that out equally somehow,
because we're worried about whether there might be future
money coming.
And I think the work that this committee has done
to agree the spatial priority area is
to think about the places that are really important.
And you've mentioned, Council Courtney, a couple today.
And each place has those.
If we can agree that those are the places we are working
together on, and they'll come forward
at the appropriate time.
and then we try and find ways to work together to make them happen rather than then worrying
about, well, there's now a pot of money so we have to try and make things fit.
Because as we know, we try but it doesn't always work.
So I agree, we need to find a way to make sure that there's trust that we will work
together on schemes and they might take quite a long time to come forward for various reasons.
But that means that we'll be bringing decisions to you as a committee about things in an incremental
way which makes sense for the place.
but we've got to all, I suppose, recognize that that is the case.
And so it might look like first come, first serve,
but actually it's more about recognizing that places will need to be developed
at the appropriate pace for that place.
And that we will then try behind the scenes to hide some of the funding wiring
to enable decisions to come in the right way,
hopefully based on a better and more flexible integrated settlement.
But of course we wait to see, as we've said,
the kind of detail on how flexible that settlement will be. Thank you.
We all wait with anticipation about that and I do take colleagues points and do
Cllr Denise Jeffrey, Chair (Wakefield Council) - 1:02:35
agree with them. Anyone else on this? Okay can we agree the recommendation then it's

11 Date of the Next Meeting

set out at 2 .1 and then the date of the next meeting will be confirmed at the
much for your attendance. I think we've had some good discussions and good
debate and thank you for your contribution and new people like Rachel here. I hope
you've enjoyed the meeting and we'll see you again soon and give our best
Jennifer to Kathy. Okay thanks very much everyone and you'll catch your train now.