Agenda and minutes

Mayor Jarvis MBE welcomed everyone to the meeting, which would be the last SYMCA meeting of his Mayoral term.  He was pleased to observe the key projects and programmes on the agenda for the meeting.

Members were referred to the promise made by Mayor Jarvis MBE four years ago, to work closely with the four Local Council Leaders to make devolution work, to ensure that South Yorkshire received its fair share of powers and resources.  Four years on, he considered that South Yorkshire was now on stronger and firmer foundations.

Mayor Jarvis MBE considered that the agenda was testament to the work undertaken in unlocking the devolution deal, in securing more resources and in making sure that those resources were put to good work.  He added that it had been a privilege to serve as Mayor over the period.  Over the past decade of austerity there had been the transition of Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic, which had piled almost intolerable pressure on the businesses, public services and communities within South Yorkshire.  This had been weathered through the resilience, tenacity, creative and entrepreneurial sparks that exist within South Yorkshire.  To which, the Mayoralty, the SYMCA, the four local councils, the business community and civic organisations within the region had all played their part.

Members were referred to the ongoing situation in the Ukraine, which was an unjust and illegal invasion that was creating one of the largest refugee crises in Europe since the Second World War.  On behalf of the SYMCA, Mayor Jarvis MBE wished to extend the solidarity with the people of Ukraine and he expressed his thanks to the South Yorkshire community groups which were responding to the call for humanitarian assistance, and those who were willing to open up their own homes to assist individuals from the Ukraine.

Apologies for absence were noted as above.

On 9 March 2022, the first ever South Yorkshire Economic Summit had been held which had brought together leading figures from industry, Government, academia and finance in order to explore what was required to grow the region’s economy and to attract new investment and opportunity.  Mayor Jarvis MBE considered that the summit had proved that beyond doubt, that there should be optimism about the future.  The partnerships, plans and purpose that exist would transform South Yorkshire.

Mayor Jarvis MBE had launched the South Yorkshire Sustainability Centre.  There was an intention to launch a new Employee Ownership investment programme, which would be sponsored entirely by the private sector.

Members noted that the Government had now confirmed the emergency funding to maintain bus and tram services during the COVID-19 pandemic, which had prevented 50% of buses running across South Yorkshire having to be scaled back or cut out completely.  However, this had highlighted the challenges faced and the Government support that was required to deliver a bus system that worked for South Yorkshire.  Confirmation was awaited from the DfT regarding how the allocation had been calculated, together with the proportion for bus and light rail.

Mayor Jarvis MBE had met with the senior teams of First Bus and Stagecoach to impress upon them the importance of working with the SYMCA, of keeping services going and to give the SYMCA the time to appraise and manage any proposed network and service reductions.  He considered that it was apparent that the current system was not delivering as it should within South Yorkshire, and that all methods should continue to be explored.

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.

None.

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.)

None.

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.

It was noted that Non-Constituent Members were welcome to participate in the discussion of every item on the agenda.

Mayor Jarvis MBE declared an interest in respect of Item 17 entitled ‘Annual Budget and Treasury Management Strategy 2022/23, which proposed allocations of the £12m Mayor’s Sustainable Transport Fund, £2m of which was for schemes in Barnsley.  He also declared an interest in relation to Item 18 entitled ‘Programme Approvals’ relating to the Barnsley Central Constituency.

Mayor Jones CBE declared an interest in relation to any programmes that related to DMBC.

Councillor Andrews declared an interest in relation to any programmes that related to BMBC.

Councillor Read declared an interest in relation to any programmes that related to RMBC.

Councillor Grocutt declared an interest in relation to any programmes that related to SCC.

None.

None.

It was noted that three public questions had been received.

The following question was received from Jenny Carpenter, Better Buses for South Yorkshire:-

“Will the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority get behind the We Own It campaign calling on the Government to review the ban on public ownership of bus transport?”

In response, Mayor Jarvis MBE expressed his thanks to J Carpenter and the We Own It campaign for the work undertaken and for keeping up the pressure.  He considered that Local Government should be empowered to do whatever was appropriate to improve the bus system.  South Yorkshire needed its own solution, which reflected its particular urban-rural geography, reflected the needs of its communities and integrated with the other transport modes within the region.  He believed that the ownership issue should form part of that debate, and the issue had been addressed within the SYMCA’s independent Bus Review.  Members noted the multitude of tasks that were being undertaken at once, which included propping up a system that was on the verge of collapse whilst putting in place the Enhanced Partnership model which sought short and medium term improvements, and as with franchising, exploring the different models of managing the bus network.

The following question was received from Fran Postlethwaite from Better Buses for South Yorkshire:-

“My question concerns Item 11C Enhanced Partnership Scheme components, section 5 ‘improvements to passenger engagement’.  This states ‘a new forum for passenger representation to include bus user groups, representatives of disabled people and local business groups’ will be established by 30 June 2022.  We also note that this section promises a new Customer Charter, also by 30 June 2022.  Can we be assured that the Better Buses for South Yorkshire group, which brings together a large number of bus users and would-be bus users from across the region, will be recognised as a passenger group and invited to be represented on the forum?”

In response, Mayor Jarvis MBE thanked F Postlethwaite for her question and the work undertaken.  He commented that the DfT guidance suggested that the Forum should include representatives of bus passengers, local businesses, disability groups, similar in nature to those that were involved in the development of the BSIP.  There was a suggestion within the DfT guidance that the Partnership Forum would be the most appropriate means of involving neighbouring authorities, particularly those involved in the BSIP.  The role of the Enhanced Partnership Board was to establish the Passenger Forum, which they would envisage to do by 30 June 2022, including representatives of the organisations suggested in the guidance.

The following questions were received from Gordon Dabinett, Steering Group Member of Sheffield for Democracy, which focussed on, but not exclusively addressed the devolution proposals contained within the Government’s recently published Levelling Up White Paper:-

“i) The White Paper proposes new relationships between the Mayoral Combined Authorities and the Police and Crime Commissioners and the Fire and Rescue Services in their areas.  What new relationships will be set up in South Yorkshire in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

RESOLVED – That the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2022 be agreed as a true record.

A report was presented which set out the result of the public and statutory consultation on the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme for South Yorkshire and the recommended next steps.  The report sought approval to ‘make’ the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme and outlined the principles of supporting governance arrangements for the Enhanced Partnership Board, who would have responsibility for delivering the Enhanced Partnership Scheme.

Mayor Jarvis MBE was pleased to observe that the Enhanced Partnership Plan had been brought forward to ensure that improvements could start to be made on the bus services from 1 April 2022, when the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme would commence.  In order to ensure that the public transport in South Yorkshire recovered from the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be crucial to strengthen the relationship with the operators, which would create a more effective system for passengers.

In relation to the governance of the Enhanced Partnership, Councillor Grocutt highlighted the importance that each local authority should have an opportunity to provide input.  She added that in relation to funding of the Enhanced Partnership Scheme, that the operators were dependent upon the external funding and the associated risk that this presented.  There was a need to ensure that any initial objectives were reached given that the commitments to funding were uncertain at this time.

In response, S Edwards referred a number of other structures that would be developed together with the Enhanced Partnership Board, which included the Enhanced Partnership Forum and a mechanism for engaging with the other stakeholders, which included the local authorities.  Members would be provided with the detail moving forwards.

RESOLVED – That the Board considered the results of the public and statutory consultation relating to the proposed Enhanced Partnership Plan and Enhanced Partnership Scheme for South Yorkshire, considered the findings of the Equality Impact Assessment and Competition Test and gave approval to ‘make’ the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Enhanced Partnership Scheme on 1 April 2022.

A report was submitted which provided an update on the progress made in developing the South Yorkshire Renewal Fund Investment Strategy.  The report built upon that received by the Board in January 2022.  The report together with its recommendations, represented an interim staging post in the development pathway, whilst recognising the strong collaboration that had enabled core principles to be developed, and the need for an interim step.

Councillor Read referred to the revenue pressures and the challenges that had been faced by the local authorities in bringing forward schemes over the previous few years.  He highlighted the importance for the pipeline projects to be agreed on a South Yorkshire basis, and he welcomed the report.  He welcomed further reports to be presented to the Board, which would enable Members to ensure that the money clearly linked back to the political priorities and the SEP.

Councillor Grocutt commented that it would be helpful to keep the matter under review, in order to ensure that the objectives were being met.

RESOLVED – That the Board:-

i)        Noted the progress made in the development of the Renewal Fund Investment Strategy and the collaboration through the officer group.

ii)      Approved the proposed allocations of interim revenue resource through the Project Feasibility Fund to the SYMCA and LAs.

iii)     Approved the proposed allocation of capital resource to support delivery ready investment opportunities.

iv)     Approved the development of Place Based Investment Plans and the South Yorkshire Transformational Impact Investment Plan.

Approved the proposed allocations of longer-term gainshare funding to support the delivery of the Plans in recommendation four (iv) above.

A report was presented which advised the Board of current progress towards the net zero target of 2040 and highlighted the priority areas of impact, namely Domestic, Transport, Industry and Nature.  Addressed at scale, these areas would give further impetus to SYMCA led decarbonisation commitments within the region.  The report recommended the next steps towards a Housing retrofit study, which if implemented, would contribute to the reduction of emissions within the domestic sector.

Mayor Jarvis MBE considered that the report was particularly timely, given the flood risk that had been faced by the region once again following the storms at the end of February 2022.  It was key to tackle South Yorkshire’s carbon emissions which were largely made up of domestic energy consumption.  He referred to the potential for retrofits to help to create well paid jobs and to reduce fuel poverty.  He hoped that this would be the first part of a process which would lead to greater benefits for both the environment and for the communities within the region.

M Swales took Members through the report, which covered the progress made towards the net zero target by 2040, the four priority areas of impact being Domestic, Transport, Industry and Nature.  In 2019, the SYMCA had declared a Climate and Environmental Emergency.  The Climate Response Framework had been approved by the SYMCA Board in January 2020.  Since that time, the SYMCA’s net zero work programme had been both comprehensive and cross-cutting, which had been delivered through all policy themes.  The programmes had been progressed with a beneficial effect, and the impacts had been relatively modest to date.  It was proposed for officers to examine the interventions with view to addressing the further carbon omissions for the region across the four priority areas.  The first of which, to examine housing retrofit and associated decarbonisation.

RESOLVED – That Board:-

i)        Noted the progress made on delivering the net zero target and to support the development of programmes within priority areas of impact – namely Domestic, Transport, Industry and Nature – that would also directly contribute towards the Net Zero target whilst delivering additional social and/or economic benefits.

ii)      Supported the commissioning of a Housing Retrofit Study that identifies actions to be undertaken to support the delivery of housing retrofit programmes across South Yorkshire.

A report was submitted which summarised the Government’s Levelling Up White Paper and highlighted the implications for the SYMCA.

Mayor Jarvis MBE commented that the Government had made a strong intellectual and policy case for levelling up, which had a much greater local control and influence over the way in which it was tried to be achieved.  The SYMCA, local councils and partners across South Yorkshire would have an opportunity within the White Paper to help deliver growth for the communities within the region.

Members noted that the policies adopted within the White Paper were in accordance with the SYMCA SEP and the key priorities relating to devolution.  Further guidance was awaited on the formalised arrangements for the LEPs to become part of MCAs.  SYMCA largely complied with the requirements within the current arrangements.  The report outlined the headlines around innovation, housing and culture, skills, and the UK Shared Prosperity Funding and how it was anticipated to be allocated to the combined authorities.

Councillor Grocutt highlighted the importance for the SYMCA to be in a position to bid for any funding that became available, and to ensure that the local authorities were included as part of the process.

Mayor Jones CBE considered that the bidding process was a waste of energy for local authorities and the mayoral combined authorities.  She considered that the Government should provide the full set of required monies to enable it to be placed appropriately.

Mayor Jarvis MBE agreed with the points raised by Mayor Jones CBE.  He had raised the issue with A Haldane during the South Yorkshire Economic Summit, and he would continue to make the points forcibly to the Government.

RESOLVED – That Members noted the summary of the White Paper and considered the implications for the SYMCA.

A report was presented which set out the new draft ‘Progressive Procurement Policy’ for the SYMCA that aimed to use the SYMCA’s spending power to achieve greater ‘social value’.  By developing a more progressive procurement policy, which aimed to go beyond value for money in a traditional sense, the SYMCA could achieve greater social, ethical and environmental outcomes and realise greater added value for the economy and for society.  In 2021/22 there had been a total SYMCA spend on procurement of £49m.  The SYMCA’s spend on investment totalled £390m.  It was proposed to undertake a pilot during the first year, with the findings to be reported back the Board.

Mayor Jarvis MBE referred to the major and growing spending power of the SYMCA which should be harnessed to achieve greater social value for the region.

Members considered the following options:-

Option 1:-

To do nothing and to continue with the existing approach.  This would limit the reach of SYMCA spending and would impact on what could be reported.  There was a risk of significant reputational damage as the SYMCA was already lagging behind its peers in the policy space.

Option 2:-

To agree a new progressive procurement policy which better reflected the ambitions for social value in the SEP.  Work was underway to explore how the policy, if approved, could be implemented and how the SYMCA could work with anchor partners to agree and implement a consistent South Yorkshire-wide progressive procurement policy and approach.

Councillor Grocutt suggested that it would be helpful, from a SCC perspective, for the opportunity for the individual local authorities to respond to the points highlighted within the report.  This would enable a clear understanding of the position of the other local authorities, with a view to establishing how to move and develop further.

Councillor Read welcomed the paper and the subsequential paper presented to the Board.  He expressed his thanks for the work undertaken in production of the report.

RESOLVED – That Members considered the draft progressive procurement policy and approved Option 2, which was endorsed by the LEP Board on 10 March 2022.

A report was submitted to inform Members of the work that had been undertaken over the last few months to develop a set of eligibility conditions for accessing SYMCA funding and finance.  Members noted the ten commitments that had been produced, which were designed to ensure that funding and finance from the SYMCA supported organisations with a similar desired ethos and with whom the SYMCA could work to generate greater social value through all of the actions, interventions and relationships.  The policy had been endorsed by the LEP Board at its meeting held on 10 March 2022.

RESOLVED – That the Board reviewed and adopted the eligibility conditions, which had been endorsed by the LEP at its March 2022 meeting, noting the need to pilot its implementation in the first year.

A report was presented which proposed a budget and accompanying financial strategies for the financial year 2022/23.  The proposed budget provided resource totalling c. £472m to enable the activity required to deliver upon the objectives that were set in the SYMCA’s Corporate Plan.

G Sutton highlighted a number of key points within the report.  The budget proposal at c. £472m would enable record in-year levels of investment.  This would provide significant opportunities, however this reflected the significant amount of slippage from the current year into the next year.  There were concerns around the bus and tram network within the region, with the ability to operate on a commercial basis; the funding details were awaited.  Significant pay and price inflation, together with the labour market constraints continued to impact upon the delivery programmes.  An uncertainty remained around the core funding streams.  Longer term concerns were being raised around the use of reserves to support the transport levy, and material concerns in the medium term environment regarding the tram network and how it would be funded post 2024.

Mayor Jones CBE welcomed a balanced budget.  However, she considered that what was lacking was the funding and knowledge from the Government, instead of receiving piece meal sums of money to be spent within a short time frame, which created the carry over position from one year to the next.  She suggested that the SYMCA should continue to press for a proper system of funding, which would enable the SYMCA to prioritise those schemes that were considered the most beneficial.

Mayor Jarvis MBE commented that he would continue to make the point with the Secretary of State.

RESOLVED – That the Board:-

i)         Approved the adoption of the revenue and capital budget estimates for the year.

ii)       Approved the Reserve Strategy.

iii)      Approved the Treasury Management Strategy.

iv)      Approved the award of CRSTS Revenue Grant.

v)       Approved the award of capital grant from the Mayor’s Sustainable Transport Fund.

Delegated authority to the Section 73 Officer to accept a number of grant awards.

A report was submitted which requested progression of eight schemes and approval of two project change requests subject to the conditions to be set out in the Assurance Summaries.  The report sought approval to progress business cases and enter into a contract for a number of investment proposals which would support the SYMCA’s aspirations.  The total value of the schemes was £43.93m and would be resourced from previously committed grant funding.

Mayor Jarvis MBE expressed his thanks to all of the officers for the work undertaken in bringing the programme approvals forward to the meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Board considered and approved:-

i)         Progression of “Rotherham Parkgate” project to full approval and award of £11.55m grant to South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A1.

ii)       Progression of “Park Hill 4” to full approval and award of £5.61m to Urban Splash (Park Hill) Limited subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A2.

iii)      Progression of “Attercliffe Waterside” scheme to full approval and award of £4.08m to Sheffield City Council (SCC) subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A3.

iv)      Progression of “Sheffield Heart of the City 2 – Block A” to full approval and award of £3m to Sheffield City Council (SCC) subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A4.

v)       Progression of “Unity Active Travel” to full approval and award of £4.40m to Doncaster Borough Council (DBC) subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A5.

vi)      Progression of “A61 Wakefield Road Bus Corridor” to full approval and award of £13.29m to SYPTE subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix A6.

vii)    Progression of “Rotherham to Kilnhurst Flood Alleviation” Scheme to full approval and award of £2m to Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary at Appendix A7.

viii)   Progression of “Sheffield Future High Streets Fund (Front Door Scheme)” from outline business case (OBC) to full business case (FBC) subject to the conditions set out in the Assurance Summary attached at Appendix B1.

ix)      Approval of Change requests detail in Appendix C.

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.

A report was presented which provided updated information on the Government’s Levelling Up Fund (LUF) and sought approval to submit a bid to the next round of the fund.  The Government’s LUF had originally been published with the Budget on 3 March 2021, with a total of £4.8 billion committed for the LUF for England over a four-year period up to 2024-25.  There were two bidding rounds, with submission dates of June 2021 and in the Spring 2022.  The SYMCA had made a submission in June 2021, together with all other MCAs; only one MCA had been successful at that time.  However, the South Yorkshire local authorities did have some success.  The submission to be made in Spring 2022 would be public transport related to address the current challenges within the region.

RESOLVED – That the Board approved the submission of an SYMCA Levelling Up Fund bid to Government and agreed delegated authority to the SYMCA Chief Executive and Statutory Officers in consultation with the Mayor, Council Leaders and Co-Chairs of the Transport and Environment Board to agree the final content of the bid.

A report was submitted which provided the Board with an update on the Local Nature Recovery Strategy (LNRS) ‘Responsible Authority’.

Members noted that within the SEP, the SYMCA had committed to sustainability as a key policy objective.  Within the Environment Act 2021, the Government had stated that they wished to assign a ‘Responsible Authority’ for each area to develop a Local Nature Recovery Strategy; to which the SYMCA was the preferred authority.  Through DEFRA, the Government had made it clear that there would be additional ‘burden payments’ to ensure that resources were available.

RESOLVED – That the Board agreed that SYMCA should be ‘Responsible Authority’ for a South Yorkshire Local Nature Recovery Strategy, subject to the cost of the responsibility being met by Government funds.

A report was presented which sought delegated authority for the statutory officers of the Authority to enter into arrangements for the disposal of the former bus depot site at Midland Road, Rotherham.

The SYMCA owned a former bus depot at Midland Road, Rotherham, following the liquidation of the former SYITA Properties Ltd company.  The site consisted of aged office accommodation and bus sheds which were constructed over 40 years ago.

RESOLVED – That the Board:

i)        Delegated authority to the statutory officers to make arrangements for the disposal of the Midland Road site in the most efficient manner possible.

ii)      Note the proposal to give due consideration to the regeneration plans of Rotherham MBC.

A report was submitted which summarised the amendments that had been incorporated into the two frameworks following an initial review by the Government and presented them for endorsement and adoption by Members, ahead of their publication in draft form on 31 March 2022, pending Government approval.

The SYMCA and LEP were required by the Government to update and publish its Assurance Framework by 31 March each year.  The Assurance Framework set out how the SYMCA and LEP would use public money responsibly, make robust decisions, achieve best value for money and act in an open and transparent manner.

RESOLVED – That:

i)         SYMCA Members noted, at section 2.2, the key amendments that had been made to the Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks following the initial review by Government.

ii)       SYMCA Members considered and endorsed and adopted the updated Assurance and Monitoring and Evaluation Frameworks set out at Appendices 1 and 2.

iii)      Delegated to the Head of Paid Service, the agreement of any final changes required by Government for them to approve and sign-off both Frameworks.

A report was presented which provided an update on the decisions and delegations made by the SYMCA and the decisions and delegations made by the Thematic Boards.

Members were referred to Appendix A to report, which provided details of the delegations agreed by the SYMCA, which were in addition to those made under the Scheme of Delegation.  Appendix B to the report provided details of the decisions taken under the delegation made to the Thematic Boards and the subsequent delegations made to officers where appropriate.

RESOLVED – That Members noted the decisions and delegations made.

Mayor Jarvis MBE wished to place on record his profound thanks to Sir Steve Houghton CBE, Mayor Jones CBE, Councillor Read, Councillor Fox and their deputies for their support, hard work and the huge dedication and commitment to support him in his role of Mayor over the last 4 years.  He added that creating the stronger, greener and fairer South Yorkshire, that was wished to be observed by all, would only be possible by partners coming together across the region to deliver it.  He considered that the SYMCA was better placed than ever before to make this happen.  He expressed his thanks to the officers at the local authorities, and in particular to his officer team within the SYMCA.