Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received and noted from Baroness Bev Hughes, Deputy Mayor.

1. That it be agreed that the report on Bus Reform: Bus Back Better  - Item 5A on the agenda, be considered as an item of urgent business because the report details the recent publication of the National Bus Strategy by the Government.

2. That the meeting of the GMCA be adjourned at 11:50am and reconvened at 12.10pm in recognition of Covid-19 National Day of Reflection to allow members of the GMCA to observe the national minutes silence in memory of all those who have lost their lives due to Covid over the past year.

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 interests declared at the meeting.

To note the minutes of the Housing, Planning & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 19 March 2021.

That the minutes of the Housing, Planning & Environment Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 19 March 2021 be noted.

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

That the contents of the National Bus Strategy and the matters considered in this report be noted.

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

The Chair requested a named vote on all the recommendations in the report. This was recorded as follows:

Cllr David Greenhalgh (Bolton) – dissenting

Cllr Eamonn O’Brien (Bury) – approve

Cllr Richard Leese (Manchester) – approve

Cllr Sean Fielding (Oldham) – approve

Cllr Allen Brett (Rochdale) – approve

City Mayor, Paul Dennett (Salford) – approve

Cllr Tom McGee (Stockport) – approve

Cllr Brenda Warrington (Tameside) – approve

Cllr Andrew Western (Trafford) – Approve

1.                  That the Mayor be recommended to make a franchising scheme as set out in Appendix 5 to this Report.

2.                  That the completion of the consultation process on the Proposed Franchising Scheme; its extent and the responses received be noted.

3.                  That the TfGM Report ‘Bus Franchising in Greater Manchester March 2021: Consultation Report’ (Appendix 1) be noted and that the conclusions therein be endorsed.

4.                  That the Mayor be recommended, that if he decides to make a franchising scheme, he should also publish a transitional notice in the form at Appendix 7 (which the GMCA would do if it were the relevant person to do so).

5.                  That when the Mayor has decided whether or not to make a franchising scheme, it is agreed:

i.           to adopt and publish this report and its appendices as its response to the consultation, together with the Mayor’s decision, as the report to be published by the GMCA under section 123G (1) of the Act;

ii.         to give notice of that report to traffic commissioner (s.123G (2) of the Act).

6.   That if the Mayor decides to make a franchising scheme, it is agreed:

i.           to publish the scheme on behalf of the Mayor at the same time as the report to be published under section 123G (1) of the Act;

ii.         at the same time to publish a transitional notice in the terms set out in Appendix 7 and then, within 14 days of date upon which transitional notice is published, to give notice to the traffic commissioner of its publication on behalf of the Mayor if the Mayor so decides (or alternatively the GMCA) as required by the Public Service Vehicles (Registration of Local Services) (Franchising Schemes Transitional Provisions and Amendments) (England) Regulations 2018, and

iii.            that, in conducting the procurement process for the provision of local services, the GMCA will facilitate the involvement of small and medium sized operators in the provision of local services as set out in section of this Report; (s123 G (3) of the Act). Page 5 Agenda Item 52

7.       That it be noted that the proposed funding arrangements and mitigations for the Scheme as set out in this report were approved by GMCA at its meeting on 27 November 2020 and to confirm those arrangements.

8.       That it be noted that the GMCA has considered the contents of the National Bus Strategy and the matters considered in the Report ‘Bus Reform: Bus Back Better’.