Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

Members of the LCR Combined Authority

Mayor J Anderson OBE, Portfolio Holder: Education, Employment and Skills

Mr Asif Hamid MBE, Portfolio Holder: Business and Brexit

Associate Members

Councillor I Moran, Leader of West Lancashire Borough Council

Councillor R Bowden, Leader of Warrington Borough Council

Deputy Portfolio Holders

Councillor L Robertson-Collins, Digital Connectivity and Inclusion

Councillor T Hardy, Housing and Spatial Framework

Mayoral Advisors

B Spicer, Socail Housing Growth

L Morris, Fairness and Social Justice

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

            RESOLVED – The minutes of the LCR Combined Authority held on 6 December 2019 be approved as a correct record.

To consider the report of the Director of Corporate Services.

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram informed the LCR Combined Authority that the Transport Committee had considered the budget proposals, unfortunately the Overview and Scrutiny Committee was inquorate so were unable to consider the proposals.

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram presented his budget proposals to the LCR Combined Authority and in doing so reflected upon his first term in office and highlighted a number of key achievements, which included:-

·           Delivering over £400m of investment across the City Region;

·           Creating more than 900 jobs and 5,500 apprenticeships;

·           Opened the first new station on the Merseyrail network in a generation;

·           Launched the UK’s first UCAS-style apprenticeship portal which would make it easier for young people to find apprenticeships;

·           Launched the apprentice travelcard, which offered half price travel on trains and buses;

·           Being the first Combined Authority in the country to be recognised as a living wage employer;

·           Developing a Fair Employment Charter to encourage businesses to pay workers a decent wage, offer good terms and conditions and training opportunities; and

·           Revitalising town centres, such as Kirkby Town Centre which has secured £15m in support to purchase and regenerate the Town Centre.

Metro Mayor S Rotheram informed Members that the first of the new publicly owned fleet of trains had arrived in the City Region, which were symbolic of the integrated transport network for the City Region. He also explained how the improvements to the transport network would be crucial to address the existential threat of the climate emergency. The Metro Mayor explained how the Mersey Tidal Power project would support sustainable energy and create local jobs in construction, science, research and development and would also make the region a worldwide centre of excellence.

John Fogarty, Director of Corporate Services, reported that the proposed budget was legally compliant and balanced and focused on delivery. The budget supported investment proposals for a large and complex number of projects, which also included Adult Education Budget and Households into Work.

The LCR Combined Authority was further informed that the mayoral precept would be frozen at the current levels for 2020/21. Members were also informed that it was proposed that there would be no change to the current Tunnel Toll schedule for 2020/21.

Councillor L Robinson, Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality, informed Members that at the meeting of the Transport Committee held on 16 January 2020, Members endorsed the Tunnel Toll and Transport budget proposals. He informed Members that the budget proposals would support the roll out of the new fleet of trains.

RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the report be noted;

(ii)          the Mayoral Budget as presented at Table 2 of the report be agreed;

(iii)         the Mayoral precept be frozen at its 2018/19 level equivalent to £19 per year for a Band D property and £12.67 per year for a Band A property be agreed;

(iv)         the non-Mayoral elements of the Combined Authority budget for 2020/21 be approved;

(v)          a transport levy of £97.4m for 2020/21 based on the appropriate index of inflation (rpi) at  ...  view the full minutes text for item 132.

To consider the report of the Director of Commercial Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Digital Connectivity and Inclusion.  

            The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Director of Commercial Development and Investment and the Portfolio Holder: Digital Connectivity and Inclusion, which sought approval to fund Phase One of the Digital Connectivity programme.

            Councillor D Baines, Portfolio Holder: Digital Connectivity and Inclusion, informed Members that a modern industry required modern technology with a high capacity to support a 5G network across the City Region. Therefore, this project would allow the City Region to install fibre infrastructure and support a City Region backhaul network. Councillor Baines explained that a partner would be required to support the delivery of the programme.

            RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the provision of SIF funding of up to £6,386,327 be approved; and

(ii)          authority be delegated to the Director of Commercial Development and Investment or a nominated delegate to manage the funding and to approve the applications to invest in Dig Once opportunities providing they pass the candidate approval scheme criteria set out in the business case.

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

            The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector and Director of Commercial Development and Investment which sought approval to support The Civic Data Cooperative.

            Councillor P Hackett, Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector informed Members that Liverpool Health Partners (LHP) had requested funding for the establishment of the Civic Data Cooperative. The aim of the Cooperative was to bring together health and social care data to develop new ways of keeping residents healthy and also to close the health inequalities gap across the City Region. Councillor Hackett emphasised that the data would be handled carefully and it would be retained within public ownership. Data would only be shared with trusted partners and citizen juries would be established to give residents a voice on how the data was used.

            RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the provision of grant funding of up to £5,280,000 to the Civic Data Co-operative be approved; and

(ii)          authority be granted to the Director of Commercial Development and Investment to finalise negotiations of detailed terms of the funding and associated agreements in consultation with the Combined Authority Monitoring Officer and Combined Authority Treasurer.

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

            The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and Third Sector and the Director of Commercial Development and Investment which  sought approval for Strategic Investment Fund of up to £2.05m to fund infrastructure expenditure leading to the development of housing units on Moss Nook, St Helens.

            Councillor P Hackett, Portfolio Holder: Inclusive Economy and Third Sector, informed Members that the funding would support the remediation and infrastructure for the first phase of the Moss Nook housing site. Councillor Hackett explained that the site was former coalfield site and had been dormant for many years. Harworth Estates Investments Ltd would also be committing £7.5m towards the remediation works on the site. Once the works had been completed it would be ready for the development of 240 new homes. It was noted that the project offered high value for money and required a strong over clause.

            Councillor D Baines, Leader of St Helens Metropolitan Borough Council, welcomed the report and welcomed the excellent work the Combined Authority was achieving for the borough. He went on to highlight how this funding would support the delivery of an important site and also provide improved sports facilities and drive regeneration in the area.

            RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the provision of grant funding from the Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) of up to £2,050,000 be approved;

(ii)          the funding conditions as set out in Appendix 2 be approved; and

(iii)         delegated authority be granted to the Director of Commercial Development and Investment to finalise negotiations of detailed funding terms and associated agreements for the project specified at (a) and (b) above, in consultation with the Combined Authority Monitoring Officer and Combined Authority Treasurer.

To consider the report of the Portfolio Holder: Transport and Air Quality and Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Commissioning.

            The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Air Quality and Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Commissioning which sought agreement to submit a prioritised Expression of Interest bid to the Department for Transport in response to its £150 million highways pinch point fund.

            Councillor L Robinson, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Air Quality, reported that the Department for Transport had launched a national pinch point fund. The bid had to be submitted in line with criteria and prioritisation as set out by the Department of Transport.

            RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the Expression of Interest to the Department of Transport in response to the opportunity to bid into the £150 million Highway Pinch Point funding, as per the prioritised list shown in Table 2 in section 4.6 of this report be agreed; and

(ii)          a follow-up report on the outcome and next steps associated with this bid be received.

To consider the report of the Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Commissioning and Portfolio Holder: Low Carbon and Renewable Energy.

            The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Assistant Director of Policy and Strategic Commissioning and Portfolio Holder: Low Carbon and Renewable Energy which provided an update on the progress to create a Climate Partnership.

            Councillor Rob Polhill, Portfolio Holder: Low Carbon and Renewable Energy reported that the LCR Climate Partnership was a high value forum which built on the 2019 Year of the Environment. Councillor Polhill placed on record his thanks to Gideon Ben-Tovim for his work on the programme and explained that the Climate Partnership would provide the opportunity for the wides views to be collected and transform local environments across the City Region.

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram referred to a previous meeting of the Combined Authority when young people had made representations to Members to respond to the Climate Emergency. He explained that the Combined Authority had to act in response and the Climate Partnership would form part of this. He welcomed Gideon Ben-Tovim as Chair of the Partnership following the fantastic work undertaken in delivering the Year of the Environment which had culminated in the LCR Green Summit in November 2019.

            Gideon Ben-Tovim informed the Combined Authority that he was privileged to Chair the Climate Partnership and recognised the key role the City Region would have in developing the Climate Action Plan. He explained that the Climate Partnership would include a wide representation from across the City Region and a robust Action Plan would be in place by the end of 2020.

            RESOLVED – That:-

(i)            the progress in the development of a vibrant and sustainable Climate Partnership that will contribute to the City Region reducing its carbon and climate impacts be noted;

(ii)          more detail on the fund to support community environment projects, its terms of reference and bidding process will be shared at a future meeting of the Combined Authority be noted;

(iii)         progress to the next stage of developing the Climate Partnership be noted; and

(iv)         the Mayoral Advisor for the Natural Environment to act as the Chair of the Climate Partnership.

            The LCR Combined Authority considered the report of the Monitoring Officer which recommended an appointment to the Transport Committee.

            RESOLVED – That Councillor Joe Pearson (St Helens MBC) be appointed to the Transport Committee.

To approve the Committee timetable for 2020/21.

            RESOLVED – That the Committee Timetable 2020/21 be approved.

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 20 January 2020.

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported that no public questions had been received.

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 20 January 2020.

            Metro Mayor S Rotheram reported no petitions or statements had been received.