Agenda for Mayoral Combined Authority Board on Monday, 14th November, 2022, 10.00 am

Agenda and minutes

Venue: South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, 11 Broad Street West, Sheffield S1 2BQ

Media

Items
No. Item

44.

Welcome and Apologies

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Minutes:

The Mayor welcomed everyone to the meeting and apologies were noted as above.

45.

Announcements

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Minutes:

The Mayor noted that the meeting had taken place in advance of the Autumn Statement which was likely to have financial implications for the Local Authorities, MCA and community in South Yorkshire. He added that further austerity and centralised Government were not the answer and he hoped the Government were listening to Local Government on this.

 

The Mayor continued to give an update on Doncaster Sheffield Airport, noting that:

-       The MCA and Doncaster MBC had stepped up efforts over the last month to try to save the airport

-       The MCA and Doncaster MBC had been informed that conversations are ongoing between Peel and potential investors

-       The last flight from the airport was on Saturday 5th November, which was emotional for many employees

Doncaster MBC had initiated legal action against Peel.

46.

Urgent Items

To determine whether there are any additional items of business which by reason of special circumstances the Chair is of the opinion should be considered at the meeting; the reason(s) for such urgency to be stated.

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Minutes:

None.

47.

Items to be Considered in the Absence of Public and Press

To identify where resolutions may be moved to exclude the public and press.  (For items marked * the public and press may be excluded from the meeting.)

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Minutes:

Members noted that Item 13 Appendices 2 and 3 were restricted from the public. It was agreed that the webcast would be paused, and members of the public in the room would be asked to leave when this item was discussed.

48.

Voting Rights for Non-constituent Members

To identify whether there are any items of business that apply only to the South Yorkshire Members of the Mayoral Combined Authority, ie, where it would not be appropriate for non-SY Members to have voting rights.

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Minutes:

N/A.

49.

Declarations of Interest by individual Members in relation to any item of business on the agenda

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Minutes:

Members declared their interest in any item relating to their individual boroughs.

50.

Reports from and questions by members

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Minutes:

None.

51.

Receipt of Petitions

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Minutes:

None.

52.

Public Questions

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Minutes:

None.

53.

Minutes of the meeting pdf icon PDF 256 KB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on the 18 September 2022 be agreed to be a true and accurate record.

54.

Budget Revision 2 pdf icon PDF 973 KB

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Minutes:

This report provided a revised Group budget forecast up to the end of the financial year 2022/23.

 

RESOLVED that the Board:

1.    Adopted the revised budget estimates.

2.    Noted the net increase in core income and its deployment to transport and cost-of-living priorities.

 

55.

MCA Review Report pdf icon PDF 506 KB

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Minutes:

This report presented the MCA Organisational Review Scope to the Board. It set out the aim of the review process against three key outcomes and the four main components contained within it. The purpose of the report was to advise Board of the Review process and seek guidance moving forward.

 

The aim of the review will be to deliver against three key outcomes:

 

  1. Strengthening the MCA’s officer leadership and organisational arrangements to provide a more effective focus on the delivery of MCA statutory programmes and political transformational priorities.

 

2.    Increasing the agility and responsiveness of the MCA existing business processes and systems to better support delivery of priorities.

3.       Put in place processes and structures that facilitate the deepening of relationships with Local Authorities, stakeholders and partners across South Yorkshire to ensure all partnerships are realising their full potential for our communities.

Cllr Higginbottom welcomed the review and added that Barnsley look forward to processes being less onerous for officers.

 

RESOLVED that the Board:

  1. Noted the progress already in place with the new transitional leadership arrangements of the MCA.
  2. Commented on both the proposed scope and form of the review together with best means of engagement for the Local Authorities.

 

56.

Programme Approvals pdf icon PDF 614 KB

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Minutes:

This paper requested the progression of three capital schemes subject to conditions set out in the Assurance Summaries. It sought permission from the Board to progress and release City Region Sustainable Transport (CRSTS) development funding for one transport scheme. The report also requested delegated authority to enter into legal agreements for the scheme. Furthermore, the report detailed the results of the assurance process for two currently unfunded capital investments business cases totalling £13m. The report recommended both schemes progress to OBC/FBC, subject to the satisfactory conclusion of due-diligence and assurance processes and the agreement of a suitable investment models.

 

RESOLVED that the Board considered and approved the:

 

  1. Release of £8.60 CRSTS grant funding to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) for the delivery of urgent Mass Transit renewals work.
  2. Progression of the Mass Transit Scheme to Outline Business Case and the release of £4.34m development funding to SYPTE to be funded from CRSTS grant.
  3. Progression of scheme D0049 to Full Business Case.
  4. Progression of scheme D0050 to Full Business Case.
  5. Delegated authority be given to the Head of Paid Service in consultation with the Section 73 and Monitoring Officer to enter into legal agreements for the schemes covered above subject to funding being available.

 

57.

Integrated Rail Plan Update and South Yorkshire Rail Investment Priorities pdf icon PDF 667 KB

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Minutes:

This report provided an update on the MCA’s response to the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North (IRP) and recommended next steps. The proposed response has been encapsulated in a Post-IRP Positioning Plan and key priorities summarised in the report.

 

Members noted that the Plan is centred on three main priorities against which South Yorkshire’s objectives for rail can be promoted: 

 

       Securing and Maximising the Core IRP Pipeline

       Improving South Yorkshire’s Strategic Connections

       Supporting the role of rail in accessing South Yorkshire’s planned growth hubs

 

Cllr Read reflected on package of measures within the paper and remarked that he thought it was tremendous for the people of South Yorkshire. Members agreed that South Yorkshire needed to be better at telling the story to constituents about our transport ambitions.

 

Cllr Higginbottom raised a few items within the report he would like to see included.

 

ACTION: The Executive Director of Infrastructure and Place to edit Paragraph 2.8 to include the platform extension, and Paragraph 2.3to include Dearne Valley.

 

The Mayor noted the need to break out of the cycle of announcement, delay and then cancelation of schemes by Government and believes it cannot be allowed to continue. He added that he is not feeling positive about the announcements on Thursday but hopes government will not U-turn on their promises for Northern Powerhouse Rail.

 

RESOLVED that the Board is recommended to approve the SYMCA Post-IRP Positioning Plan and key priorities and agree to its implementation over the coming months as a lobbying and advocacy plan.

 

58.

MCA Constitution Updates pdf icon PDF 485 KB

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Minutes:

This report proposed a change to the quoracy requirements for Thematic Boards to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of the MCA’s decision-making process.

 

RESOLVED that the Board approve the proposal to change the quoracy requirements of the Thematic Boards by reducing the quoracy requirement from 5 Members (6 in the case of Transport and the Environment Board (TEB)) to 4 Members (5 in the case of TEB) and relaxing the requirement for a private sector Local Enterprise Partnership Member to be present.

 

59.

Shared Prosperity Fund pdf icon PDF 505 KB

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Minutes:

This report provided an update on delivering the UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) in South Yorkshire and asks for delegated powers to initiate this process.

Members noted that the UKSPF is the Government’s major economic development fund to replace EU Structural and Investment Funds. The MCA submitted its Investment Plan to Government in August 2022 following approval by the Board in July.

 

After the UKSPF Investment Plan was submitted, Government announced a separate rural element to UKSPF. South Yorkshire has been allocated £1.34m (all capital, unlike the rest of UKSPF which is mainly revenue) broken down as:

 

  • Barnsley - £400,000
  • Doncaster - £634,000
  • Rotherham - £400,000

 

The Board noted that the MCA needs to submit a rural-focused UKSPF addendum to its Investment Plan by the end of November.

 

Cllr Fox noted that to break out of the cycle of inequality and low growth, we need to ensure the skills section of this work is underpinned, with as much emphasis on skills as transport and infrastructure.

 

The Mayor recalled that this funding was meant to replace European Funding lost following our departure from the European Union and noted his disappointment that South Yorkshire does not have the same level of funding coming into the region as it did from the EU.

 

RESOLVED that the MCA Board:

1.    Delegated authority to the MCA Chief Executive and s73 officer to enter into funding agreements in accordance with the submitted Investment Plan, local delivery plans and any conditions agreed with Government.

2.    Noted that in the event of the funding allocations being materially different to the submitted investment plan, further discussion with the MCA will be required.

3.    Noted that the MCA Executive team will work with Local Authority Chief Executives to develop and agree a framework and delivery model for years 2 and 3 and engage with the appropriate thematic board.

Delegated authority to the MCA Chief Executive in consultation with the Mayor and Leaders to submit a rural-focused UKSPF addendum to its Investment Plan by the end of November.

60.

Delegated Authority Report pdf icon PDF 215 KB

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Minutes:

RESOLVED that Members noted the decisions and delegations made.