Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received from Councillor Eamonn O’Brien (Bury), Councillor David Molyneux (Wigan), Sara Todd (Trafford) and Alison McKenzie-Folan (Wigan).

GMCA Members are required to note that Andy Burnham, as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, under Part 5A, section 4 of the Constitution, is the Chair of the GMCA (ex-officio).

That it be noted that Andy Burnham, as the Mayor of Greater Manchester, under Part 5A, section 4 of the Constitution, is the Chair of the GMCA (ex-officio).

Under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution, GMCA Members are required to appoint at least 2 but no more than 3 Vice Chairs for 2023/24.

·       To note that City Mayor, Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor, is automatically appointed as a Vice Chair, under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution.

·       To note that Councillor Mark Hunter is automatically appointed as a Vice Chair, under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution.

·       To agree the appointment of Councillor Bev Craig as a Vice Chair, under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution.

1.  That it be noted that City Mayor, Paul Dennett, Deputy Mayor, is automatically appointed as a Vice Chair of the GMCA, under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution.

2.  That it be noted that that Councillor Mark Hunter is automatically appointed as a Vice Chair of the GMCA, under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution.

3.  That the appointment of Councillor Bev Craig as a Vice Chair of the GMCA , under Part 5A, section 4, of the Constitution be approved.

Report of Gillian Duckworth, GMCA Solicitor & Monitoring Officer

1.     That the appointment of Julie Connor, Director of Governance & Scrutiny, as the Secretary of the GMCA be approved.

2.     That Councillors Bev Craig (Lab), Arooj Shah (Lab), Gerald Cooney (Lab), Nick Peel (Lab) and Mark Hunter (Lib Dem) be appointed to the GMCA Standards Committee for 2023/24.

3.     That Councillor Christine Carrigan (Lab) be appointed as the member and Councillors Charles Rigby (Lab) and Shelley Lanchbury (Lab) be appointed as the substitute members to the GMCA Audit Committee for 2023/24.

4.     That the appointment of the Mayor of Greater Manchester to the Bee Network Committee for 2023/24 be noted.

5.     That Councillor Tom Ross (Lab) be appointed, to act as the substitute member for the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to the Bee Network Committee for 2023/4.

6.     That Councillor Eamonn O’Brien (Lab) be appointed as GMCA member to the Bee Network Committee for 2023/24 and that Councillor Neil Emmott (Lab) be appointed to act as the substitute GMCA member to the Bee Network Committee for 2023/4.

7.     That the establishment of the new GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be approved and that 20 members be appointed to the Committee for 2023/24 as follows:

8.      That it be noted that Councillor Mark Hunter requested his opposition be recorded in relation to the reference in the table illustrating a Liberal Democrat vacancy on the Committee when a clear nomination had been made in accordance with the usual practice.

9.     That the appointments made by the GM Local Authorities to the GM Culture & Social Impact Fund Committee for 2023/24, be approved, as follows:

10.  That the appointments to  ...  view the full decision text for item 4.

Report of Gillian Duckworth, GMCA Solicitor & Monitoring Officer

1. That the revised constitution, accompanying this report, as the Constitution of the GMCA be adopted.

2. That the Members Code of Conduct, attached at Appendix A, be adopted.

3.    That the GMCA Solicitor and Monitoring Officer be authorised to make any changes of a typographical nature to the Constitution.

28 July 2023 – Rochdale

August – Recess

29 September 2023 – Oldham

27 October 2023 – Bury

24 November 2023 – Bolton

15 December 2023 – Manchester

26 January 2024 – Stockport

9 February 2024 (Budget Meeting) – Trafford

23 February 2024 – GMCA

22 March 2024 – Wigan

Ordinary Business

That the schedule of meeting dates and venues for 2023/24 be noted as follows:

28 July 2023 – Rochdale

August – Recess

29 September 2023 – Oldham

27 October 2023 – Bury

24 November 2023 – Bolton

15 December 2023 – Manchester

26 January 2024 – Stockport

9 February 2024 (Budget Meeting) – Trafford

23 February 2024 – GMCA

22 March 2024 – Wigan

1. That the update on Trailblazer progress be received.

2. That the following motion be passed by the Combined Authority:

This Combined Authority recognises the progress being made on Operation Sherwood in Oldham, as set out by the Chief Constable; appreciates the support of the Chief Constable for the final assurance stage of the Independent Review into Child Sexual Exploitation in Greater Manchester and the inclusion of Greater Manchester Police in that review; appreciates the support of Maggie Oliver and The Maggie Oliver Foundation for the assurance review.; recognises the commitment of all ten Greater Manchester councils to engage with the Review Team as agreed; and resolves to progress to the final  stage of the Independent Review, consistent with the original Terms of Reference, with an expectation that it will be completed by the end of the year.

3. That love and condolences be expressed to the family and friends of Droylsden resident Michelle Hodgkinson following her recent funeral.

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 in advance of the meeting

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

To consider the approval of the minutes of the GMCA meeting held on 9 June 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA meeting held on 9 June 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Report of Andy Burnham,  Mayor of Greater Manchester, CouncillorTom Ross, Portfolio Lead for the Green City-Region and Kate Green, Deputy Mayor

1.  That thedraft Integrated Water Management Plan, (Annex A) and next steps for engagement, be approved.

2.  That it be noted that the recommendations from GMCA Scrutiny Committee, as presented to the Combined Authority on the 31 May 2023, will be taken forward through the Integrated Water Management Plan (Annex B).

3.  That the actions and next steps, agreed at the 31 March 2023 Mayoral round table (Annex D) be noted.

4.  That the proposal to submit an Annual Business Plan on activities and resources required to deliver the Integrated Water Management Plan to the GMCA be approved.

5.  That the proposed review of existing GMCA governance structures to strengthen accountability, scrutiny and provide clarity of responsibility, in accordance with the principles for good governance (attributes for integrated water management) from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) (Annex E) be approved.

6.  That the funding and resource plan (business plan) be submitted to the GMCA in September 2023 .

7.  That the intention for the Environment Agency, United Utilities and the GMCA to extend the existing collaboration agreement in relation to the implementation of the Integrated Water Management Plan be noted.

8.  That love and condolences be expressed to the family and friends of Abby Walton following a tragic open water incident in Tameside.

Report of Councillor Arooj Shah, Portfolio Lead for Equalities and Communities

1.  That the response to the 2022 Big Disability Survey and the issues which have been identified relating to its delivery, be endorsed.

2.  That the importance of achieving a co-ordinated, multi-stakeholder, and effectively resourced GM-wide response, aimed at improving the lives of disabled people, be endorsed.

3.  That a report will be submitted to the GMCA in October 2023, one year on from the survey publication, to review progress, with input from the Disabled Peoples Panel.

4.  That the importance of understanding the experience of disabled people within the wider criminal justice system be highlighted for future discussion.

5.  That the GMCA record its thanks to the Disabled People’s Panel for undertaking the survey.

6.  That members of the Disabled People’s panel be invited to the October 2023 meeting of the GMCA.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

1.  That the outcome of the annual review of capped bus fares be noted.

2.  That the recommendation for the continuation of capped single, daily and weekly bus fares at the existing price be noted.

3.  That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer,  GMCA and TfGM, in consultation with the Mayor of Greater Manchester, to approve the continuation of the capped bus fares scheme, subject to any recommendations made by the GMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting in July 2023.

4.  That it be noted that that a further annual review of capped bus fares will take place in summer 2024.

5.  That updates will be provided during the year on the consistency of patronage increases on the bus network.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

1.       That the range of multimodal ticketing products that will be available across Greater Manchester from 24 September 2023 be noted.

2.      That the multimodal ticketing products will be considered by the GMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee at its meeting in July 2023 alongside the annual review of capped bus fares be noted.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

1.     That further to the governance arrangements approved by GMCA on 30 September 2022, the proposed assurance process for CRSTS Outline Business Case and Full Business Case stages in relation to the re-baselined Scheme List, as approved by the GMCA on 26 May 2023, be noted and approved.

2.     That the draw-down of CRSTS funding be approved, as follows:

·           Integrated Ticketing and Information Measures: £7.38m to enable the ongoing development and delivery of the Integrated Ticketing and Customer Information programme, which includes Mobile, Online and PAYGO Contactless Ticketing; and the provision of passenger information displays at key network locations.

·           Rochdale: Littleborough Streets for All Scheme: £0.27mto develop the scheme to Final Business Case.

·           Bury: Ramsbottom Town Centre Development Streets for All Scheme: £0.35m to develop the scheme to Final Business Case.

·           Bury Town Centre Streets for All Scheme: £0.62m to develop the scheme to Final Business Case.

3.  That the draw-down of Mayor's Cycling and Walking Challenge Fund funding be approved, as follows:

Manchester, Victoria Northern Eastern Gateway scheme: release of up to £8.86m of MCF delivery funding.

4.  That the inclusion of Greater Manchester’s share of the national Additional Maintenance (Pothole) Funding (£6,210,400) within the Capital Programme for 2023/24 and the allocation of funding to the 10 Local Authorities (on the same proportion as that used for the CRSTS Core Maintenance allocations to Local Authorities) be approved.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1. That the 2022/23 actual outturn capital expenditure of £442.6m, compared to the forecast position presented to GMCA on 10 February 2023 of £462.1m, be noted.

2. That an amendment to an error on appendix 1 to the report will be circulated to GMCA members and published on the GMCA website.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1.    That the drawdown of £1.9m from TfGM General Reserves to fund the cost of the voluntary severance scheme, which will deliver savings for 2023/24 onwards, as set out in paragraph 6.12, be approved.

2.    That the drawdown of £2.3m to fund the net deficit from Metrolink in 2022/23, which was funded from a ring fenced Metrolink Reserve held by TfGM, as set out in paragraph 6.17, be approved.

3.    That it be noted that the Mayoral General Budget provisional revenue outturn position for 2022/23 was breakeven after planned transfer to earmarked reserves.

4.    That it be noted that the GMCA General Budget provisional revenue outturn position for 2022/23 was £0.949m, to be transferred to earmarked reserves.

5.    That it be noted that the Mayoral General GM Fire & Rescue provisional revenue outturn position for 2022/23 was breakeven after planned transfer to earmarked reserves.

6.    That it be noted that Waste and Resourcing provisional revenue outturn position for 2022/23 was an underspend of £33.8m, to be transferred to earmarked reserves.

7.    That it be noted that the GMCA Transport and TfGM provisional revenue outturn positions for 2022/23 were breakeven after transfers between earmarked reserves.

8.    That it be noted that £3.1m  was added to the TfGM concessionary reserve due to underspend in the year, which has been ring-fenced for future spend on bus costs.

9.    That it be noted that the final position was subject to the submission of the audited accounts, to be finalised by 30^th November 2023, to be reported to the GMCA Audit Committee prior to the deadline.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1.     That Manchester City Council be granted up to £2,125,545 of Greater Manchester’s UKSPF allocation over 2 years to deliver the activity, expenditure, outcomes and outputs set out in their UKSPF Communities and Place Phase 2 proposal by March 2025, taking the Manchester City Council Communities and Place UKSPF investment across Phases 1 and 2 to a maximum of £5,013,823.

2.     That the additional impact of the Manchester City Council Phase 2 proposal to the collective impact of the currently approved ten Local Authority proposals, in exceeding the majority of outcomes and outputs for the Communities and Place Investment Priority, as set out in the GM UKSPF Investment Plan, be noted.  

3.      That support be given for an additional UKSPF Communities and Place Intervention to be added to Greater Manchester’s UKSPF Investment Plan reporting the number of feasibility studies funded using UKSPF, reflecting the eligible and strategic use of UKSPF by local authorities to develop medium and long term regeneration ambitions for their places.

4.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM, GMCA Treasurer and Monitoring Officer, in consultation with the Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment, to finalise the grant funding agreement including the ability to make minor amendments as required.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1.  That the recommendations of the GM UKSPF Local Partnership Board on the strategic fit and deliverability of the UKSPF proposal E19, to “Increase investment in research and development at the local level" be approved.

2.  That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer, in consultation with the Portfolio Leader for the Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth and Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment, to agree the allocation method and subsequent award of contracts worth £5,775,000.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1.  That the recommendations of the GM UKSPF Local Partnership Board on the strategic fit and deliverability of the UKSPF proposal E23 for “support for micro-business start-up and development” be aprpoved.

2.  That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer, in consultation with the Portfolio Leader for the Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth and Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment, to agree the allocation method and subsequent award of a grant to the value of £1,400,000.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing

1.  That it be noted that the GMCA Treasurer, acting in conjunction with the GMCA Solicitor & Monitoring Officer, will utilise existing delegated authority to agree the final terms of the Brownfield programme grant agreement with DLUHC.

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

3.  That the allocation of up to £51.1m of the overall £150m funding devolved to GMCA be approved.

4.  That the utilisation of up to £500k of the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Loan Fund surpluses to contribute to the revenue funding requirements of delivering the programme be approved.

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

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing

1.      That the receipt of £15 million Social Housing Quality Funding be noted.

2.  That the proposed approach and process for allocating grants to social housing providers in Greater Manchester be approved.

3.  That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM,  in consultation with the Portfolio Leader and Chief Executive Portfolio Lead for Housing, to ensure rapid release of funding to allow urgent works to be undertaken.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader for Resources & Investment

1.      That the loan facility of up to £250k to The Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce be approved.

2.  That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM and GMCA Solicitor & 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 Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

1.      That the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’s Strategic Business Plan May 2023 – March 2028 (Annex A) be approved.

2.  That the Stockport Town Centre West Mayoral Development Corporation’s Action Plan May 2023 – March 2024 (Part B) be approved.

3.  That the GMCA record its thanks Lord Bob Kerslake for his support throughout the development of the Mayoral Development Corporation.

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 Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester

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 23 above refers).

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Leader 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 22 above refers).