Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received from Councillor David Molyneux (Wigan), Alison McKenzie-Folan (Wigan), Joanne Roney (Manchester), Sara Todd (Trafford) and Steve Rumbelow (Rochdale).

1. That tributes and reflections from members on the passing of Sir Tony Lloyd MP be noted and that condolences be sent to his family and constituency staff at this time.

2. That all who wished to leave their condolences on the passing of Sir Tony Lloyd MP be invited to do so via the Rochdale Council website.

3. That the Deputy Mayor’s update on the progress of the Baird Review be received and noted.

4. That the events taking place throughout the region to mark Holocaust Memorial Day on 27^th January be noted.

To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting. A blank form for declaring interests has been circulated with the agenda; please ensure that this is returned to the Governance & Scrutiny Officer 48 hours before the start of the meeting.

There were no declarations of interest made in relation to any item on the agenda.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 15 December 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA meeting held on 15 December 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To approve the minutes of the GMCA Standards Committee held on 15 December 2023.

That the minutes of the Standards Committee meeting held on 15 December 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To approve the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 13 December 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 13 December 2023 be noted.

To note the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 14 December 2023.

1. That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee meeting held on 14 December 2023 be noted.

2. That the commencement of the new regular weekly reports on Bee Network performance through social media channels be acknowledged.

To approve the minutes of the GMCA Waste & Recycling Committee held on 17 January 2024.

That the minutes of the GMCA Waste & Recycling Committee meeting held on 17 January 2024 be noted.

To note the minutes of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Administration Committee held on 20 December 2023.

That the minutes of the Greater Manchester Clean Air Administration Committee held on 20 December 2023 be noted.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

1.    That approval be given to the Mayor’s proposal to increase the Mayoral General Precept by £5 to £112.95 (for a Band D property) comprising of:

i.              Functions previously covered by the Fire & Rescue Authority – Precept of £81.20 (£5 Increase).

ii.            Other Mayoral general functions – Precent of £31.75 (no increase)

2.    That the GMCA was given the opportunity to note and comment on:

i.              The overall budget proposed for the Fire & Rescue Service.

ii.            The use of the reserves to support the revenue and capital budgets, and the assessment by the Treasurer that the reserves as at March 2025 are adequate.

iii.           The proposed Fire Service capital programme and proposals for funding.

iv.           The medium-term financial position for the Fire and Rescue Service covered by the Mayoral precept.

3.    That the GMCA was given the opportunity to note and comment on the detailed budget proposals for other mayoral functions.

4.    That the GMCA was given the opportunity to note and comment on the use of reserves as set out in Paragraph 3.3 of the report.

5.    That the process for submitting any written comments to the Mayor in line with the legal process and timetable described in this report be noted.

6.    That it be noted that at the GMCA meeting on 9 February 2024 there will be an updated budget submitted, consistent with the precept proposals, to reflect final tax base and collection fund calculations and the final baseline funding settlement.

7.    That the comments raised by the Chair of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be received and noted.

8.    That the challenges presented by the below inflation increase in home office funding for both police and fire be noted.

9.    That concerns that the current government funding package offered does not represent a long-term solution to the many issues faced within local authorities be noted.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

1.               That the comments on the content of the draft strategy be noted.

2.            That the draft Vision Zero Strategy and the commencement of a period of engagement with stakeholders and the public be approved.

3.            That it be noted that a supporting Action Plan will be developed and brought to the GMCA following the period of stakeholder and public engagement on the strategy.

4.            That the comments raised by the Chair of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be received and noted.

Report of Councillor Bev Craig, Portfolio Lead for Economy & Business.

1. That the Investment Plan set out in this document and the receiving of periodic updates be approved.

2. That the Investment Milestones as set out in Annex 1 be agreed.

3. That the Investment Principles set out in Annex 2 be agreed.

4. That the boundaries proposed for the GM Investment Zones and GM Growth Zones as set out in Annex 3 be approved.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing.

1.                    That approval be given to the methodology for prioritising schemes in Year 2 and Year 3 of the Brownfield programme, as set out in Section 2 and Appendix 1.

2.            That approval be given to the allocation of the remaining £115m of the overall £150m funding devolved to GMCA.

3.            That approval be given to the utilisation of up to £500k from Brownfield grant overage payments to contribute to the revenue funding requirements of delivering the programme.

4.            That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer, acting in consultation with the GMCA Monitoring Officer, to effect the necessary legal agreements for the individual grants between the GMCA and grant recipients, as set out in Appendix 2.

5.            That Mayor Burnham and Councillor Cooney will write to government to update on its strength and ability to deliver on brownfield projects, and that further funding would deliver the outputs sought by government at a pace beyond the rest of the country.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing.

1. Thatapproval be given to GM Housing Investment Loans Fund loan detailed in the table below, as detailed further in this and the accompanying Part B report;

2. That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer acting in conjunction with the GMCA Monitoring Officer to prepare and effect the necessary legal agreements.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Lead for Resources & Investment.

1. That approval be given for a loan of up to £300,000 to HM Pasties Ltd.

2. That authority be delegated to the Combined Authority Treasurer and Combined Authority Monitoring Officer to review the due diligence information in respect of the above loan, and, subject to their satisfactory review and agreement of the due diligence information and the overall detailed commercial terms of the loan, to sign off any outstanding conditions, issue final approvals and complete any necessary related documentation in respect of the loan noted above.

Report of Eamonn Boylan, Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM.

1.                    That the disestablishment of the role of TfGM Chief Operating Officer and the creation of and recruitment to a new role of TfGM Chief Network Officer be noted and approved.

2.                    That authorisation be given to the commencement of a recruitment process of the TfGM Chief Network Officer.

3.                    That approval be given to the use of a recruitment executive search agency to provide independent support to the process.

4.                    That approval be given to the appointment of Steve Warrener as Interim Managing Director, in addition to his substantive role of Finance and Corporate Services Director, pending further discussions with the incoming Group CEO.

5.                    That approval be given to the appointment of the role of Chief Network Officer as a member of the TfGM Executive to replace the Chief Operating Officer and retain the Finance and Corporate Services Director as a member of TfGM Executive in the renamed joint role of Interim Managing Director/Finance and Corporate Services Director.

6.                    That it be noted that the Director General has been consulted on the content of this report.

That, under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on business on the grounds that this involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as set out in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

That, under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on business on the grounds that this involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as set out in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing.

That the contents of the report be noted.

Clerk’s Note: This item was considered in support of the report considered in Part A of the agenda (Item 14 above refers).

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Lead for Resources & Investment.

That the contents of the report be noted.

Clerk’s Note: This item was considered in support of the report considered in Part A of the agenda (Item 15 above refers).