Minutes:
The Chair welcomed the Mayor to the meeting and invited him to update the Committee.
The Mayor noted some recent events and significant pieces of work which he had undertaken since the previous Committee meeting:
Cllr Ennis highlighted the North South divide in England, and disproportionate funding across northern regions, and asked about the Mayor’s ambitions for greater devolution. The Mayor responded that the roll out of devolution had been piecemeal, but that he continues to lobby government for greater devolution in South Yorkshire, including for business rate retention and a ‘single pot’ settlement. He added that the Northern Mayors have lobbied together and continue to support each other on several issues such as ticket office closures.
Cllr Kitching asked what the next steps in in Bus Franchising would be. The Mayor responded that if agreed to by the MCA Board, the MCA’s assessment of Franchising would be subject to an external audit which he hoped would happen early next year. This would be followed by a public consultation and a final decision on Franchising by the MCA Board.
ACTION: Scrutiny Officer to add Bus Franchising to the Committee Workplan.
Cllr Richards asked about the transfer of Police and Crime Commissioner powers, and how the role of Deputy Mayor might work. The Mayor noted that none of this process had been confirmed, and that this would be a decision taken by whoever is elected Mayor. He noted that in other regions an open recruitment process had been conducted for the role, but that the Mayor would be ultimately responsible for any work as the Police and Crime Commissioner.
Cllr Bacon asked about the purpose of Mayor’s public bus meetings. The Mayor responded that the deregulation of buses in the 1980s had negatively impacted the whole system and had instigated a decline in funding for places like South Yorkshire.
Cllr Bacon also challenged whether City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) funding was being used equally across the region. The Mayor responded that the Government determines much of how CRSTS funding is spent.
The Mayor added that he is committed to making sure all communities in the region receive better transport links and infrastructure, and that the first round of CRSTS was distributed on a per capita basis, but that not enough funding had been allocated to be spent everywhere in South Yorkshire. He noted that he continues to lobby government to commit to greater transport funding for the region, including the release of funding previously allocated to a Doncaster Sheffield Airport rail link.
Referencing a recent media story, Cllr Huggan asked whether the Mayor intended to bid for the Commonwealth Games to take place in South Yorkshire. The Mayor responded that he would like to do this if Government was also willing to invest in it.
Cllr Huggan also asked whether there are any bus services paid for
by the MCA which operators have been failing to run. The Mayor
responded that he hoped this would not be the case, but that he
would seek to find out any instances. ACTION: Mayor Oliver
Coppard to find information on any tendered services not being
delivered by operators.
Cllr Huggan also asked about future expansion of the Tram network.
The Mayor noted that expansions of the tram for example, to
Chesterfield or new park and rides, would be a long way in the
future but that the MCA is working towards being in a better
position to roll out more aspirational plans for the tram
network.
Cllr Ennis expressed disappointment that not all MPs in the region were lobbying Government for greater funding for South Yorkshire and stated that he would be writing to MPs to call on them to support the Mayor to get a better deal for the region.