Agenda and draft minutes

The Chair welcomed Members and apologies were noted as above.

The Chair welcomed the new SYMCA Director of Legal and Governance (Monitoring Officer.)

The Chair announced that the meeting was inquorate, and that any recommendations or decisions would be deferred to the following meeting.

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The minutes of the meeting held on 25^th July were confirmed as a true and accurate record.

Members noted updates to the Action Log.

The Forward Plan of Key Decisions at the time of publishing papers was presented.

Members asked about UK Shared Prosperity Fund allocations, and it was confirmed that all funding pots available for Local Authorities to submit to were included in the Forward Plan.

The updated Committee Work Programme was noted.

A Transport update was presented, noting that:

• The MCA was delivering a number of workstreams to fully integrate the transport network.
• The tram network had been brought back into public control in March 2024, and an asset renewal programme had begun. This would include tram interiors where required.

·         A business case for a larger programme of asset renewal would be submitted within the next 18 months.

A discussion was held around delivering a fully integrated transport network, including the possibility of pilots of dogs and bikes on trams, noting similar pilots in Greater Manchester.

On buses it was noted that:

• The MCA was investigating greater control of the network, including franchising options.

• A Bus Service Improvement Plan had been submitted to Government.
• The £2 fare cap was under review by Government.

In response to Members’ queries, officers explained that the Autumn Statement could provide further clarity on the financial position and certainty over revenue support.

On train and rail, it was noted that:

• The MCA was seeking greater connectivity in South Yorkshire, and was working with train operators on timetables, and with Transport for the North in holding operators to account.
• There was a lack of funding for expanding schemes and the MCA was awaiting the outcome of further devolution talks.

Members enquired if there had been engagement with other MCAs on connectivity and capacity. It was noted that conversations had been held to improve connections across regions. The limited capacity at stations was noted.

Members identified the importance of having business cases ready for schemes ready for submission as funding pots become available.

An update on Bus Reform was presented, noting that:

• A formal decision-making process was being undertaken which included a draft franchising assessment.
• The MCA Board had commissioned an independent review to ensure the assessment’s quality.
• The upcoming MCA Board would decide whether to proceed with a statutory consultation on Bus Franchising.
• Only once a statutory consultation had been completed, could a final decision on whether to proceed be made.

Members asked when elected members would have sight of the Franchising Assessment. Officers explained that documentation would be published following the next MCA Board decision, in support of the public consultation. 

Members highlighted the need to understand how services would be operated and the risks associated with franchising.

In response to Members’ questions regarding the consultation process, it was confirmed that the timeframe would likely be 12 weeks, and there were two aspects of consultation:

1.    Statutory consultees such as Local Authorities (LAs) and Bus Operators.

2.    Public and affected businesses.

Members raised the following issues for consideration as part of the next decision-making steps:

• Supplementing rail issues with the bus network,
• How to end the cycle of decline in bus usage,
• Creating links with neighbouring regions,

The importance of reaching Local Area Committees, Parish Councils, and local employers in any consultation, as well as face-to-face engagement.

An update on Community Transport (CT) was presented by a representative from Rotherham Community Transport and the Director of Public Transport Operations.

It was noted that:

• A grant of £1.657m per year was providing connectivity to those who may not be able to access the bus network.

• The MCA required Community Transport organisations to provide a business plan on a yearly basis and had introduced quarterly oversight meetings.
• The target number of services for this year was 120,000, 60% of the demand seen prior to the pandemic. A change in demand and habit as well as more complex needs of service users were cited as reasons behind this drop.
• Officers identified a new fleet of electric minibuses and the desire for a new marketing campaign to promote these.
• Fares had increased for the first time since 2018, by 10%.

Members queried whether pensioners’ bus passes were funded by the MCA and whether pensioners were subject to full CT fares. A response was given that funding for bus passes came from the transport levy as well as central Government. Concessions could be examined but the cost of running the service needed to be met.

In response to Members’ questions, the forecast for electric-fleet savings was explained, however, savings were possibly less than first thought.

Members enquired as to whether demographic data was analysed to improve usage. Demographic data was not currently available, and Officers acknowledged a need for greater marketing to target communities not currently using CT. ACTION – The Director of Public Transport Operations to look in to providing demographic data on Community Transport usage.

Members asked about whether marketing had improved usage, especially from diverse communities, and highlighted the importance of use of community languages. ACTION – The Director of Public Transport Operations to speak with Councillor Naz about translations of material into the community.

A discussion was held around electric vehicle infrastructure, noting ownership of depots, the difficulty in purchasing vehicles, and the need for greater infrastructure planning.

Members asked about service availability and uptake, and the possibility of different booking methods. In Rotherham there were at least 30 vehicles operating in the community usually at capacity each day, and that a demand-service would be stood up in 2025 to complement the existing booking-service.

An update on the Skills Strategy was presented.

The Skills Strategy was approved by the MCA Board in Spring 2024. The publication of the implementation plan was likely to be delayed due to the Autumn Statement as well as resources having been focused on the Pathways to Work programme. The Skills Strategy implementation plan would be taken to MCA Board in January 2025.

Members enquired as to how the MCA would engage with small and medium enterprises. The MCA worked closely with representatives from industry to engage in as many different areas as possible, however more needed to be done.

In response to queries from Members, “community-led” was defined as working with communities closely to understand their skills needs and to ensure that they are fully involved with commissioning processes.

Members asked about Skills Bootcamps and how they would upskill the workforce. A response was given that these were targeted approaches over 16 weeks to meet specific skill needs, working closely with employers.

Members highlighted the importance of training in the trades, which was acknowledged as a challenge with more work needed to resolve the issue.

[The Mayor joined the meeting].

Members asked the Mayor about the Labour Party Conference and his engagement with the new Government. The Mayor had been able to engage with Cabinet Ministers to discuss the issues facing South Yorkshire, and felt they were receptive to the conversations held.

Members invited The Mayor to meet Agemaspark. The Mayor supported this and highlighted important advanced manufacturing work happening in South Yorkshire as well as the recent announcement from Holtec to open a site in the region.

Members asked how MCA funds are spent in partnership with LA’s. The Mayor responded that conversations with Government were ongoing regarding criteria for a ‘single pot settlement’ which would support more flexibility in MCA spending and strengthen partnerships in South Yorkshire. He noted that a multi-year settlement could be made as part of the Spending review, though this was not certain.

Members asked if the Mayor would be appointing a Deputy Mayor for Police and Crime. The Mayor confirmed this process has started but an exact timeframe could not be given.

Members asked about the Mayor’s priorities for the Transport for the North Programme. The Mayor raised a number of issues he felt were important:

·         Electric bus procurement.

·         Working closely with other MCA’s.

·         Working on connectivity with West Yorkshire and a direct train to Manchester Airport.

The Mayor noted that he had had written to CrossCountry about timetable changes, seeking their reversal.

Members asked whether there is a system where the Northern Mayors or all Mayors meet. The Mayor answered that the new Government had created the Council of Regions and Nations. Members stressed the need for equality across the regions.

Members asked for the Mayor’s views of implementing a Mayoral Precept as part of greater Devolution. The Mayor answered that this power already exists, but that that further conversations and understanding would be needed before any decision was taken. 

The Chair announced that the meeting was inquorate, and that any recommendations or decisions would be deferred to the following meeting.