Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received from City Mayor Paul Dennett (Salford), Councillor Mark Hunter (Stockport) & Joanne Roney (Manchester).

1. That the update following the introduction of Tranche 1 of the Bee Network on Sunday 24^th September 2023 be received.

2. That the update on the current issues around HS2 be received.

3. That it be noted that the Mayor was seeking an audience with the Prime Minister to gain further clarity on the HS2 line to Manchester proposals.

4. That the Deputy Mayor’s update on the ongoing Baird Review be noted.

5. That it be requested that any persons who wished to engage with the Baird Review and had not already done so, to make contact within the next two weeks.

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 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 GMCA meeting held on 28 July 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA meeting held on 28 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To approve the minutes of the of the GMCA Resources Committee held on 28 July 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Resources Committee meeting held on 28 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To note the minutes of the GMCA Audit Committee held on 20 September 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Audit Committee meeting held on 20 September 2023 be noted.

To note the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee held on 26 July & 16 August 2023.

1. That the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee meetings held on 26 July & 16 August 2023 be noted.

2. That it be noted that as part of the Trailblazer Devolution Deal, parallel scrutiny arrangements with members of parliament were being finalised, and that work would take place to ensure that these arrangements compliment the work of the existing GMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

To note the minutes of the Greater Manchester Business (GMLEP) Board held on 19 July & 19 September 2023.

That the minutes of the Greater Manchester Business Board meetings held on 19 July & 19 September 2023 be noted.

To note the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 27 July 2023.

That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee meeting held on 27 July 2023 be noted.

·       To approve the appointment of Cllr Imran Rizvi (Bury) as a member of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

·       To approve the appointment of Cllr Nathan Boroda (Bury) and Mohammed Iqbal (Bolton) as substitute members of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee.

·       To note the appointment of Cllr Elliot Moss (Bury) to the GM Joint Clean Air Scrutiny Committee.

1.               That the appointment of Cllr Imran Rizvi (Bury) as a member of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be approved.

2.            That the appointment of Cllr Nathan Boroda (Bury) and Cllr Mohammed Iqbal (Bolton) as substitute members of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be approved.

3.            That the appointment of Cllr Elliot Moss (Bury) to the GM Joint Clean Air Scrutiny Committee be noted.

Report of Councillor Bev Craig, Portfolio Lead for Economy & Business and Councillor Arooj Shah, Portfolio Lead for Equalities and Communities

That the latest assessment and emerging response be noted.

Verbal report of Kate Green, Deputy Mayor, Police, Crime & Fire.

1. That the GMCA notes that the GMFRS Fire Cover Review outcomes constitute a Mayoral Decision.

2. That the verbal update on outcomes of the GMFRS Fire Cover Review be received and noted. With the proposals highlighted as follows:

• Introduce one additional wholetime fire engine at Manchester Central Community Fire Station – taking the total fleet from 50 to 51 pumps.
• Invest an additional £340k in Prevention and Protection activities – targeting more resources to keeping people safe from emergencies before they happen.
• Implement Enhanced Rescue Station proposals at Leigh and Ashton Community Fire Stations – strengthening the ability to respond to increasing numbers of complex emergencies.
• Implement all proposals from the Strategic Review of Special Appliances – Implementing new technologies and ensuring specialist technical equipment is best located for where it is most needed across the city-region.
• Crews will continue to be based on station 24/7 and day crewing arrangements will not be progressed at Sale and Offerton fire stations.

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

1.                    That the Annual Reports provided by the Disabled People’s Panel, Youth Combined Authority, Women and Girls Equality Panel, Race Equality Panel, Faith and Belief Panel Advisory Panel, Older Peoples Equality Panel and LGBTQ+ Equality Panel be noted.

2.            That the commitment of all Portfolios to proactively engage with Equality Panels (individually or collectively) on issues that impact communities-of-identity be endorsed.

Report of Councillor Eamonn O’Brien, Portfolio Lead for Technical Education, Skills and Work.

1. That the update and proposed next steps be noted and endorsed.

2. That the proposals for new governance arrangements for GMCA’s Education, Skills and Work portfolio, including the development of the Joint Oversight Board (JOB) with central government, in line with the Trailblazer Devolution Deal, and the proposed operation of a ‘shadow’ JOB ahead of full implementation in early 2024, be approved.

3. That the standing down of current Employment Skills and Work (ESW) governance be approved – primarily the Employment & Skills Advisory Panel (ESAP), with thanks for members’ contributions to date.

4. That the establishment of a GMCA ESW Executive Member portfolio leads’ forum, comprising the ten portfolio leads (e.g. Work & Skills or equivalent) be approved, with Leaders invited to nominate their relevant Executive Member portfolio lead.

5. That the progress of the Local Skills Improvement Fund (LSIF) application and delegate initial sign off for the submission to the Portfolio Leader for Technical Education, Skills & Work be noted.

6.    That all individual districts be requested to engage with their local businesses to encourage involvement with the new ESW governance arrangements.

Report of Councillor Nick Peel, Portfolio Lead for Digital.

1. That the report and progress towards supporting PSTN switchover in GM be noted.

2. That support be given to advocating that the Government should play a stronger and more active role in the PSTN switchover.

3. That the need to ensure that public sector organisations and their partners were undertaking appropriate steps to upgrade or mitigate be endorsed.

4. That the work between local authorities and industry to identify vulnerable households and the request that no-one is disconnected by industry until a suitable alternative connection is available be supported.

5.    That the establishment of a GM PSTN Switchover working group to coordinate activity and communication, in partnership with ISPs and Local Authorities be endorsed.

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

1.                    That the Business Plan for the Integrated Water Management Plan to 31 March 2024 (Annex A) be approved.

2.                    That the budget request this financial year (£207,758) to operationalize the plan (paragraph 3.5) be approved.

3.                    That the request to create new fixed terms posted funded through retained business rates (paragraph 3.2) be approved.

4.                    That the allocation of  a minimum of £250k is allocated to the Integrated Water Management Plan from FY 24/25 retained business rates (Paragraph 3.6) be approved.

5.                    That the comments raised by the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee be received and noted

6.                    That it be noted that an Integrated Water Management session would be held during the GM Green Summit on Monday 2^nd October.

Report of Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

1.    That the procedural changes for depot acquisitions for Tranches 2 and 3, in order to streamline the acquisition and leasing of depots, be approved.

2.    That the changes to the decisions and delegations from the September 2022 GMCA meeting, set out in the Appendix, be noted.

3.    That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, TfGM and GMCA, to agree the final terms of leases of bus depots both in respect of interim leaseback arrangements to existing operators and the franchise depot leases to be granted to the franchise bus operators for Tranches 2 and 3.

4.    That authority be delegated to TfGM to manage, maintain and insure all of the bus depots on behalf of GMCA in accordance with the terms of an agreed Protocol between GMCA and TfGM referred to in earlier reports to the GMCA.

5.    That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer to agree the terms of any agreement between the GMCA and TfGM to bring Tranche 1 leases in line with Tranches 2 and 3.

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

That the report be approved.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing.

1. That the allocation of up to £14.9m of the Brownfield Housing Fund programme funding devolved to GMCA to the 7 projects identified at Appendix 1,be noted.

2. That authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM,  acting in consultation with the Portfolio Lead for Housing and the Lead Member of the relevant district to approve increases of up to 10% on brownfield funding allocations previously approved by the Combined Authority and other variations to funding conditions in the period up to 31 March 2024.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio Lead for Housing.

1.                    That  the following investments of City Deal Receipts in two Social Impact Funds, be approved as follows:

2.                    That  the  City Deal Receipts. which form part of the £119.8m GMCA was lending to Renaker’s Bankside and Trinity D2 developments being increased from £20m to £21m, with the GM Housing Investment Loans Fund (“GMHILF”) element of the loan reduced accordingly,  be approved.

3.                    That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer 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 Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio Lead for Resources & Investment.

1.                    That the loan facility of up to £950,000 to ClearCycle be approved.

2.                    That the investment into LoveRaw Limited (“LoveRaw”) of £500,000, approved under delegated authority be noted.

3.                    That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer 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.

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 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 21 above refers).