Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence have been received from:

Members

Councillor G Morgan, Housing and Spatial Framework

Councillor I Maher, Culture, Tourism and the Visitor Economy

Councillor L Robinson, Transport and Air Quality

Mr A Hamid MBE, Business Support and Brexit

Deputy Portfolio Holders

Councillor T Hardy, Housing and Spatial Framework

Mayoral Advisors

G Ben-Tovim, Natural Environment

B Spicer, Social Housing Growth

Councillor E Spurrell, Tackling Violence Against Women and Girls

Associate Members

Councillor I Moran, West Lancashire BC

Councillor R Bowden, Warrington BC

It was reported that no Declarations of Interest had been received.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the LCR Combined Authority held on 26 July 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To receive updates from the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram provided members with an update on activity and key developments since the last meeting of the LCR Combined Authority.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported that the stalemate over Brexit continuedand the threat of a damaging ‘No Deal’ outcome still loomed. However, whilst  Parliament  had been gridlocked, the City Region had been getting on with the job of delivering for the people it represented with:

·                £172 million invested in public and sustainable transport;

·                Rolling out the most generous apprenticeship travel scheme in the                         country;

·                Future-proofing the regions town centres; and

·                Investing a further £18m to improve facilities at local colleges

He also reported that the City Region needed to be less reliant on what Central Government  could do for the City Region and that it needed to take greater  control over what happened locally, with further  devolution to the Liverpool City Region.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram informed the LCR Combined Authority that the Combined Authority had rolled out the Apprentice travel card to train services across the Liverpool City Region. This  meant that local apprentices, aged 18-24, were now eligible to get half-price travel on rail as well as benefit from the existing half-price bus travel initiative. He said that the scheme, which was held up as a national exemplar in a recent report from the Trades Union Congress, meant that young apprentices could save up to £680 a year and would help remove one of the main barriers of entry for young people looking to enter vocational training.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram informed the LCR Combined Authority that following a positive meeting with the RMT’s General Secretary and local representatives last month. He was pleased that the first three days of planned industrial action on the Merseyrail network had been suspended and that efforts to reach a final resolution to this long-running dispute were back on track. He said solving this dispute was never going to be  straightforward but  he would do all he could to help broker a deal that was in the best interest of workers, taxpayers, passengers and the Liverpool City Region.

The Metro Mayor S Rotheram reflected that this week marked  one year since the Zero Suicide Alliance had been launched in the Liverpool City Region. He said that the Alliance’s aim was to make the City Region the most active suicide prevention area in the country and the need for action could not be clearer, with 6,500 people dying by suicide in the UK in the past year. He reported that he had held a strategic roundtable with some major local businesses this week to discuss the next steps and how the training could be rolled out to even more employees in the City Region which would be particularly timely as next year, Liverpool would play host to the World Suicide Prevention Summit.

The Metro Mayor S Rotheram referenced the panel who would be supporting the creation of the Fair Employment Charter who had met for the first time. He reported  ...  view the full minutes text for item 59.

To consider the report of the Director of Corporate Services.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Director of Corporate Services that provided a financial update for the revenue and capital activity for the period April to 30 June 2019.

RESOLVED – That: -

(i)        the contents of the Combined Authority Budget Monitoring Statement be

               noted; and

(ii)       the revised revenue budget for the Combined Authority be approved.

To consider the report of the Director of Commerical Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality.

            The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality and the Director of Commercial Development and Investment which sought approval to commit funding to support the acquisition of up to two new Mersey Ferries.

            Councillor P Hackett, Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector reported that the Mersey Ferries were an iconic part of the regions identity and would  improve the transport infrastructure, strengthen the tourist economy and help reduce carbon emissions from the city region.

            Mark Bousfield, the Director of Commercial Development and Investment provided the LCR Combined Authority with a statement from the Strategic investment Fund (SIF) External Panel as follows: -

“Given that the ferries are seen as much a part of the Global image of Liverpool as are the Albert Dock, the Cavern etc, then the existence of the ferries service, has a major monetary value which cannot be captured, in terms of the guidelines we are working to in the traditional transport appraisal, this value is the intrinsic existence value of the ferries as part of the Liverpool image and brand.”

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram together with the LCR Combined Authority agreed with the statement from the SIF External Panel.

RESOLVED – That: -

(i)          the investment funding for the Project as recommended in Appendix 1 be

           approved; and

(ii)         authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial Development and

           Investment to agree, within the funding limit provided in Appendix 1, the sum, terms and associated agreements in consultation with the Combined  Authority Monitoring Officer and Combined Authority Treasurer.

To consider the report of the Director of Commercial Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Growth and Third Sector.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector and the Director for Commercial Development and Investment which provided a quarterly update on the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) portfolio, pipeline, pre-development funding, delegated project changes and headline issues.

Councillor P Hackett informed the LCR Combined Authority that he was pleased to support the increase in Round 2 SIF funding from £60m to £90m in response to the high demand for projects that would contribute to the regions inclusive economic growth history. He was also pleased to see good progress with the skills capital funding and transport projects and he was encouraging the  team supporting these projects,  to bring forward these projects as soon as practicable as  local residents deserved the best possible skills opportunities and public transport network.

RESOLVED – That the members of the LCR Combined Authority notes the quarterly update.

To consider the report of the Director of Commerical Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Policy Reform and Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Metro Mayor and the Director of Commercial Development and Investment that described the process underway to deliver an International Business Festival in 2020.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram reminded Members that as part of the devolution agreement that was negotiated in November 2015, there was a requirement for an international business festival to be held in 2016, 2018 and in 2020. He also reported that Mayor J Anderson OBE was pivotal in the previous business festivals for 2014, 2016 and 2018.

Councillor P Hackett, Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector explained that this was another opportunity to build upon the success of the previous festivals and events like these which put the City on the world stage. He welcomed a ‘refresher’ to the festival which could provide the greatest potential to engage both local and international businesses. He also said that the festival provided an excellent opportunity for businesses in the City region to benefit from investment. He concluded by sharing how he had encouraged the festival team to be as ambitious as possible as they prepared for the festival.

Mark Bousfield, Director of Commercial and Investment provided some highlights of the previous business festivals in 2014, 2016 and 2018 as follows: -

·                     2014 – over 28,000 delegates

·                     2016 – over 98 overseas delegates

·                     2018 – significant delegates from China, India and the United States          of America which complimented the focus of the festival on youth        engagement.

RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the Combined Authority was undertaking a procurement process to retain a delivery partner for the 2020 international business festival be noted;

(ii)           the Combined Authority intended to deploy pre-development funding to expedite festival development prior to anticipated approval of Strategic Investment Fund support for the whole festival and agree the approach to development of the business case outlined in paragraph 3.5 of the report be noted; and

(iii)          authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial and Investment to agree the sum, terms and conditions of delivery partner appointment in consultation with the Combined Authority Monitoring Officer and Combined Authority Treasurer.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality.

The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Chief Executive and the Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality which  sought approval from the Combined Authority on the LCR Combined Authority’s response to HM Government’s consultation on the proposed route refinements as part of the planned High Speed 2 network.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram informed Members that the transport infrastructure would be key to the economic growth in the City Region and would boost the Liverpool City Region economy, reduce journey times, but more importantly increase freight capacity, taking 150 million HGV miles off the roads and motorways. He reported that as a City Region he had lobbied government to ensure that the region benefited from investment in high-speed rail, both through connection to HS2 and West to East connectivity through Northern Powerhouse Rail and that the region wanted a Liverpool to Manchester link. He said that the Government appeared to have agreed to everything that had been asked for, with a connection to HS2 including a brand-new twin track rail line, and a new station in Liverpool City Centre which was  included in the Transport for the North’s £70 billion Strategic Transport Plan. The Metro Mayor, S Rotheram also stated that the potential benefits to the city region and the business case for NPR has been predicated on HS2 happening. In conclusion, he expressed his disappointment that London wasn’t required to choose between  HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail and that the City Region should benefit from both.  He went on to explain that the UK economy required   rebalancing and to support this, the City Region required the  infrastructure investment which matched what was happening in London who received £601 per person more than what was distributed to the North.

Rt Hon Jane Kennedy, Merseyside Police and Crime Commissioner, enquired if the Metro Mayor had received any updates relating to the recent comments made by the new Chancellor referring to the ‘so called’ Northern Powerhouse. Furthermore, had there   been a further turning away from the economic investment which was of significant importance to the City Region?

The Metro Mayor advised Members that Mayor Joe Anderson OBE was the representative on  Transport for the North (TfN) and that some proposals required  future proofing. He reported that the Northern economy in a post-Brexit world would be even more important to the economy and as Liverpool was a port on the west coast, with potentially transatlantic trade, the region required the appropriate Port and Rail infrastructure investment.

RESOLVED – That the LCR Combined Authority endorsed the content of the report and the consultation response.

To consider the report of the Chief Executive.

The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Chief Executive which requested approval of the LCR Combined Authority to grant the sub-lease for the 11^th floor of No 1 Mann Island Building, currently being occupied by Merseytravel, to the Homes and Communities Agency (Trading as Homes England).

John Fogarty,  Director for Corporate Services, informed Members that the report was a procedural report and it was a positive story for the City Region to cement its relationship with the Homes and Communities Agency.

RESOLVED – That:-

(i)         the contents of this report be noted;

(ii)        the premises are not surplus to requirements and the principle be approved that they should not be marketed generally as it has been possible to achieve best consideration following negotiations with the Homes and Communities Agency an existing occupant of the Mann Island Building;

(iii)      the lettings of the 11^th floor No 1 Mann Island to Homes England be approved;

(iv)      the proposed terms of the ‘let’ as set out in Appendix 1 of this report be approved and that Appendix 1 be noted as a confidential appendix by virtue of paragraph(s) 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972; and

(v)       authority be delegated to the Chief Executive to complete the lease once all approvals have been obtained.

To consider the report of the Director of Commerical Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Growth and Third Sector.

The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector and the Director of Commercial Development and Investment which reported on the progress made in relation to the deployment of the LCR UDF and sought approval of the appointment of a Fund Advisor procured as per the regulatory requirements.

Mark Bousfield, Director of Commercial Development and Investment informed Members that following a competitive process the Combined Authority had selected a preferred bidder to advise the new £26m property and low carbon development fund for the City Region. The preferred bidder was a consortium led by the Igloo Regeneration Partnership, who formerly managed the original Chrysalis Fund.

RESOLVED – That:-

(i)         a budget of up to £1,415,395 be approved for the Fund Advisory Fees until the end of the contract on the 31^st December 2023;

(ii)        the appointment of Igloo Regeneration Limited (Company Registration

      Number 4057460) be approved as Fund Advisor and set out the clear

      recommendations from the report which should be action focussed and

      time bound; and

(iii)      delegated authority to the Director of Commercial Development and Investment be approved in consultation with the Monitoring Officer and the Combined Authority Treasurer, to finalise the terms of any legal documents and enter into any legal agreements necessary to secure the services of a Fund Advisor to be engaged directly by the LCR UDF (GP) Ltd, the special purpose vehicle created to deliver the LCR UDF.

Members of the public will be given the opportunity to ask questions which have been submitted in accordance with Meetings Standing Orders No. 11. A period of 30 minutes will be allocated for this item. Copies of valid questions will be circulated at the meeting.

Members of the public who wish to submit questions are asked to contact Democratic Services either by:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0151 330 1330

In writing: Democratic Services, LCR Combined Authority, PO Box 1976, No. 1 Mann Island, Liverpool, L3 1BP.

A proforma will be supplied for the submission of public questions which for this meeting must be returned by 5.00pm on Monday 2 September 2019.

Members of the public were given the opportunity to submit questions which had been submitted in accordance with Meeting Standing Order No. 11.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported that one question had been received from Councillor Tom Crone, who was not present at the meeting. Metro Mayor S

Rotheram advised that Jill Coule, Monitoring Officer, would read the question out on his  behalf.

Question One – Councillor Tom Crone

‘The Mayor recently acknowledged the climate emergency, and committed to the city region achieving net zero carbon emissions by 2040. With this in mind it would not be acceptable to promote any companies who are profiting from the exploration, extraction or refinement of fossil fuels. Will the Mayor therefore commit to ensuring no such company is allowed to attend the International Business Festival in any capacity?’

 Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported that a formal response to the question

would be provided within 10 working days. However, he responded by advising that he was proud that the City Region was in the vanguard of not just recognising and declaring a climate emergency, but in taking significant steps to tackle this critical issue of our age.He stated that the Liverpool City Region was the first combined authority to declare a formal climate emergency and to invite local young people to address the Combined Authority meetings to explain their concerns and demands for action.  Metro Mayor S Rotheram said that regarding the International Business Festival the Combined Authority would not deliver the festival itself and would  run a procurement process to appoint a delivery partner.  All companies wishing to take part in the festival as partners or exhibitors would be subject to checks to confirm their suitability. These checks were unlikely to be extended to those companies merely wishing to attend the Business Festival. It would  be a critical part of the festival and the Combined Authority would expect companies focused on this type of business to want to support and engage with the festival.

Members of the public who wish to submit a single position or statement in accordance with Meetings Standing Orders No. 11 are asked to contact Democratic Services either by:

Email: [email protected]

Telephone: 0151 330 1330

In writing: Democratic Services, LCR Combined Authority, PO Box 1976, No. 1 Mann Island, Liverpool, L3 1BP.

The single petition or statement for this meeting must be returned by 5.00pm on Monday 2 September 2019.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported that no petitions or statement had been submitted.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 6 March 2019 were received and confirmed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the Audit and Governance Committee held on 20 March 2019 were received and confirmed by the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority.