Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received on behalf of:

LCR Combined Authority

Mayor Joanne Anderson, Mayor of Liverpool City Council

Councillor Jane Corbett, Deputy Mayor of Liverpool City Council

Co-opted Members

Asif Hamid MBE, Chair of the Local Enterprise Partnership

Paul Corcoran, Local Enterprise Partnership

Associate Member

Councillor Russ Bowden, Leader of Warrington Council

Councillor Yvonne Gagen, Leader of West Lancashire Council

Deputy Portfolio Holders

Councillor Marion Atkinson

Councillor Kate Groucutt

Councillor Trish Hardy

Councillor Shelly Powell

Councillor Laura Robertson-Collins

No Declarations of Interest had been received.

RESOLVED – That the Minutes of the meeting of the LCR Combined Authority held on 18 November 2022 were agreed as a correct record.

To receive updates from the Liverpool City Region Metro Mayor.

Metro Mayor Steve Rotheram provided Members with an update on his recent activities and key developments since the last meeting of the LCR Combined Authority.

The Metro Mayor reported on the recent signing of a Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) with K-Water, the South Korean water company and operators of the world’s largest tidal development. The MoA would help push forward plans to harness the power of the River Mersey to produce enough clean, predictable, renewable energy to power up to a million homes?and create thousands of well-paid local jobs, apprenticeships, training and research opportunities. The Metro Mayor stated that the Agreement was for the sharing of information and learning and not the sale of the scheme. He also thanked Cllr Baines for his leadership of this project.

The Metro Mayor reported on several recent meetings with ministers to discuss important City Region issues, including the Liverpool Strategic Futures Advisory Panel, further devolution, and local government funding with the Secretary of State for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities; opportunities for the City Region from Eurovision with Minister for Sport, Tourism and Civil Society; and a meeting, together with fellow Northern Metro Mayors, with the new Secretary of State for Transport Secretary to demand action to address ongoing disruption of the rail network in the North that was estimated to be costing local economies £8m per week. The Metro Mayor reported that he had pressed the government to address the underinvestment in railways in the North and to place on notice the operators Avanti and TransPennine Express that they would be stripped of their franchises if there were no tangible improvements to services.

The Metro Mayor provided an update on a number of significant local initiatives and reported on visits he had undertaken within the City Region, including:-

·       a recent visit to the Ford car plant at Halewood with Cllr Morgan and local MPs for the announcement of a further £125m to increase the plant’s capacity to build electric power units for Ford’s all-electric passenger and commercial vehicles in Europe, and thereby securing 500 job. It was anticipated that 70% of Ford electric vehicles sold in Europe by 2026 would include power units manufactured in the region. The Metro Mayor commended the work of Cllr Morgan and Knowsley Council, Unite the Union, Ford management, local MPs and Councillors to help secure this significant investment;

·       the Dukesfield Active Travel Scheme in Halton with Cllr Wharton to see the difference Combined Authority funding was making in providing opportunities to walk and cycle around the station quarter and on the canal;

·       with Cllrs Morgan, Baines and Maher to the Shakespeare North Theatre in Knowsley for the grand finale of Knowsley’s year as Borough of Culture. The Metro Mayor commended Knowsley for their achievements in the past year and for setting a high bar for St Helens in 2023;

·       a charity lunch at the Liner Hotel In Liverpool, joining 200 pensioners for entertainment by the North West Charity Singers and Ukulele?Band, who, had raised  ...  view the full minutes text for item 84.

To consider a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Potfolio Holder for Policy, Reform and Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform & Resources setting out the Audit Report from the external auditors, Mazars, on the Combined Authority’s Annual Statement of Accounts for 2021/22.

The Assistant Director for Finance confirmed that, in common with all local authorities, the audit could not be formally completed as final confirmation on certain auditing requirements was awaited. It was anticipated that the Auditors would issue an unqualified opinion on the accounts. It was therefore proposed that authority for signing off the accounts be delegated pending the resolution of these national issues.

The Metro Mayor confirmed that the Audit and Governance Committee had considered the Audit report and recommended its approval.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the Liverpool City Region Combined Authority draft Annual Accounts 2021/22 and Audit Completion Report

(i)             the report be noted;

(ii)            the recommendation of the Audit and Governance Committee for the approval of the accounts be noted; and

(iii)          authority be delegated to the Metro Mayor and Treasurer to formally sign off the accounts once the outstanding issues detailed at 3.4 of the report had been resolved.

To consider a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform and Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform & Resources that provided an update on revenue and capital budget performance up to the end of October 2022, and outturn projections for the end of March 2023. Due to the significant changed circumstances experienced since the budget had originally been set, changes were proposed to the revenue budget for the remainder of the year. The report also contained a mid-year Treasury Management update.

RESOLVED – That in relation to the LCRCA Financial Performance Report for the period April to October 2022

(i)     the content of the report be noted;

(ii)    the proposed amendments to the revenue budget as detailed at 3.5 of the report be approved; and

(iii)    the mid-year Treasury Management report included at 3.15 be approved.

To consider a report of the Executive Director for Investment & Delivery and the Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Executive Director for Investment and Delivery and the Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector seeking approval for changes to Strategic Investment Fund projects previously agreed by the Combined Authority.

The Portfolio Holder for Inclusive Economy and the Third Sector reported that since publication of the report, the Combined Authority had received confirmation that the Government had approved the Combined Authority’s Investment Plan for the UK Shared Prosperity Fund that would allow support for projects to help communities, businesses and people across the City Region.

RESOLVED – That in relation to previously agreed Strategic Investment Fund (SIF) Projects:

(i)               the material change to the Buckley Hill Brownfield Land Fund project as requested by Sefton Metropolitan Borough Council, indicated in paragraphs 3.1 – 3.4 of the report be agreed;

(ii)               the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) development funding award to the projects indicated in paragraphs 3.5-3.6 of report be agreed;

(iii)               the award of £1.635m business case development funding from DCMS be accepted as indicated in paragraphs 3.7 and 3.8 of the report for a music industry-led visitor attraction and wider programme strategy, and authority be delegated to the Executive Director of Investment and Delivery in consultation with the SIF Internal Investment Panel to authorise expenditure and entry into contractual arrangements in relation to the business case workstreams; and

(iv)               the immaterial changes made to SIF projects as indicated in paragraph 3.9 of the reported and as detailed in Appendix 1 be noted.

To consider a report of the Executive Director for Place and the Portfolio Holders for Transport & Air Quality and for Policy, Reform & Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a joint report of the Executive Directors for Place and the Portfolio Holders for Policy, Reform & Resources and Transport & Air Quality setting out proposals for transport related fees and charges levied by the Combined Authority for 2023/24.

The Portfolio Holder for Transport & Air Quality highlighted the significant cost pressures facing the Combined Authority, in common with residents across the City Region, and the need for reasonable increases in some fees and charges. He stressed the modest increase in the Fast Tag change was well below the maximum tunnel toll charge and lower than when the Metro Mayor took office, with a range of discounts remaining available. Increases in Ferry charges were for tourist tickets with commuter charges remaining the same.

The Metro Mayor emphasised the need to set a balanced budget and to cover costs, but also ensure there was investment in transport infrastructure.

RESOLVED – That in relation to Transport Fees and Charges for 2023/24:

(i)     the level of “authorised tolls” for the Mersey Tunnels as determined by the County of Merseyside Act 1980 (as amended by the Tunnels Act 2004), with details on calculation methods explained in section 3 of the report, be noted;

(ii)    the schedule of tolls contained in Table 1 below be approved with effect from 1 April 2023: -

       
*See paragraph 4.8 of the report for RPI updates

        **Liverpool City Region (LCR) resident defined as living within the electoral boundaries of Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens, Sefton and Wirral.

(iii)    the discounts relating to Tunnels tolls as set out in paragraph 4.12 of the report for 2023/24 be approved;

(iv)   the revised fees associated with breakdowns and escorts within Mersey Tunnels as set out in section 5.2 of the report be approved;

(v)      the revised pricing for the Mersey Tunnel Tours from £8 per person to £10 per person with effect from 1 April 2023 be approved;

(vi)     the revised Mersey Ferries pricing, attached as Appendix 2 of the report, be approved with effect from 1 April 2023;

(vii)     the revised supported bus network fares as set out in section 7.3 of the report be approved; and

(viii)    the revised charges for bus operators use of the bus stations across the Liverpool City Region as detailed in Appendix 3 of the report be approved.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform and Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Monitoring Officer and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform & Resources advising on the implications for the Combined Authority of the Subsidy Control Act 2022 that would come into force on 4 January 2023 and proposing delegations to officers to sign off Subsidy Control Assessments to ensure compliance with the requirements of the Act.

The Metro Mayor confirmed that the proposed delegations, if agreed, would be included in the Combined Authority Constitution and would therefore require the unanimity of voting Members.

RESOLVED – (unanimously) That in relation to the Subsidy Control Act 2022:

(i)             the commencement of the UK Subsidy Control Regime on 4 January 2023 and the implications of this for the Combined Authority as set out in the report be noted;

(ii)           subject to (iii) below, authority be delegated to each of the Combined Authority’s Executive Directors to sign off Subsidy Control Assessments on behalf of the Combined Authority in consultation with the Monitoring Officer, and it be noted that such delegation would be added to the Standing List of Delegations to Officers contained in the Constitution (Part 3, Section h, paragraph 2); and

(iii)          authority be delegated to the Combined Authority’s Chief Executive in consultation with the Metro Mayor and the Monitoring Officer to sign off Subsidy Control Assessments for subsidies that were subject to referral to the national Subsidy Advice Unit, and it be noted that such delegation would be added to the Standing List of Delegations to Officers contained in the Constitution (Part 3, Section h, paragraph 3).

To consider a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform and Resources.

The LCR Combined Authority considered a report of the Executive Director for Corporate Services and the Portfolio Holder for Policy, Reform & Resources seeking the designation of an interim Monitoring Officer for the Combined Authority until the process for recruiting to the post had been completed.

RESOLVED – (1) That Louise Outram be designated as the interim Chief Legal Officer and Monitoring Officer for the Combined Authority and her appointment as the Senior Information Risk Officer be noted.

(2) The designation of Gareth Burroughs as Deputy Monitoring Officer be noted.

(3) The appointment of Julie Watling as the Deputy Senior Information Risk Officer be noted.

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 12 December 2022.

There were no public questions submitted by members of the public.

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 12 December 2022.

There were no petitions or statements submitted by members of the public.

The Minutes of the LCR Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 7 September 2022 were noted.

The Minutes of the LCR Audit & Governance Committee held on 29 September 2022 were noted.