West Yorkshire Combined Authority - Thursday 24 July 2025, 11:00am - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

West Yorkshire Combined Authority
Thursday, 24th July 2025 at 11:00am 

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  1. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
  2. Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  4. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
  2. Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council)
  3. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  4. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  6. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  7. Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Cllr Martin Love Bradford Council
  10. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  15. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  16. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  17. Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  18. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  22. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Moses Crook Kirklees Council
  2. Cllr Denise Jeffery (Wakefield Council)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  10. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  17. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  18. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  19. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  20. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  21. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  22. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  23. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  24. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  25. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  26. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  27. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  28. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  8. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  9. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  10. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  11. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  12. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  15. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  16. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  17. Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council)
  18. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  19. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  20. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  21. Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  22. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  23. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  24. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  25. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  26. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  27. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  28. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  29. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  30. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  8. Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council
  9. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  10. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  11. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  12. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  13. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  14. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  15. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  16. Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  17. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  18. Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board)
  19. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  20. Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council
  21. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  4. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  5. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  6. Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair)
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  5. Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council)
  6. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  7. Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council)
  8. Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  2. Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council)
  2. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
  3. Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority
  4. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire
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  1. Webcast Finished

now.
Louis for a moment
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:00:38
Thank You, man, it's really sorry to say for people who may remember councillor mclain's who?
Used to be chair of the transport authority and one of my colleagues on these council 40 years sadly
passed away
last night
at the age of 93
So do you thought as we were a combined authority where many of the items including bus?
Franchising which was on the agenda later issues are very close to mix off
I thought it'd be appropriate to say a few words at the start of the meeting.
And I think lots of people know Council Debbie Cooper,
one of our deputy leaders that leads, his daughter,
and obviously our thoughts are with Debbie and all of Mick's family at this time.
Thank you, James.
I wonder, Ben, if we could send a letter of condolence from the committee
to Debbie and the family.
Thank you.
Okey doke.
Apologies, Miles.
Thank you, Mayor.
Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:01:30
Before I come to the apologies, I hope I could just briefly say thanks to you and the other
members of the committee and our senior leadership for all the kind support that was given during
my time off due to being the victim of a road traffic accident in Bradford and also to Councillor
Hinchliffe as well for all your wonderful support throughout that.
But I also just put on record my thanks to our wonderful Chief Executive Ben Still for
the wonderful support that is on offer for staff here in the combined authority who suffer
incidents like that for which I'm very, very grateful.
Can I also thank you too, Mayor, for all the wonderful support you do with Vision Zero
and pushing that agenda because as a victim it is nice to know in you we have a champion
who is standing up for us, who is a voice when there is none.
So thank you very much.
And also to our wonderful director, Satinder Sahota, and also to Natalie Rotherham and
my wonderful manager, Sarah Naylor.
Thank you very much for all the support from all the members of the committee and the senior leadership which meant so much to me
So on to the apologies
You've caught me as a bit of a sucker punch so thank you we are all incredibly delighted to see you and
It doubles down our commitment to vision zero. So thank you miles and so apologies
Myles Larrington, Committee Services Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:02:50
Thank you, Mayor. Apologies from Councillor Paterson with Councillor Crook attending as her substitute, Councillor Holdsworth with Councillor Galton attending as her substitute and Fatima Khan -Shah, Mayor.
Thank you so much. Oki -doke. Declarations of interest. Do any members have any interest they wish to declare?
No, thank you. Exclusion of press and public. Officers have advised that information contained
in appendix 1 to agenda item 15 bus franchising update are treated as exempt under paragraph
3 of part 1 to schedule 12a of the local government act 1972. This is because they can... financial
or business affairs of any particular person, including the CA, and further that it's considered
the public interest in maintaining the content of the appendices as exempt outweighs the
public interest in disclosing the information, as publication would prejudice current and
future decision -making.
If we agree, the present public will be excluded should members wish to discuss the content
of the appendices when we consider item 15.
Are we in agreement?
Thank you.
The minutes of the meeting held on 19th June 2025. Do any members have any further comments or questions?
No? Are we content to confirm these as an accurate record? We are. Thank you so much.
Okie doke, moving on to the Mayor's update.
While a lot has happened since we last met, we've seen the launch of the Government's Industrial Strategy, which was informed by my own local growth plan.
The strategy identifies the eight key sectors which broadly align with the sectors we've
focused on within our growth plan, including health and life sciences, financial services,

5 Mayor's Update

creative industries, tech and digital and business and professional services.
And pleasingly, the government's committed to supporting investment and growth in city
regions such as ours, announcing several new policies and programmes which can support our
ambitions.
A £600 million strategic sites accelerator, a £500 million local innovations partnership
fund, which we're guaranteed £30 million from, and access to a £500 million mayoral
recyclable growth fund.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:05:07
Following the strategy, the government has published sector -specific plans to take forward
their ambitions, and I was fortunate enough to join the Chancellor in Leeds last week
as she launched the Leeds reforms ahead of her Mansion House speech in London.
And it was very pleasing to see people having to get on the train from London to come to
the launch here in Leeds and then have to go back on the train to hear the Mansion House
speech.
I think Leeds is definitely where it's happening with the financial and professional services.
And the Leeds reforms aim to drive investment and growth in the financial services sector
across the country.
and it's significant that the announcement was made in our region,
cementing our role as home to the Northern Square Mile.
I was also able to join Lisa Nandy, the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport,
on a visit to Production Park in Wakefield to mark the launch of the Creative Industries Sector Plan,
which named One Creative Norths, a project I know you're aware of,
that we've been leading to bring the North together for a greater cultural offer,
and also help drive jobs and growth in the sector across the north.
The industrial strategy and our local growth plan will help create jobs and opportunities across our region.
Our investments in transport and skills will connect people to those jobs, putting more money directly into people's pockets.
In the last month, I also welcomed Miata van Buller, the Minister for Energy Consumers,
to Bradford alongside Councillor Hinchliffe to look at our work on retrofit,
And I've also attended roundtables with Bridget
Philipson, Secretary of State for Education, to
discuss post -16 education training, Darren Jones, the
Chief Secretary to the Treasury, to discuss the
government's 10 -year infrastructure pipeline,
and Sarah Jones, the Industrial Strategy
Minister, to discuss the industrial strategy.
I was also able to speak with Jim McMahon, Minister
for Devolution, Local Community, before the
publication of the English Devolution and Community
Empowerment Bill.
And there is a paper on this later in the agenda
where we can discuss the contents of it.
So that's my update on with the rest of the meeting.
Item six, travelling to school consultation policy update.
This report marks a significant milestone
following the successful public consultation
where we received wide ranging and insightful feedback
that's helped shape our proposed changes.
And this consultation and the outcomes have paved the way
for constructive adjustments to our policy
and these changes are designed
not only to improve consistency, but to ensure services remain affordable and sustainable,
minimising where possible disruption for pupils and parents alike.
We are being asked to approve the revised School Transport Policy as detailed in the
report and additionally we will be engaging proactively with schools to ensure they are
well prepared for implementing these changes commencing September 2026.
Our current school transport system in West Yorkshire is robust, serving 20 ,000 pupils
daily across 328 busses supported by diverse funding sources.
The consultation's resounding participation with over 3 ,700 respondents underscores our
community's commitment to shaping a sustainable and inclusive transport strategy.
And if approved today, we will be implementing this forward -thinking
Sustainable travel to school policy this approach not only promotes active travel options
But ensures dedicated school bus services remain accessible and efficient where needed
Aligning with our vision for a well connected and resilient transport network aligned to our bus franchising ambitions
So now can I invite councillor Susan Hinchliffe chair of the Transport Committee?
to speak to the report and then followed by Tim Taylor our Director of Transport
Services. Thank you Susan. Thank you Mayor and can I first of all say thank you to
Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:09:01
all those people who participated in the consultation exercise and all the work
that's gone into this. You rightly say it's one of the most comprehensive school
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:09:08
bus programmes in the country I think actually. We dedicate a lot of busses to
schools and getting our children around and about in West Yorkshire but I'll
Thank you, Tim.
Thank you, Mayor.
So this paper provides an update on the consultation and proposed policy changes as a result of
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:09:27
that public consultation which the Couldn't Bond Authority conducted for seven weeks during
April, May and June.
And members will recall back in April we brought a paper which was approved and given the approval
to proceed with that consultation to get reviews of the public on the longer -term approach
to school transport, including those school busses.
At the time we recognised that the previous policy had not been reviewed for a number
of years and with the changes in travel habits as well as implementation of bus franchising

6 Travelling to School Consultation & Policy Update

coming in 2027 there was a need to provide a new policy which remained fit for purpose.
The consultation as you described was well engaged with, the majority of whom were parents
and carers of secondary school pupils and the report sets out in detail a summary of
the demographics of the respondents that were found and that more detailed than we found
in the relevant appendix.
The consultation also showed clear support across the objectives of the school travel
strategy, with broad overall support for our objectives and strong support that travel
remains and rightly so affordable.
Our recommendation following detailed analysis of the feedback from the consultation is to
implement a new sustainable travel policy with key variations from the option for set
out and making sure that those take into consideration the consultation feedback.
Under this policy we would revise our guidelines for the provision of dedicated bus services to secondary schools,
with changes implemented over time to services that were provided now, taking advantage of the process of bus franchising implementation,
to ensure changes are undertaken to minimise where possible the impact on pupils and parents.
Under this policy, children, those children and young people who can be expected to safely walk, wheel or cycle to school should be encouraged to do so,
and those children who cannot safely walk real or cycle should be able to feel confident in using public transport to get to school.
And those children who are unable to use public transport services should still have a dedicated home to school bus service
available to them to get them to their nearest suitable secondary school.
Of equal importance and unless eligible under free travel by law,
pupils should be charged an affordable and equitable fare for their journey as well,
whether they are travelling on a general network bus or on a dedicated school bus services.
We recognise through the application of this policy over time that we need to manage that process carefully and
in particular in the context of a transition to a franchise bus network.
The paper makes clear that we have identified just six school services for which we are proposing changes from September 2026 and
these all have following our assessments suitable active travel or public transport network alternatives.
We have already started engagement with these schools and we are recommending that we undertake
detailed engagement and consultation with those affected schools or those proposed affected
schools out of any changes being applied.
Further ahead, as the combined authority is moving towards implementing bus franchising,
the school bus network will be considered as part of that implementation process to
see whether any changes in the general bus network might be able to make it easier for
children to use those school services.
Any further changes described beyond these papers will require more detailed assessments,
taking into consideration those changes resulting from the network being transitioned into franchising.
Finally, we will also continue to invest in supporting resources to support with the implementation of this policy
and to ensure that pupils are familiar and confident in using public transport, which we believe is an essential life skill.
I'll stop there.
Mayor, I'm happy to take any questions members might have on the paper.
Thank you and if I could thank you and our colleagues for the detailed consultation and
I'm really pleased that the public also threw themselves into the consultation too.
I thought there was really good numbers and a great spread and variety of people who took
time out to fill in the consultation so thank you for all that you do.
So questions?
Councillor Lamb.
Thank you, Mayor.
I flagged up some of these concerns with officers outside of the meeting so it's not completely out of the blue.
There's two aspects to this for me. One is around the principle, which I don't support and I'll come back to that and have some questions about it.
But the concern I'd like to address to start with is around process and making sure that the combined authorities are in a position to make a sound decision today with all the right information available.
I'm not clear that we're fully meeting our Public Sector Equality Duty and I certainly
don't believe that we've followed the gunning principles on consultation which would leave
us wide open to a legal challenge on this.
Particularly around 2 .2, the wording of it and having just quickly re -read the documents,
it isn't made clear that this isn't a decision made.
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 0:14:10
So the recommendation I think as discussed with officers outside the meeting really doesn't
Cllr Claire Douglas (York Council) - 0:14:14
do the job because it needs to be crystal clear that the proposals you're putting forward,
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:14:19
which even though I don't support them, they must be consulted on. We can't just take the
decision. Engagement could mean sending a letter. It's not clear in the paper or in
the recommendation that this is a consultation at this point and that it could be changed.
The outcome is not set or predetermined.
It feels to me like it is.
I have been assured outside of the meeting that absolutely isn't the case, that this
could be reversed, this can be changed.
But I would like to be satisfied by the officers that we have a robust recommendation for members
to take.
Thank you.
Tim.
Thank you, Mayor.
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:14:59
And as previously described, we are committed to making sure
that we properly engage and consult with the schools that
are set out and proposed in this paper.
We want to make sure, and again, part
of the principles of not proposing any changes ahead
of September 2026 is to allow adequate and reasonable time
for that consultation and engagement to take place,
making sure that our assumptions that we have taken
through the assessment of schools and the alternative
arrangements for those schools in question
have been reasonably considered, that we've not
made any mistakes in those assumptions and that we can take into account any
changing factors that those schools might put forward and parents might put
forward as a result of that process. So I think we are satisfied that that process
is both robust and reasonable in terms of moving forward in both the
applications of policy and our interpretation of it for those schools
affected. Thank you. Councillor Goulton.
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:15:54
I just wanted to understand the primary driver behind the decision because I was looking
through the recommendations earlier and then went into the case for change. And the case
for change is presented here as an issue of equity. And it basically says that some parts
of the combined authority are getting more than others. And I know that for instance
when we go through union negotiations the unions would say well instead of trying to
negotiate downwards why don't we try and lift all to an equal benefit.
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:16:32
Thank you comrade. Yeah and so I just wondered what this inequity was because it isn't actually
mentioned in the paper who was getting more than somewhere else and how you were measuring
it. Because I thought all of this was about making sure that specific school communities
had their needs addressed by having specific bespoke transport solutions made for them.
So are we going into a system of rationing through this decision or what? Because I'm
not quite sure how cutting two services in Leeds and three services in Bradford creates
greater equity. So can I have that explained, please?
Thank you. I'm just going to come to Cynda on the legal position that was raised by Councillor
Lamb. Then I'll come back to Tim to answer that question. Thank you.
Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:17:30
Thank you, Mayor. And relative to Tim's clarity regarding his further explanation in terms
of there are going to be no service delivery changes and there is going to be engagements
and views taken from relevant parents via schools. I am satisfied that the gunning principles
referred to in respect of consultation will be met. I hope that satisfies members. I'm
also grateful to Councillor Lamb to have the ability to discuss these matters before the
start of the meeting. Thank you, Mayor. That's always a good principle and thank you. I
I would second that.
Thanks for raising it before the meeting.
But also just before I come to Tim, we are changing the bus offer in West Yorkshire.
The Weaver network is going to give us so many more opportunities to connect young people
to places that they've never been connected to.
So it was a wise decision to look at as part of franchising the school bus offer as well.
But Tim.
Thank you, Mary.
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:18:29
And absolutely we want to make sure that, you know, as the policy sets out that there
is consistent, equitable, and reasonable access to a bus
network, be that dedicated home to school transport,
or indeed the general bus network.
And again, franchising affords us the opportunity
to make changes to that network to allow that principle
to continue.
But we are also keen to make sure
that we encourage the use of active travel
through that process and make sure
that pupils are confident in using the general network.
There is by design at this moment in time a fairly considerable level of variation in
the level of provision of service across West Yorkshire and that has evolved over a number
of years and this policy aims to address and review that over time but using as I say the
principles of the franchising network to help us make those change.
Thank you. Councillor Love.
Cllr Martin Love Bradford Council - 0:19:29
Thank you, Mayor. Can I ask on behalf of the ward members who are affected by these changes
if you can arrange some briefings directly for them and not just for the wards in which
the schools exist. One of them is in my ward but the children are affected in a adjacent
ward. I'm very happy to do so and again part of
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:19:44
the reasons for giving considered time for implementing any change is to allow that proper
So very happy to have that and indeed that has started on a number of occasions already
but yes, very happy to do so. Thank you.
Thank you. Any changes will be September 26th. So we have time to engage with all communities
and I would appreciate board members being part of that conversation. Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:20:09
Councillor Galton. Thanks, Chair. The response I got didn't
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:20:18
answer my question, which was what was the problem of equity that was presented that
you were hoping to solve by these measures? And which parts of West Yorkshire were deemed
to have more than their fair share of school transport provision? And secondly, we've been
told that the new franchised weaver service will be the solution to ensure that everyone
has equitable access to transport provision. My understanding is that the franchise services
won't be introduced until well after these changes are implemented. And given the track
record of current providers in pulling back frequency of services at the drop of a hat
without any consequence from the combined authority, what confidence do we have that
the services that we're referring children to that have got reduced school transport
services from this proposal, that they will actually be there for them? Have we got a
deal?
That's quite a there are many questions in your question there. But I would say the one
thing that stands out for me when you say that operators pulling back services exactly
why we're taking the decision to bring busses back into public control.
And when you say there's no consequences, the general public are paying we are paying
to reinstate services that have been pulled. So we understand the nightmare for the passenger.
I am the passenger in chief. I understand how difficult it is for people
to get around this region. So that is why we are bringing busses back
under public control and I would hope that there is universal support for that because
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:22:05
we know that the public, young people need that chance to take up the opportunities that
we are delivering across West Yorkshire. But would you like to reply to that? It was many
questions but maybe just take the what question are we trying to answer?
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:22:25
So I'll just I'll deal with the equity question specifically if I can. So by way of example
We know that there are much greater levels of service provision in leads and Bradford as an example
Above the statutory minimum compared to the likes of Wakefield and what we want to do is to make sure that we've got equal levels
of provision
Providing the right services for the right individual based on need and availability of service
So we are very clear that the policy allows us to do that and the policy framework is very much aligned to our local transport plan
principles and our Weaver Network principles as well. So it's really important for us that we have complementary policies in that space
Thank You councillor lump
Thank You mayor
Sorry for coming back this but it is very important to a lot of people and I get a lot of correspondence as a ward
Councillor I've had the most correspondence comfortably on this issue as a member of of this board than than anything else in my time here
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:23:20
it. So I don't support the policy. I think it's an attack on choice, an attack on faith -based
education in particular, making it harder for people to make the choices they want to
make. My assumption is that for most parents, if walking, wheeling or cycling was the best
option for their child, that's what they'd be doing now. I don't think it's for this
combined authority to make that decision on their behalf, but that's my position. I've
got a question and then a bit of clarity. So on the specifics of the withdrawal of the
proposed withdrawal of the S64 and the S66 which go from Belden to Titus Salt Secondary
School I understand they then become the P64 and the P66. It's not clear in the papers
what happens to the P64 and the P66 because they go if I understand correctly they come
from Beyland to Titus Salt, drop off secondary school pupils that start at one time, the
primary school starts a bit later so it then becomes a primary school bus. So will the
primary school bus still run? And how is there an efficiency if the same bus still has to
do the journey just one way, it won't have any passengers on?
Thank you, Councillor Lamb. But also can I encourage you to pivot everybody that's coming
into your inbox into this consultation. I'm hoping that they've all taken part
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:24:43
Tim Taylor Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:24:49
rather than just filling up your inbox. Thank you, Tim. So in terms of that
specific service, again as previously explained Mayor, the whole principle of this
process is to then engage with the schools effective through this change.
The policy itself talks to secondary schools not primary school movement so
again I think that you know we've made that point clear but we will make sure
that we understand the implications of any change ahead of applying those. So, you know,
again, we're happy to engage with you and your members and constituents on that matter.
Thank you. Oki -doke. Councillor Lamb.
It's one of the final point of clarity on the decisions, but people have contacted me
since the consultation closed, having taken part, because they feel that they haven't
been listened to. That's why they've got in touch in large numbers. The clarity point
I wanted to make on 2 .2, I believe it needs to be either clear in the minutes or we need
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:25:39
to change the recommendation and relaxed which way we do it to make sure this is not a final
decision. The final decision on whether to withdraw these services needs to come back
to this board following consultation. I don't believe it's within the principles on consultation
or fulfilling our public sector equality duties if we make that decision and don't make it
clear today?
As a parent myself, I know that change is difficult and change, you know, is very stressful
for parents when they're making choices about which school to send their child to. So I
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:26:15
can understand the parents' anxiety. But we are doing this because it was a historic relationship
with different schools that had no clarity and no framework. We've got to sort it out
as we go to franchising. So that's why we're doing it.
But Ben, if you could speak to Councillor Lam's particular point.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:26:36
Thank you, thank you, Chair. And defer to Tim if anything I say, Tim, isn't
as you would say it. But I think what the paper is seeking here
is we have consulted on should the policy change and should there be a consistent policy.
And so the first recommendation is asking that the policy recommendation is agreed.
That gives us a consistent policy framework that will then be deployed as we move into
the rounds of franchising in the future.
But it gives that basis.
What's happening with the six schools is then an issue of has the policy been correctly
applied for all the schools and for those six in particular.
And that's the engagement that is undertaken with the six, is my understanding.
So if the policy has been applied correctly following engagement with the school, then
the recommendations would be enacted. If they're not, and for further changes in the future,
we would of course bring an update back to the combined authority. Is that correct, Tim?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:38
Tim, anything to add? No, thank you, Mayor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:27:44
Good stuff. That was a good, robust conversation, as I anticipated it being. Thank you so much.
to any parents watching or teachers, please do continue to stay engaged.
So moving on to the approval, are we content to approve the changes to the school transport
policy to endorse engagement with affected schools and note the planned approach to managing
service changes in line with franchise bus service implementation plans?
Are we happy to approve the changes to policy?
Thank you so much.
Any abstentions?
Any disagreements?
Thank you.
Good stuff.

7 West Yorkshire Infrastructure Strategy & Spatial Development Strategy (Preparatory Phase)

Moving on to West Yorkshire Infrastructure Strategy and Spatial Development Strategy.
The title is pretty technical, but what we're really talking about is something absolutely
fundamental, creating a clear long -term plan to guide where and how our region
grows and infrastructure we'll need to support that growth. I'm really pleased
to see this report come forward. It sets out a clear and ambitious plan to begin
shaping that future, ensuring we're not simply responding to national policy but
helping influence and lead it by getting ahead of the curve. We're giving
ourselves the best possible chance to set a joined -up vision, one that brings
together planning, housing, transport, energy, and infrastructure in a way that works for
our people and places. Now, the spatial development strategy will
give us a long -term region -wide framework for sustainable growth. And the infrastructure
strategy will help us map out what's needed to support that growth and secure the investment
to make it happen. And together, they offer a fantastic opportunity to deliver on our
ambitions building thriving well connected communities attracting new
investment and unlocking sites for housing and jobs across the region. May I
invite Councillor Denise Jeffrey as chair of place regeneration housing to
speak to the report and then Liz Hunter our director of policing environment
place take us through recommendations. Thank you Denise. Thank you Mayor I think
Cllr Moses Crook Kirklees Council - 0:29:56
you've covered it very well but we have been discussing this at our place
committee and we and obviously today we're asked to start work it's obviously
Cllr Denise Jeffery (Wakefield Council) - 0:30:05
statutory we're asked to start work on both plans and I think that that's the
thing that we should do and we've had great discussions we had a workshop last
year about this now it's coming forward it's exciting it's innovative and it's
it's the way forward and I think that I would say that as committee today that
we should we should move forward and start work on both both plans together
I will ask Liz to.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:30:32
And certainly being at the meeting with the newly formed NISTA and their 10 -year infrastructure
plan, I'm really pleased that we're ahead of the game and we're developing our own infrastructure
plan to inform governments.
Liz.
Thank you.
So just to add a couple of things.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:30:52
So as you rightly say, the spatial development strategy is the statutory duty which will
be through the planning and infrastructure bill.
And then the infrastructure strategy
is the document that we think is important to go alongside it.
We think the evidence base can be developed
for both in parallel.
And as you rightly say, there are others
who are looking at pipelines.
And we think the infrastructure strategy is,
Councillor Jeffrey has already mentioned,
we've discussed at our place committee
and his interest from others like the health system
to make sure they work with us.
So it's not just about our infrastructure
that we have accountability for around this table,
but also how we align and look at other infrastructure that's needed.
And just to bring it right back to the purpose around this is that we have a really ambitious growth plan, as you've mentioned,
and so these documents are in support of enabling that local growth plan to be delivered.
And the strategic development strategy, we still await guidance from the government,
but we think we should try and get ahead of that, as you say, so that we're starting the work already.
We do know that the expectation is that spatial development strategy should look at strategic
patterns and scale of development, it should look at key infrastructure, so the relationship
to mass transit therefore is one of those key bits that we can look at but it's not
the only one.
Strategic locations for growth but not site allocations and as you say really kind of
getting ahead of what we need to do to see that growth come forward.
There aren't many of these across the country already.
Others have looked at the development.
If members want to see what some of these could look like,
the government mentioned the London Plan,
which is available on their website.
That's probably more detailed than we were going into,
but obviously we need to do the scoping work to understand
exactly what members around the table want to see in the SES.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:32:40
One thing that did cross my mind, Liz, is that there's a timeframe of 18 months.
that feels like a long time given that we know an awful lot about what we want to do
in our area. Could we try and get a first draught in a year, do you think? Is that possible
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:32:56
or is that too stretching? Thank you. So always good to have a challenging
target. I think the expectation from government is that these will be in place by the end
of the parliament. There is guidance around the examination in public and how that would
So certainly us having a draught and understanding what we want within that, within a year, would
be a helpful way then to make sure we're timing into those statutory processes that come after
that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:21
Sorry, Liz, the infrastructure strategy, not the SDS.
Ah, sorry.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:33:24
No, thanks for the clarity, Ben.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:26
Because that was, it's mentioned that the infrastructure strategy is 18 months, whereas
the SDS is four years.
I do understand that, because that involves water, cabling, all the other infrastructure
energy and so on, but the infrastructure strategy?
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:33:42
Yes, we will do our best, Mayor, thank you. I'll take that back to the team and see if
we can map out the plan to be able to do it in the year.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:33:49
Any comments? Yes, Mandy.
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 0:33:54
Thanks, Liz. It's really good to see that as it's obviously a fundamental part of the
growth plan and then an opportunity for the businesses within this area to achieve their
growth perspectives from our growth plan. Whilst we're looking at that plan, are we
able to look at the policy of how we purchase things from the local area to make sure that
that growth achieves the ambitions of the businesses in this region as well as the national
and regional objectives?
Thank you, great suggestion, I think we could take that away. Thank you. Councillor Galton
and then Councillor Anderson.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:34:31
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:34:35
I was quite surprised we were told about the transport consultation which was happening
in our area and it was sent by a company based in London.
And I thought I'm sure we've got companies that could deliver that within our own region.
So let's hope that that gets taken into consideration.
My question there is really around how you include people in that conversation around
deciding what is an important aspect of our spatial strategy.
And it's interesting because the place concept, people when they think of the place where
they live, they tend to think of the village or the town or the city that they live in.
They don't tend to think it's West Yorkshire. So as part of that strategy we need to make
sure that we're having those conversations in localities to talk about their needs in
infrastructure. And I'll give you an example. There's a growth, for instance, in logistics.
More people are buying things online, therefore there is greater demand for logistics centres
which get placed within our innovation zones and they're there for economic growth. But
they do have consequences around how those haulage firms operate and how they respond
to the communities which host those facilities. And it would be really useful, for instance,
to understand that we have an idea locally about how we manage that to get the benefits
of that economic growth but also to mitigate it by making sure that the infrastructure
is there to accommodate them such as things like truck stops.
I'm looking into that at the moment and I'd be happy to feed that work into your strategy
if that's okay.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:10
To take support and advice.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:36:13
Thank you.
Councillor Lecce.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:36:21
Just briefly, I was going to ask you on the line, you may already have it, but when are
you going to publish clearly the consultation plan that you've got so that ward members
that are going to be affected are involved from day one in it?
And then following on from that, the public consultation and how you're going to deal
with any issues that are raised there.
And finally a time frame so that we know what's happening so that we can just certainly as someone who's working on the
local leach plan to ensure that the dates that we're working to
Meet with yours and vice versa or if there are any problems either you can bring them up or we can bring them up
And then the next one
Now I'll paraphrase this by saying I've already spoken to Liz and I'm going to be meeting her with her outside of the meeting
But in terms of paragraph 3 .9
I have concerns
As to where all these planners are going to come from and how we're going to do it because I want this to be a success
Because we leads know only too well
That when a legal challenge comes from local residents
It can bring things to a jottering halt and if this doesn't done properly we run the risk. That's
some company or somebody does it. And it's where are we going to find the resource? Have
we already got ideas about the resource and it's just not being put on this paper here?
I was looking for a link to go through some further information, but where are we going
to get the resource from without it costing us too much by paying well over the odds for
planners to attract them away from local authorities nearby who are then going to have the problems
of back filling them.
Thank you, Councillor.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:38:06
What's really helpful is that our local authority partners have local plans themselves.
So that will be a really good start for these up to date local plans that some local authorities
have.
And also our corridors of opportunity, we can see the picture there.
And the work that's been done on the infrastructure ambitions around those corridors based on
transport links as well.
But Liz, would you like to respond to that?
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:38:35
Thank you. We brought it here today really to make sure that you were as a board comfortable that we did these two pieces of work.
And particularly that we started the spatial development strategy, sorry, too many S's, ahead of the bill being enacted to kind of get ahead.
If you are in agreement to that then some of the work council Anderson you're talking about in terms of mapping the timeframes
And making sure that we do have those robust plans in place
we can now go away if you're happy today to kind of kick start this we can we can do that work and and
It is
It'd be really important as you say to make sure that we've set out that in advance
So that people know when to they can get involved on the resourcing and we are
are lucky that we do have some planners already in my team
who've got that planning background,
even though we haven't had a planning function so far.
So they've been really helpful in making sure
and starting to think about this.
But again, resourcing, as the note says,
is something we will continue to look at
and see what we can do.
Ideally, we will do as much as we can
with the existing information we have,
but clearly we need to do more work,
particularly on the kind of evidence base,
linking to what we've already got in the local growth plan
and then what next.
So and Councillor Galton always take offers of interest so we can follow up afterwards
on that.
I think what we might be helpful to do is if we kind of come back to the committee at
a relevant point around the kind of scoping of the work so that people are clear about
the level of detail that this infrastructure strategy will go into because clearly you
still do have plans at a local level, not necessarily need to replicate in all its detail
but we need to make sure that we've got a regional approach to it and maybe we could come back with how that
how that looks both in terms of the SDS and the infrastructure plan.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:40:23
Thank you so much. Councillor Hinchliffe.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:40:26
Yeah I'm just welcoming the programme really. I think it's a good opportunity to maximise our resources as well.
I'm just reminded that I think not too long ago there were statistics saying 22 % of all the health tech jobs in the country
located in West Yorkshire. So it is a real strength for our sector and we need to capitalise
on that. And if we can grow that still further, then that gives us a real opportunity for
high quality jobs in the region which will be able to be retained here and grow further
businesses from that and further consolidate our advantage. So I'd just like to sort of
welcome the investment really. Thank you. Thank you. Councillor LANDERS.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:41:04
First is to echo Councillor Anderson's point about resourcing.
We know in our authorities we don't have enough planners and a lot of this work is very detailed
and technical and it needs planners to do it.
And it is a concern that we don't either race ahead by pinching all the good planners to
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:41:24
come here and then leave our constituent authorities struggling to do the work they need to do.
or equally if we don't do that, do we have the capacity,
are there some creative ways that we can,
working with universities for example, to develop this.
And then the second point for me is around geography
and sort of not being too insular with this,
while we can only develop a plan for within our,
the boundaries that we're responsible for.
If you look at the map at the end,
If you're in Holmfirth or Todmorden,
what happens in Sheffield or Manchester,
infrastructure -wise, is as significant
as what happens in West Yorkshire.
If you're in Wetherby, which you'd always expect me
to bang the drum for, then what's happening
in North Yorkshire and York and Harrogar is as important.
And if we just have an insular plan,
it doesn't actually reflect the needs
of all of our businesses and residents.
And in the end, this is what this has to be about.
It's about making people's lives better,
making it easier to do business,
making it easier to get around and people's lives don't start and stop at the edge of
West Yorkshire. They probably should.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:42:39
I do agree and that's why it was important for me to sign the White Rose Agreement with
the mayor of York and North Yorkshire and the mayor of South Yorkshire and obviously
we have strong relationships with the mayor of Greater Manchester and Liverpool. So you
wouldn't be surprised that of course those conversations are continually ongoing. But
This is about the approval for the first steps. So thank you for your comments on that.
So are we ‑‑ there was the first bit. I think it's really important we get some
reassurance on ‑‑ I appreciate we don't ‑‑ it's too soon to have the detail but
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 0:43:11
just the principle of where the resourcing is going to come from to deliver this.
I'm so sorry. I thought Liz addressed that in that she's
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:43:19
got ‑‑ to get us to this point we have planners in the team.
but Liz, do you want to come back?
Thank you.
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:24
So we, there's a couple of things.
So one, government, as the note says,
has given us some funding to be able to start this work.
And so we'll be utilising that funding as far as we can.
We're then hoping that there'll be further funding
for subsequent years, given that, as the mayor said,
this is a four -year programme.
I do have some planners in the team.
We will be looking to understand
whether we need to supplement that.
and we will want to work with the local authorities because as you rightly say that's where the expertise is and
We are really we have we have an understanding
About the local plan processes obviously that are kind of underway at the moment and their peaks and troughs of work
And we'll try as far as we can to make sure that we don't disrupt those
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:44:11
And also you may have heard that government announced funding for extra planning planning for trainers training for planners
because if they're going to build their 1 .5 million houses, we need more planners.
So I think that's also something that is seen at the centre of government and locally as well as a priority.
OK, thank you so much for those contributions.
Are we happy to approve the commencement of the West Yorkshire Infrastructure Strategy and Spatial Development Strategy
while the Planning and Infrastructure Bill progresses through Parliament using one -off government funding for 25 -26?
Happy to approve. Thank you all so much.

8 Region of Learning & Creativity

Moving on to item 8, region of learning and creativity.
What an exciting step forward this is, delivering on one of our central pledges to help everyone in West Yorkshire get the skills and support they need to succeed.
And as the paper explains, this strategy brings together all of our work on employment and skills into one shared vision,
from helping people find good jobs and retrain, to supporting employers to invest in the talent they need to grow.
It's also about the longer term, equipping young people with the knowledge, confidence and opportunities
to make informed choices and thrive in a fast -changing economy.
I'm really pleased that we're developing this strategy in full partnership with our constituent councils, employers and communities,
that it's going to sit alongside action plans for health, housing and transport, so we're tackling challenges in the round.
Alongside this, we've also been asked to approve the new Connect to Work programme and an expansion
of Skills Connect, both of which will help more people into good jobs with the right
support.
Now, just to flag that the Connect to Work programme is a high fidelity model that government
has asked us to deliver.
We have very little scope or ability to change the delivery model for this, despite our frequent
lobbying and requests for greater flexibility.
I'm going to come to Michel Burton, our head of employment and skills, to take us through
the recommendations.
But before I do, can I please ask Ben Still to come in, who's got a suggestion for a tweak
to the wording of the recommendation on this paper and the reasons why we think this tweak
is needed.
BEN STILL, M .S.
Thank you, Chair.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:46:28
So if I may just point members to the recommendations for this paper in the concern of connectivity
work scheme. Members will recall that a previous meeting
the combined authority agreed to the creation of the Healthy Working Lives board, which
is a joint forum with the Integrated Care Board, West Yorkshire, in order to look at
various programmes that both ourselves, local authority partners, and the health system
are undertaking. The first meeting of that board is next week.
And so in the light of that, in order that that board can fully consider the proposals
that are in front of you this morning, what we are proposing is that amendment is made
to recommendations on page 205 and 206. The recommendations are in paragraph 2 .2. And
that little I and little V are amended so that they are in effect delegations to the
chief executive in consultation with the mayor and the chair of economy board rather than
direct decisions from this committee today, which thereby allows the views of the healthy
working life board to be taken into account in making this decision.
Thank you. Sir Tinder.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:47:54
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:47:55
Thank you, Mayor. In light of that suggested amendment to Roman
Ural 1 and 5, it's recommended, Mayor, in order to make that change, that a motion is
Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:07
put to the committee from the floor, perhaps yourself, and seconded and voted on.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:48:15
That's great. Thank you. Do I just speak to the amendment or do I speak to the wording?
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:22
So it's the proposed amendment first and then the remainder, please.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:48:28
I'd like to propose we have an amendment to the paper. Is there a seconder? Thank you, Councillor Lewis.
That's all that's needed, Sir Tinder? Very good. Thank you so much. Thank you for your diligence, keeping us all on track.
wonderful. Okie doke. So let's move into having a discussion on this and if I can move to
Michelle to talk us through the paper.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:52
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:48:57
Yes, thank you very much. So this paper sets out the intention to develop a new region
of learning and creativity strategy. This is much needed. So the current employment
and skills framework for West Yorkshire was published in 2020. Obviously you don't need
to tell this board how much has changed politically,
in terms of the levers that there are regionally
around the employment and skills agenda,
and in the labour market since then.
So it's very much needed that we have a new strategic framework
for this agenda.
It sits very much underneath the local growth plan.
And what's set out here, it's a very early stage intention
for how we intend to go about that.
developing alongside it an adult skills plan,
which sets out the intentions for commissioning there.
So we'd love to steer from you around how we go
about developing that and around
what you would like to see there.
And as the mayor has set out, there are two approvals,
as included in the appendices here.
The approval of Connect to Work,
which as the mayor has set out is a national scheme, which is delivered by combined authorities
in through combined authorities in devolved areas. So we're seeking the approval of the
business case there. And then Skills Connect, which is a programme that's already well into
delivery, which which through which we are able to upskill and retrain adults in those
the delivery time frames as outlined in the paper, so for a year. Also, a site widening
of the schemes scope, particularly in order to be able to support qualifications or part
qualifications between qualifications level 2 and 3 which is a real challenge in our region
where we really want to grow the number of people with level 3 qualifications. A lot
of people that have level 2 aren't quite ready so it will enable some of the technical changes
that enables us to do some of that to help people to make that jump. So there's three
things here. There's the strategy and then there's the two approvals.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:51:29
Thank you so much. And this work is so important, isn't it, when this fund has been halved since
2010, 2011. So we're trying to make the most of what we've
got, but also to get the skills, the skilled workforce in place to align with our local
growth plan to deliver on these big infrastructure projects, whether that is mass transit, bus
franchising or retrofit to get people ready for work.
Any comments on this paper? Yes, Councillor Anderson.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 0:52:01
Just briefly, it's something I'll probably return to other papers as well, but on paragraph
4 .1, risks and mitigations, should we not, as a board, be getting to see what the risks
are so that when we make an informed decision, knowing what the risks are and knowing what
the suggested adaptations and mitigations that are going to be put in place and whether
or not we feel they are adequate to do it. Not just in this paper, that's throughout
a lot of these papers. I think we need to start explicitly, or why are we not explicitly
setting out what the risks are so that we can develop, so we can make an informed decision.
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:52:44
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:52:44
Thank you. I'm a bit confused because there are risks listed in some of the papers that
are in front of the board today. But Ben, do you want to answer that?
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:52:52
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:52:54
I think it's a fair challenge. We're always looking at how we can improve the clarity
over the risks that have been considered with making sure that the papers are short, clear,
and meaningful. I think what you'll find in the packet as
it currently stands is that where there's an individual approval, we draw out the risks
at that point, but where we are dealing with the development of strategies, we tend not
to present the risks of the strategy in this kind of paper.
But let's take a look at whether we can do things differently or better.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:53:29
That's helpful because of course the risks are identified with individual approvals.
So there are risks listed in approvals, but in the higher level strategies, can we develop
it further? I understand. Thank you.
Councillor Scolio.
Thank you.
Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council) - 0:53:44
That's a useful challenge and I was just reflecting as you were speaking in terms of this particular project
and as you say the other projects that are scattered throughout the papers
and reflecting on the work that the Governance and Audit Committee have done
and we spend an enormous amount of time, we have spent an enormous amount of time
on the question of risk in terms of looking particularly at our step
almost into the unknown, not quite, of the franchising,
for example, and the different kinds of risks
and the different levels of risks.
And I was pleased to see what there is at 1 .24
in terms of mitigating the risks.
But you're absolutely right, it has to be a focus
of this combined authority, continued focus,
in terms of managing the risk.
None of these projects are completely risk -free.
We've got short -term projects, we've never got enough money,
there's always the staffing issues and so on.
It is really important and thank you for that perspective from scrutiny in terms of just keeping us focused on
Understanding as well as we can and managing and mitigating those risks. So, thank you
Thank You
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:54:51
Councillor scullion and of course, there is a risk of not doing this the risk of having an uneducated
community that don't take opportunities for investment so
That's also an urgency that we have to support people to get
qualifications and get into work. Councillor Galton.
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 0:55:13
Thanks, Chair. It's following on from this discussion.
I as well made the same note that the mitigation risk was two lines in the introduction paper.
But I was relieved that later on when it was talking about the Connect to Work programme itself,
there was some recognition of the risks that we're going to be facing.
I think what Councillor Anderson was hoping to see evidence of was what evidence there
was that we were investing in evaluation to ensure that we were not going to be surprised
by those risks coming to fruition. Do you see what I mean?
Throughout the process we are able to feed back that there is a set of clear KPIs that
that we're following and if they aren't available already nationally that we were actually putting
together the information and the data to measure them locally. Because I'm aware that as you
said, Mayor, a lot of this is actually delegated by government and we have very little wriggle
room to innovate in, but hopefully we are able to demonstrate that the deliverer on
a local level is delivering a quantum difference to that from being directed from above.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:56:28
I couldn't agree more that we need to see the outcomes of the work we are doing and
the money we are spending. As this is an ongoing long term programme,
those risks and evaluations, the evaluations is absolutely embedded in the whole of the
particularly skills connect. But Michelle.
Michelle Burton, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:56:45
Thank you. So Councillor Galton is right.
Appendix number one includes the risks at 1 .24 and appendix number two includes them
at 1 .30, but absolutely take on board the point
about drawing them out in the cover paper.
Again, Council Goulton's absolutely right,
Connect to Work is a national scheme,
and as such there is quite a significant
national evaluation already starting, actually,
with workshops going in to look at the model up to date.
But it is up to where we are now.
But it's absolutely right that we look at the,
the
impact of the
schemes. Connect to work is part of a wider programme of
activity around economic inactivity. It's really
important which is overseen by the health working life board.
It's really important that we look at the collective impact of
those schemes and the extent to which a locally led model leads
to different outcomes to a national one.
And so the proposed approach is that we're looking at that across those schemes rather than evaluating them kind of individually.
And the same is the case actually for Connect to Work where we're looking at different, we're trying to look at our adult skills provision across the piece to look at how collectively we're able to have an impact and move the dial on some of the really stubborn indicators that we are focused on, particularly in the local growth plan.
and which schemes are having that impact.
So thank you for the question.
I think that's really important
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 0:58:19
about the Healthy Working Life board,
is to try and hide the wiring
of all of these particular different programmes.
We're all trying to really do similar things
to try and get people up -skilled and back into work,
that what we also don't want to do
is have what's been done in the past,
piecemeal delivery, timelines,
and expectations of reviews and KPIs, we could draw it all together under healthy working
life. I think we can definitely get some better outcomes. But Councillor Hinchliffe, you wanted
to come in.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 0:58:52
I just wanted to give some reassurance to the Combined Authority really about the work
we're doing here compared with the rest of the country. We had a visit to Bradford actually
from the local government association of city regions board, a lot of city leaders came
see what we're doing on skills in particular in West Yorkshire and Bradford and they looked
at the skills house programme that we deliver in Bradford which would not be able to be
delivered without West Yorkshire Combined Authority and the devolved money we get from
government to yourself Mayor and then to Bradford. And you know the stats are really quite remarkable.
I mean skills house in Bradford has worked with 10 % of Bradford districts population
that's 53 ,700 people, 18 % of the district's business base,
that's over 3 ,000 businesses,
and delivered 94 ,800 encounters to residents
about work experience, careers advice, et cetera.
And that means therefore, as a result of achieving
a lowest rate of young people,
needs in Bradford District for over a decade.
And that is the opportunity, as you were saying, Mayor,
that if we didn't have devolution in West Yorkshire,
we wouldn't be able to get that kind of impact and we want to do more of that and therefore
anything we can do to accelerate devolution, particularly from my point of view, skills
on this particular agenda, I think we know how to make it work in West Yorkshire.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:00:14
Thank you so much. Councillor Lamb and then Mandy.
Thank you, Mayor. The starting point for the comments is I desperately want to make this
work because it is really important for the individuals to help them get back into work,
deal with the underlying issues, skills, whatever it may be and it's also really important for
employers and economic growth because I'm sure, I'm not alone, Mandi will probably be
able to testify, those of us who are trying to recruit at the moment, you'd think there'd
be a huge pool of people applying for good jobs and there isn't and there's a real disconnect
So there's a lot of work to do.
One thing I'd really like to see to echo other comments
are really clear outcomes with numbers attached.
We've got a good list of outcomes, I support all of them,
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:01:02
but I'd like to know where are we starting from
and where do we think we can get to.
The second bit is if someone could sort of talk through
practically how this is actually going to work.
Are we looking to support employers directly
to help them take people on, keep them in work or is it more about supporting the individuals?
I think it probably needs to be a bit of both personally to make it work and then the average
amount it says is £1 ,878 from an employer's perspective that's not an awful lot to give
you the comfort and confidence to, if you're lucky enough to have three or four people
to choose from of equal ability levels and experience and two of them have been out of
the labour market for a substantial amount of time and two of them haven't. It's a very
difficult decision to make as a small business as much as you might want to, to take a gamble
on those that aren't in the labour market and that's something the CA could help and
support with. And the final question is, is the combined authority going to put its money
where its mouth is and have a target for employing people that are currently out of the labour
market for posts that we're taking on.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:02:27
Thank you so much. And I want to reflect your comments about how we're doing it and it is
all of your -what you were describing, because you can't do it just one way. It has to be
working with employers, people who have just lost a job, people who have been out of work
generationally young people who leave at 16 and see no future and will become needs at
19. So that's why I'm pressing government to have more autonomy and more influence over
16 plus because we're picking youngsters up at 19 where so much damage has happened before
they get to that point. But thank you for that challenge as well. And I've come to Ben
about our employment. But Mandy?
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:03:08
Thank you. Thanks very much, Mayor. Great paper and
really welcome it from an employer's and business point of view. We welcome anything that increases
the talent pipeline into our businesses for the very reason that Councillor Lamb said.
I think we also have to be mindful and consider within the work that we do the tension between
Get Britain Working and the Employment Rights Bill that's coming and how we work with employers
on being able to achieve our goals in a way that also allows employers to be able to cover
the costs of those things, especially on the back of the recent increases to taxation and
minimum working ‑‑ the minimum wage, sorry.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:03:50
Thank you. That's really good points.
We see that on the business board, don't we? Business is telling us that it's a challenging
time. That's why we're here, to try and build that bridge. But, Ben, could you address Councillor
Lam's point about our recruitment?
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:04:05
Thank you, Chair. This isn't the first time that Councillor Lam has asked this question,
so I feel quite missed about giving a similar answer. But we are working on both a broader
people strategy for the organisation which picks up exactly that issue of how do we recruit
from different parts of the diverse West Yorkshire community and also a workforce strategy that
is looking ahead at the skills that we need. We obviously need there to be in the Venn
diagram an overlap between those things. Let's make sure that we provide briefings before
they become kind of formal documents so that members are aware where I think it is going,
but ultimately they will find their way to the combined authority.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:04:48
Thank you. And as an organisation, trying to stop people falling out of work is also
as important as getting people into work. So I hope that you heard Miles' opening comments
when bad things happen as an organisation. I hope that you see that we are flexible,
supportive and there with our colleague every step of the way. So thank you for that.
Okie doke. No more comments. And I'm aware that we are over 12 o 'clock so we'll get a
So can we approve the strategic priorities for employment and skills, the delivery of the Connect to Work scheme, subject to government funding with a combined authority contribution.
Yes, Ben?
Subject to the changes taken.
I'm about to say.
of up to $50 ,340 ,000 and the revised scope and extended timeline for SkillsConnect and
approved delegation to the chief executive in consultation with myself, as amended by
Ben, to manage funding agreements and make future decisions in line with the assurance
pathway and agreed tolerances.
Are we happy to approve?
We are.
Thank you all so much.
Brilliant.
Get to work, Michelle.
OK, moving on, business growth.

9 Business Growth

The next item is an update on our approach to supporting business growth in West Yorkshire.
We know thriving businesses are at the heart of our local economy.
They create good jobs, fund public services, and support vibrant communities.
And our local growth plan sets out our vision, and I really welcome the folks in this paper on turning that into action,
including our proto sectors like digital life sciences and advanced manufacturing
as well as creating the right conditions for innovation and finance to flourish.
I'm really pleased to see two new investment zone schemes progressing today,
supporting early stage investment and closer collaboration between universities and industry.
We know that helps turn great ideas into high -value jobs and successful businesses.
A long -term agenda but good to see the momentum already building.
I'll go straight to would you like to comment to Councillor Lewis?
Cllr James Lewis (Leeds City Council) - 1:06:56
Yeah thank you Mayor I'll drop the 20 minute speech I wrote given where we
given how time's going. This is a really important paper it sets out a lot of the
work we're doing and the link to the local growth strategy. I think the key
things to highlight are the two business case summaries towards the end which is
the two bits of work we're being asked to do today. The first one is the
investment zone and the work we are doing as one of the eight English investment zones
and really just to comment on this, it's been a really strong piece of partnership working
between ourselves and lots of people around West Yorkshire to bring this forward.
And then the second one is the research related courses with industry, again another important
piece of work that is getting people into the right jobs.
I mean, I think, again, important to recognise
this isn't the only thing we're doing in terms of supporting
businesses to grow, but it's two big milestones moving forward.
And the investment zone will create a lot more work moving
forward and hope to try and tackle that productivity
gap that we know we have with the rest of the country.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:08:08
I was hoping to go to Mandy for her comments, but she just popped out.
So Sarah, if I could come to you and then I'll come back to Mandy.
Thank you, Chair.
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:08:18
So as we know, the local growth plan ambitions are significant and we as a combined authority
and even with our partner local authorities cannot achieve these by ourselves in terms
of business growth agenda.
The only way we can do this is working much more effectively with the ecosystem.
So our evolving role as a combined authority and our partners in supporting businesses
is twofold.
It's about providing that leadership, progressing strategic interventions to address market
failure, shaping the market, but then also enabling the system, convening, facilitating,
and enabling others to act in this space and those get out of the way where it's appropriate
for us to do so, creating those conditions for growth where businesses can thrive.
So we will be doing the following things.
Ensuring that support is in place in West Yorkshire so that businesses can succeed and
we're leveraging the opportunities we've got to work with Innovate UK, British Business
bank, various other partners. A lot have come out of the industrial strategy about the role
of British Business Bank in working with MCA's. There's a huge opportunity there for us to
kind of increase that work there. We're going to ensure that businesses in West Yorkshire
can access and benefit from our major transformational investments, whether that's investment that
we're putting in locally or national government investments in various sectors. We're going
to reduce and remove barriers to growth and that includes where appropriate, lobbying
government for changes, regulatory barriers and addressing some of those issues that are
really hindering business opportunities.
We are going to support the growth of our priority sectors
and clusters to drive transformational change,
but we are not going to forget about the rest
of the business base.
That is really, really important that we provide support
out there, that support is out there available
for all businesses.
And of course, we will directly intervene
where there is market failure,
where we are the best people to act
and the best place to act.
So our areas of focus are as follows,
and these follow very much through the local growth plan.
Turbo charging growth through priority sectors.
We've got six priority sectors.
we set out in the local growth plan and we've been name -checked in four of the industrial strategy sector plans and that's a really positive
signal and recognition by government that we have got some huge potential and huge opportunities in these areas.
We're going to enable businesses to access the finance
they need at the right point of their business journey and at the last Combined Authority meeting a paper was approved on that
approach to finance model.
We're going to position innovation at West Yorkshire as an innovation centre of excellence
working with partners
leveraging the 30 million announcement innovation funding to support businesses in the region.
And we're going to increase good business behaviours, so making sure that all our businesses
are being as good and effective businesses and employers as possible.
And that's in fact the Fair Work Charter, which relates to some of the work Michelle
talked about earlier.
And also importantly that decarbonisation and our businesses, you know, supporting our
businesses to decarbonise.
And then we're going to make sure that underpinning infrastructure is in place to support businesses
and that the ecosystem has the capacity to deliver that.
So in February we brought a paper that talked about the new business support model
and we're developing that view, the view for that to be fully implemented next April.
So as we set out we've got two papers seeking approval as part of this,
which also align very much with the turbo charging growth in priority sectors,
particularly around health innovation.
So the first one is the Early Stage Fund.
This is a collaboration between West Yorkshire Combined Authority
and an institutional investor with the aim of addressing the issue of access to early
stage finance by spin outs and start -up businesses. The fund will invest in West Yorkshire based
health tech and digital tech businesses by providing £15 million of equity funding over
the course of four years. We have previously invested in investment funds. These are slightly
different so the SME Foresight fund is a different kind of model to the one we're talking about
here. We directly appointed a fund manager to deliver that on our behalf. We are talking
you hear about partnering with an institutional investor who has the expertise and the experience
who will then appoint a fund manager to be able to deliver this into businesses.
The second approval is around the research courses with industry. This is again part
of the investment zone, providing 50 % funding for businesses to work with universities to
develop new research and this is about new research to develop to drive innovation and
commercialisation. It's an intentionally flexible pot and will allow businesses to access a
of opportunities that are right for them and what they need, whether it's studentships,
masters, industrial PhDs, and this will increase the level of R &D in the region. And it's
planned that the University of Huddersfield will lead on this on behalf of all the universities
in the region.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:12:36
Thank you so much. And Mandy, do you want to comment in any way before we open it up
to questions?
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:12:44
Just to say that obviously business growth is everything that I'm focused on on behalf
of the region. And the work that's going on specifically around the changes to business
support, how we access business support in the region, so how we signpost not only what
the combined authority has but what other actors in the region and outside of the region
have are really important. Specifically on the cluster growth, the six clusters that
we're looking at, the cluster action plans that are being sort of put together at the
that's going on and will cover everything within that wheel of enterprise from access
to a place to be, whether it's a factory or whether it's a co -working space, through to
access to finance and investment skills and know how you can set up a business as well
as how you can export, for example, and all the way up to innovation and increasing innovation
in the region.
So I really thoroughly endorse the paper that's going through and know that the work that
that we've done with the private sector in trying to find the right way through to get
the best growth, to support the growth plan that we want for the region is critical. So
yes, thoroughly endorse it. Thank you and thank you for your work, Mandy,
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:13:57
on the Business Board and developing it out into a cluster approach that really aligns
with our corridors of opportunity and our growth plan as well. So thank you for your
leadership. Any questions on this? Thank you.
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:14:12
Councillor Lamb. Thank you. I'll be as brief as Councillor Lewis. There's a lot of good stuff in the paper, a lot of good things being done locally.
Cllr Alan Lamb Leeds City Council - 1:14:22
One of the concerning indicators is the decline in business start -ups. And I think the challenge we have is we can only pull local levers here.
And it's a challenge for you, Mayor, really, that anyone in business at the moment does
not feel like we have a government that's pro -growth or pro -business, particularly with
the national insurance increases and lots of other changes to taxation, the economy
is going backwards.
So it's really what representations you can make to government to actually address those
things and look at reversing the national insurance rise and things that have been so
damaging to job creation, not just in West Yorkshire but in the country as a whole.
Thank you. Mandy, you wanted to come in on that?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:15:10
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:15:10
I think increasing the number of start -ups is essential. I think one of the things that
will help increase start -ups is access to demand for some of those. Now, whilst you
might be talking about a different sector, within here we're talking about the investment
zone and the changes that have been made within the NHS for how we increase access to that
market will absolutely start to drive up the number of startups that we have and also reduce the runway of
Money that those businesses need to becoming commercial entities
And so I think there is work being done that will will help certainly within that sector, but there is more that we can do
Thank you, and you'll have seen
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:15:49
council lambda trade deal announced with India today
And really pleasing given we've had a number of trade missions
Abroad it isn't just of course about our businesses here, it's about attracting investment and
businesses from across the world to the opportunities here and supporting businesses with the wheel
of enterprise as Mandy's outlined.
But also to understand that businesses need a healthy workforce.
So if we are going to support businesses with a healthy workforce, we have to find money
for the NHS.
And if we need people to be able to get to work, we have to find money for infrastructure
projects to get people to work.
So it is a difficult balancing act.
And I know there have been some very difficult decisions made.
And businesses tell me every day the challenges that they face.
And that's why I'm really pleased with the business board, but also the mayor's council,
where some of the biggest businesses in our region really are very candid and frank with
me about the conversations I can have with government and rest assured that I do.
Okie doke. Thank you. Councillor Galton.
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 1:17:01
Thank you, Meg. You've just emphasised how mobile business can be, especially if it's
associated with intellectual capital. So my question really is how can we be assured that
we're investing into start -ups in this region, we make sure that those companies don't end
up or finish off somewhere else because somebody else has tried to attract them in because
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:17:33
of the value of their business. Thank you. You can't ever promise that, Councillor
Galton. We are making West Yorkshire as attractive as possible for people to stay here. One of
the reasons people stay is their access to a skilled workforce. So it's all part of the
the same picture, that it's a great place to raise your children, start a business,
but also develop out your business because you'll have that skilled workforce. But that
amazing quality of life that you have in West Yorkshire, why would you want to go to anywhere
else? Councillor Anderson.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 1:18:03
We were getting a briefing the other day, I talked about this. Have we found out legally
whether or not the combined authority can benefit from if some of these investments
turn out to be a really good success that we are allowed to share in that success and
use that money as a sinking fund that we can then reinvest in other businesses so in other
words you continually see success there's going to be some flops let's be honest there
will be some flops but that's not nobody's fault that's just the nature of business I've
found out legally whether or not we can or cannot do that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:18:39
Sarah Bowes, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:18:41
Thank you, so because we are appointing a fund manager who will manage it on our behalf,
we will be sharing in the return on the investments and the idea is that it gets recycled back
into that portfolio and then support additional businesses on the capital.
Mandy?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:18:53
Mandy Ridyard (West Yorkshire Business Board) - 1:18:57
Thank you. I think that's a really key part of how do we maximise the best return for
our money and I would thoroughly support that but also in terms of creating the right fertile
ground for businesses to want to stay here, that's with enterprise and the cluster plans
deal with all of those things. We can never stop a business from going anywhere else but
it is harder the more invested you are in the region the more the region supports you.
That doesn't have to be cash, that's about skills. Attracting skills to this region,
so with the seven universities that we have, is the best way and keeping those students
here is the best way to helping businesses to grow quickly. And so the work that we're
doing within everything that Michelle and Sarah are doing is joined up and that thinking
is absolutely critical to making sure that businesses want to stay in West Yorkshire.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:19:46
Thank you. And now we have just over half an hour and still a lot of the agenda left
so I'm going to be a really brutal chair. Councillor Galton, I'm going to be brutal.
Cllr Stewart Golton Leeds City Council - 1:19:58
And I was just, I was encouraged by that from Andy. I just want to ensure that we are making
sure that some of these investments actually do end up being invested in fixed assets with
employees who might not have had a graduate past but are enabled into good jobs through
investing in these entrepreneurs.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:20:18
Thank you. It's something we will take away and bear in mind. Thank you, Councillor Galton.
Can we move on to recommendations? Can we note the progress on delivering the local
growth plans business growth ambitions? Yes. Can we approve progressing the early stage
investment fund with over 5 million CA funding of a 50 million pound total including entering
a funding agreement with an institutional investor? Thank you. Approve progressing
the research courses with industry scheme with up to 2 .2 million CA funding of a 3 .9
million total including entering a funding agreement with the University of Huddersfield?
field. Super. And approved future approvals under the assurance framework subject to scheme
tolerances and notes the 117 ,000 -pound risk and contingency allowance for the research
courses scheme. Happy to approve. Brilliant. Thank you.
Moving on to the English devolution and community empowerment bill and integrated settlement.

10 English Devolution & Community Empowerment Bill & Integrated Settlement

And this is an exciting moment for West Yorkshire, that integrated settlement from 2026. You
You know I've been banging on about that since I became the Mayor, giving us greater control
and flexibility and I really welcome the direction the Government's taking through the devolution
bill and community empowerment bill and thank you to our teams who have been absolutely
relentless in working in lockstep with Government to have that joined up consistent approach.
With greater powers and funding flexibilities we'll be able to respond to local priorities
and drive inclusive growth and tackle those big challenges.
Sarah Eaton, our Director of Strategy, Communications and Intelligence, if you could take us through
the recommendations. Thank you.
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:21:59
Thank you, Mayor. So just bearing in mind timing, I'll quickly try and run through the
paper. I think we've brought previous papers to yourselves for consideration, particularly
around the English evolution white paper and what the devolution and community empowerment
bill now does is kind of enact that policy framework which is set out in the white paper.
It also formalises, as you just mentioned, the right to an integrated settlement for
established mayoral strategic authorities.
So this bill formalises the structure around evolution and it also creates an architecture
which will introduce a new tier of regional government in England which is a strategic
authority and they'll have responsibilities.
It sets out the paper for strategy development and programme delivery.
Each strategic authority, I think it's important to know, belongs to three levels of devolution
and for West Yorkshire that means that we fall into that established mayoral category
and that gives us additional freedoms and flexibilities and powers because of our track
record of delivery.
The bill, and I think this is a new element that wasn't necessarily outlined in the white
paper, now defines seven areas of competence for combined authorities and they're really
important. So if you look at the list in the paper, I think the first five that are set
out there are quite familiar. They are areas of work that we are regularly talking about
and delivering. The second two areas of competence there that are set out there around health
and public safety, formal public safety are areas that expand the work that we'll be looking
at as a strategic authority moving forward. The bill now establishes a revised evolution
framework and the appendix to the paper sets out the statutory functions that are linked
to that framework. I think it's important to note that there are other kind of non -statutory
offers and partnership and funding arrangements that will come that aren't set out in that
appendix and they might come through other bits of legislation that are working their
way through the processes at the moment, so particular things like rail etc. The bill
also gives us an opportunity to appoint up to seven commissioners for each area of competence
and that's something that as a combined authority we need to have a look at.
And it also creates some powers that I think we've previously kind of talked about.
So the general power of competence, which is an existing broad general power
that local authorities may be familiar with.
A power to convene and a duty to respond,
and that's so that we can kind of work with local partners to address challenges
and also a duty to collaborate.
And that is where we might want to kind of collaborate with mayors of neighbouring authorities.
So for example the work that we're doing around the White Rose Agreement and the Great North
gives us the opportunity to do more work in that space.
The bill also establishes that MES can kind of extend their powers really.
I think this is really important for us in terms of the right to request.
The idea is that the current framework is a start of a tent so that means that over
time we will be able to kind of add to the powers and indeed we will be thinking about
quite shortly, what additional activity would we want to request, that right to request.
That means that the framework will constantly be evolving as we embed and deepen devolution
over this next period of time. There are a number of new powers confirmed in the bill
for strategic authorities and that will influence and change the way we work, particularly around
that duty to produce a spatial development strategy which Liz has mentioned earlier.
The transfer of fire and rescue functions and that links to that public safety area
competence that I just talked about and it also legalises the statutory role for
strategic policies and health improvement. There are other measures in the bill
which are particularly important to local authorities around structure and
accountability and it's also kind of this the bill is linking in now to that
kind of rights for local communities so particular things around community
rights about which I'm not necessarily going today but something there around
how does that devolution impact more more widely on local areas. That bill is
now starting its passage through Parliament. It's expected that it will be coming to law
April 10th. That's really important. It's a hard stop there because as we know there
will be new combined authorities, new strategic authorities coming into force from May. So
there's a real impetus for trying to get this bill through that legislative agenda.
The paper also sets out the approach to integrated settlement, following on from the two pilot
Trailblazer areas, West Midlands and Greater Manchester. They received their first settlement
in April this year, so a lot to go on from the learning that they've developed through
this process. At the June 25 spending review there's a policy document that was published
and that will help us guide our way through this process as we move through this year.
There's a lot of work to do and what the paper does is set out some of that work and activity
that we need to think about. The integrated settlement will include a consolidated budget
which links across to the seven areas of competence and there's a real pulling together now between
the devolution framework and the integrator's settlement which I think is really, really
important to make sure that we've not got any kind of inconsistencies. A really big
piece of work that we'll need to do is to establish an outcomes framework and that outcome
framework will be the kind of liaison between the kind of the funding that we receive through
the integrator's settlement and the targets that we will need to be achieving to make
sure that we're fulfilling all the work that we need to do. And our outcomes framework
will be much broader than the integrator's settlement to make sure that we're pulling
in other areas of work that we work on as a strategic authority. The timetable is set
out in the paper. There's quite a big amount of work to do. There's likely to be some slippage
in that timeline. That's the published timeline. We're thinking that the quantum may not come
in September, it might come a little bit later than that. But we'll be working in earnest
really to add in to the timetables that we've got, which will enable us to deliver from
April. There's some key workstreams set out in the paper. That's the work that we'll need
to be taking forward over this coming period and we've asked in terms of one of the recommendations
not only to kind of note this work that's happening but also mandate to kind of carry
on and working on this agenda as we progress.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:28:02
Thank you for countering through that so swiftly. It's such a big piece of work as well. Thank
you. Any comments on the work that's been undertaken? Thank you very much for that.
Councillor Galton. Thank you, Chair. It was just clarification
at 3 .6 where it talks about mayors are able to appoint and remunerate up to seven commissioners
to lead on each area of competence which is mentioned in the bill. So I'm just clarifying,
is that as well as the current directorate which is already in place?
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:28:37
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:28:38
Thank you. That's an additional ability to appoint other
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:28:43
Sarah Eaton, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:28:44
kind of commissioners to support work across the area and I think that's in recognition
that there might be some more detailed pieces of work that might need to come through. We
don't need to do that but we haven't got much guidance on how that would actually operate
and that's something that the command authority will need to take a view on as we progress
and move forward. It does mention in the bill areas that commissioners can't take decisions
on so for example it couldn't take a commission couldn't take forward decisions around things
the local growth strategy.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:29:12
So it's just if you wanted, it's not statutory.
Okie doke, thank you so much for that Sarah,
and again the work you've done.
Can we improve the content of the report
and the planned work including the timeline
and approve a mandate to establish devolution
and integrated settlement as a new programme area
for the organisation?
We can, thank you all so much.
Annual governance statement.

11 Annual Governance Statement

This is an opportunity not only to review
how we've managed governance over the past year, but to look ahead to the challenges
we faced. We also need acknowledgement of the audit
opinion. Now, whilst I've shared my disappointment with officers on this year's internal audit
opinion, I do believe we have the right systems in place now with the extra steps we're taking.
I'm confident it will improve next year. And I want to thank the governance and audit committee
for their continued support and guidance throughout this process. And I'm encouraged to see the
improvements underway, including updates to decision -making frameworks, strengthened internal
controls, and a more comprehensive compliance dashboard, which will help us deliver major
programmes like mass transit and bus franchising more effectively and with greater public confidence.
We're also welcoming new non -executive directors to our officer boards who will bring valuable
expertise and fresh perspectives to support our governance arrangements.
Can I ask Satinder Sohota our interim assistant director of legal governance and compliance to take us through the recommendations. Thank you
Thank you, ma 'am
And I am conscious at the time remaining for this meeting
Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:30:39
Members are signalled at the the last combined authority meeting on the 19th of June
This is a revised AGS statement before you for the period of 24 25
It takes into account the very recent internal audit opinion the AGS reviews the effectiveness of governance
arrangements and looks ahead at future risks and challenges. Members are
referred to paragraph 3 of the report in particular in respect of those changes
that have been made and the revised AGS itself can be found at appendix 1 with
the corresponding action plan on further improvements that needs to be undertaken
to be found at appendix 2 of the report. Back to you Mayor for any questions and
recommendations, please.
Thank you so much.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:31:26
Any questions on this?
No?
Thank you so much.
So can we approve the revised annual governance statement at appendix 1, incorporating the
annual internal audit opinion and updated working in section 8 conclusion as revised
since the draught presented on the 19th of June, 2025?
We can.
Thank you.
Governance arrangements.

12 Governance Arrangements

The next item, the report asks us to fill vacancies on the Scrutiny Committee and in
private sector representation.
However, since the publication of papers, a few more nominations have been made to the
Scrutiny Committee and Governance and Audit Committee.
I understand, Sir Tinder, you've approved these under your delegated powers.
Can I invite you to provide a verbal update on the appointments as well as take through
the report and the recommendations?
Thank you, Mayor.
Satinder Sahota, Interim Assistant Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:32:16
So, members, this report deals with the appointment of private sector members to the combined
authorities thematic committees.
The report also deals with a request to change membership on the scrutiny committee and governance
and audit committee.
The report sets out there are, there has been a recruitment campaign to recruit private
sector members and address differing tenure dates across the existing membership for those
committees and also crucially to ensure a broad range of differing voices and skills
on those committees. Details of those nominations themselves can
be found at appendix 1 to the report. Members, a small correction for your awareness,
please. On appendix 1, Emma Stakes' business organisation
should now be listed as production park. In addition, a request has been received from
on the committee so that Councillor John Lawson is appointed as the Liberal Democrat member
from Kirklees for that committee in place of Councillor Andrew Marchington.
Councillor, oh, sorry. Forgive me.
Councillor Lawson is appointed to the Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor Marchington is appointed as Liberal Democrat member from Kirklees in place of
Councillor John Lawson.
Finally, as touched on by you, Mayor, since publication of this paper, there have been
and accepted the following changes.
Councillor Hannah Biffle is nominated to the Leeds Labour Vacancy on the Scrutiny Committee.
Councillor Jason Rose nominated to replace Councillor Conrad Whitcroft.
And Councillor Alan Griffiths is nominated and accepted to fill the Liberal Democrat
Substitute Vacancy on the Governance and Audit Committee.
I will hand back to you, Mayor, please, for any questions and the recommendations.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:34:25
Thank you. And thank you to all those Councillors for stepping up to do the heavy lifting, particularly
around scrutiny. Any questions or comments?
No? Thank you so much. Can we approve the appointment of private sector members to committees
as set out in appendix 1 and approve the changes to the committee membership as set out recommendation
2 .2 and 2 .3 of the report and in the verbal amendment moved earlier?
Lovely. We can. Thank you. The next item is the Scrutiny Committee's
recommendations. This committee plays such a vital role in holding the combined authority
to account and thanks again to committee members for their diligence.
A shared priority between myself and the chair is to make Scrutiny's impact visible to show
the public that real challenge is taking place. I attended the committee's May meeting to
discuss how the role of mayor is evolving and the paper in front of us relates to the
So may I ask Councillor Barry Anderson, as chair of the Scrutiny Committee, to present
the recommendations.
Cllr Barry Anderson (WYCA Scrutiny Chair) - 1:35:29
Well, you've been sent the recommendations under separate cover, so because of speed,
I would recommend them to the committee.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:35:36
You are my favourite contributor today.
Thank you.
So can we note the Scrutiny's recommendations as presented and note that I will respond
in writing within two months?
Happy to. Lovely. Moving on to 14A, project approvals.
The first report covers the scheme relating to tackling the climate emergency and environmental
sustainability. So if I could pass to Councillor Scullion
just to speak to this and then to Liz. Thank you.
Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council) - 1:36:06
I have torn up my long speech about Farmy Woodbeck and I pass straight to Liz Hunter.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:36:12
Thank you.

13 Scrutiny Recommendations

14 Project Approvals

Cllr Jane Scullion (Calderdale Council) - 1:36:13
Liz Hunter, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:36:15
So this committee has been a supporter of flood mitigation schemes in the past.
This is another one around natural flood risk management.
And I won't repeat what's in the paper because there's an awful lot of detail in there, the
types of measures that natural flood risk management have.

14 a) Investment Priorities 4

Just to point out in 2 .7, the last schemes that you saw in the previous meeting, we were
We have a smaller contribution to larger fund that the EA put together.
The EA don't do as much for the management.
We think it's important. Hence why we are a majority funder in this case.
And really commend to the committee the recommendations to move through the decision points to be able to start delivering.
Thank you.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:37:02
Are we happy to approve the scheme outlined as you've heard through the assurance process
with the approval of the CAs funding contribution and approval of future assurance pathways
and approval routes and the detailed recommendations set out in the report.
Are we happy to approve?
We are.
Thank you.
Moving on to the other project approval.
This report covers two schemes relating to delivering sustainable, integrated, inclusive
and affordable transport.
Can I ask Simon Pope transport capital programme director to take us through the recommendations, please?
And the two schemes are the consolidated active travel programme and the Pelon route to schools. Thank you so much
Thank you, Matt
Simon Pope, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:46
and so I advise the command authority in April of our 12 .9 million pound award from active travel England and the
consolidated active travel fund and
This new fund consolidates capital and revenue funding for the delivery of active travel schemes
that was previously granted to us separately on an annual basis.
Command Authority previously approved £600 ,000 early release back in April to scout the programme,
so we're now seeking approval of a change request to accept and allocate the remaining funding.
The business case summary that accompanies the papers includes the list of proposed schemes
and how we're proposing that funding is spent.

14 b) Investment Priorities 5

In line with funding requirements, the funding is required to be deployed on either new construction schemes,
the top -up to existing schemes, essential maintenance or pipeline development.
The schemes that have been defined have been done so collaboratively with our district partners to ensure that they contribute towards the emerging priorities of our
local cycling and walking improvement plan that's currently being refreshed and
that they also contribute towards the Mayor's Streets for Everyone pledge with Active Travel England,
our draught policy framework in our new local transport plan and the combined authorities Vision Zero road safety targets.
The change request also includes approval of revised completion dates for existing active
travel schemes where delivery is slipped due to issues encountered during delivery.
So reflecting on those lessons learned, the scale and complexity of schemes that we're
putting forward for the new funding has been tempered to ensure that it's more commensurate
with the funding timescales that apply.
I appreciate the slightly complicated approval.
I just may refer members to table one in the business case summary which sets out how the
funding is proposed to be split between schemes,
the proposed assurance pathway for each scheme,
and the proposed release of development
and delivery funding subject to future conditions.
And I'll continue to the second approval if I may,
because it's directly related to the first.
So this is specific to the Pelham Reach to Schools scheme.
So this is an active travel scheme
that was previously secured funding
under transfer extension of the active travel fund.
In line with the criteria
of the new consolidated active travel fund,
we're seeking to increase funding towards the scheme
by a total of £275 ,000. This opportunity for increased funding has been taken in order
to deliver an enhanced range of interventions across a wider area in order to try to increase
walking and cycling trips to school and reduce the number of killed and seriously injured
accidents. So subject to approval, that scheme will commence
construction in November and be complete by March.
So I'll leave it there. I'd be happy to take any questions in relation
to both approvals as required.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:40:10
If we're encouraging children to walk to school, we need to make sure the streets around schools
are safe. So this is a very good project.
Any comments? Are we happy to approve the schemes outlined
to progress through to the assurance process with the approval of the CA's funding contribution
and approval of future assurance pathways and approval routes?
And the detailed recommendations are in the report.
We're happy to approve. Super duper.
Thank you. Moving on swiftly to project approvals.

14 Project Approvals

the portfolio summary. This details the impact on available funding of the latest project
approvals sought from the CA and granted through delegated decisions since the April CA. Can
I ask Ben Still, chief executive, takes through the recommendations.
Ben Still, Chief Executive (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:40:55
Thank you, Chair. This report I think has got ‑‑ shows no issues emerging and is

14 c) Portfolio Summary

just for noting. Thank you. Are we happy to note the portfolio
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:41:03
summary information outlined in the report. We are. Thank you so much.
Moving on to a bus franchising update. We have only 15 minutes left of this meeting.

15 Bus Franchising Update

I might have to steal five or ten minutes of your time if necessary.
This is an update on the bus franchising transition programme.
This contains exempt appendices. We will go into private session after the
introductions before coming back for a wider discussion in public.
It's a transformative moment for West Yorkshire's public transport and I want to thank everyone
from our teams to the community and partners for their ongoing commitment and collaboration.
As the report makes clear, the decision to bring our busses back under public control
was absolutely the right one, putting passengers first by setting routes, fares and standards
that truly meet our needs. Our proposed timeline aims for a smooth implementation with franchise
bosses hitting the road from March 27. When we made the decision to franchise, we committed
to maintaining the network as was when we made the decision, with further improvements
being brought in as we reestablish the network. I'm encouraged by the excellent progress we're
making, especially with contract procurement and the strategic plans for depot acquisitions,
which are vital to delivering a reliable, efficient and fully integrated network. I'm
also thrilled about the new transport brand, the Weaver Network. Bold and fresh, committed
to a greener, more accessible, better connected West Yorkshire, honouring our rich industrial
heritage and weaving communities together much like our region's history. It stands
as a symbol of connexion and progress, stitching together our vision for a sustainable and
inclusive future. Can I invite Councillor Hinchliffe as chair of the Transport Committee
to speak to the report, then Paul to walk us through the recommendations and once that's
Completed we will go into private sessions. So thank you to members of the press and public that might be here
But if you could step out at that moment, but up until then Councillor Hinchliffe, I'll go straight to Paul
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Bradford Council) - 1:43:08
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:43:10
Thank you and Paul Matthews our director of bus franchise
Paul Matthews, Director West Yorkshire Combined Authority - 1:43:14
Thank You mayor well the the paper essentially describes the next critical stage of the complex franchising journey
that we're on to get to the key milestone shown at 3 .8, which is actually beginning
the very first procurement in October 2025. What might appear to be quite a simple process
of issuing a tender document is, as you can appreciate, very, very complicated.
Now members will recall previous approvals that the Authority has given in January and
May this year in relation to the lotting, depot and fleet strategies. And this paper
sets out a number of recommendations
in relation to the next stage of that journey,
particularly approval of the procurement strategy
and associated delegations.
It separately describes the site amendment to the process
that sits behind the depot strategy,
and again, sees approval of that change
and associated delegations.
And it also gives a brief update
on the brand transition work.
Now clearly the detail behind much of the procurement
and the statement of particulars that sits alongside it.
As you said, may I are sensitive
and thus the exempt appendices will go into more detail
and need to be considered in private.
But getting to this stage of the journey
in very,
Faye Barker, who's led this particular piece of work,
I'm delighted he's here to help me answer any questions
when we get to the private session.
Getting, as I say, to this stage of journey could not have been done in isolation.
From the market, and the paper describes in 3 .11, 3 .12,
the very helpful collaboration support we've had from operators,
large and small, existing and new to the region,
which we're very encouraged about as part of our ongoing market engagement process.
The approach to procurement and what it's trying to achieve
or importantly set out in 3 .14.
But again, it should be stressed that the materials presented
here, particularly in the appendices,
set out the core principles and deliverables for the authority
to approve, both of which will be finalised over the summer
prior to issuing in October.
3 .19 to 3 .24 set out the essentials
of the lotting strategy, which the authorities previously
approved and 25, 3 .25 to 3 .31 the process is going to be followed.
It's important to stress that lessons can and have been learned from our colleagues
in Manchester but since then procurement legislation has changed and the core element of this is
such that operators interested in bidding have to pass a qualification stage through
a so -called dynamic market and that's described in more detail in the papers but actually
does make the process easier for both operators and ourselves.
And that is, put on to bear in mind that that process of the dynamic market
needs to happen in advance of issuing attenders in October for all those who have qualified.
The other element of the main paper, 3 .32 to 3 .34, covers the evaluation.
And then finally in this section, the strategy has to have a statement of requirements, as
summarised in 3 .35 to 3 .7, but much more detail in the appendix, but in essence this describes
the respective commitments and responsibilities between the franchisee and the authority.
So I'll come back to the recommendations after the private session, Mayor, if that's acceptable,
but the first three in essence relate to the procurement approach that I've just described.
Now in relation to the depot strategy, the intention was and remains as stated in 3 .46
and as delegated to the chief exec to enter into and to conclude negotiations with owners
of existing depots. Such discussions are ongoing, but of course having access to a depot for
the tier A franchises to operate is critical.
And so to mitigate the risks of non -delivery
and to provide continuously the options presented
in the papers of pursuing compulsory purchase order powers
in parallel, stress in parallel to commercial negotiations.
And that's one of the recommendations.
The detail that sits behind this is set out in 3 .48, 3 .54,
and given similar approaches that are being adopted
in Liverpool and South Yorkshire, we've obviously shared legal advice between us all.
So the last two recommendations that are behind the first three relate to such powers which
we'll come back to.
And then finally 3 .55 to 3 .60, give a very brief update on, as you've described, Mayor,
the very exciting brand transition journey that we're on and full details of that roll -out
plan we brought back to the CA combined authority in September or October.
And I recognise based upon earlier discussion briefings regarding the issue about risk and
I can assure members that risks are rigorously assessed by officers and paragraphs 4 .1 to
4 .2 probably don't do that justice and probably won't provide the evidence of that reassurance
But processes do clearly exist. So clearly, Mayor, we can take questions and discuss in
more detail this paper and the appendix in private session and then I suggest we come
back to recommendations after that.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:49:11
Super. Thank you so much. Okie doke. So if the members of the press and public can leave,
please, and if we can stop the live stream, Miles. Thank you. Sorry to have to kick you
out.

15 Bus Franchising Update

Thank you so much.
Okie doke.
Mayor Tracy Brabin, Mayor of West Yorkshire - 1:49:38
We're back in public.
Our members can tend to approve the content of the appendix relating to bus franchising
contract procurement.
Happy to approve.
Delegate authority to the chief executive in consultation with the mayor to approve
non -material amendments to the appendix, approve the procurement strategy including the statement
of requirements and commence and undertake procurement for round one up to the evaluation
stage subject to final sign -off of the procurement strategy.
Thank you. Are we happy to approve the dual approach to depot acquisition through negotiation
and potential use of compulsory purchase orders through section 10 of the Transport Act 2068?
delegate authority to the chief executive in consultation with the mayor to take all
necessary steps to implement compulsory purchase orders including submission to the secretary
of state, conduct of a public inquiry if required and settlement of compensation in line with
legislation and the compensation code applicable to CPOs.
We are super, thank you all so much. I can't believe it, one minute over one. So thank
you all for your concise questions. So, 16, there are minutes for your information with
minutes from other committees and summaries from formal meetings that have been published
on the CA's website since the last meeting. Can I thank everybody for your attendance
and your dedication to our region and we all deserve a good break. So, please enjoy the
sunshine, wherever you're going, whatever you're doing, spend time with your families,

For Information

rest up and be ready for another exciting episode of the Combined Authority going forward,

16 Minutes for Information

which is the next meeting, is the 18th of September 2025. Thank you all so much.