Agenda and decisions

That apologies be received from Councillor David Molyneux (Wigan),Tom Stannard (Salford) & Caroline Simpson (Stockport).

1.  That White Ribbon Day be acknowledged and that the GMCA reaffirms its continued strong support.

2.  That the update on the news arising from the Autumn Statement on the Greater Manchester funding model for devolution be received.

3.  That the update on Greater Manchester Investment Zone expansion arising from the Autumn Statement be received.

4.  That the concerns arising from the lack of updates within the Autumn Statement on local authority funding and the household support fund be acknowledged and that these concerns be voiced directly to the Government.

5.  That it be advised that Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester will be attending the Government Covid Inquiry, alongside the GMCA Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, to give evidence, noting that he would be advising that a devolved approach to Greater Manchester’s emergency structure would have delivered a faster approach to the pandemic.

6.  That the update on the successes arising from Tranche 1 of the Bee Network and the identified areas for improvements be received.

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 27 October 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA meeting held on 27 October 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To note the minutes of the Greater Manchester Bee Network Committee held on 26 October 2023.

That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee meeting held on 26 October 2023 be noted.

To approve the minutes of the GMCA Resources Committee held on 27 October 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Resources Committee meeting held on 27 October 2023 be approved as a correct record.

To note the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 October 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Overview & Scrutiny Committee meeting held on 25 October 2023 be noted.

To note the minutes of the GMCA Audit Committee held on 15 November 2023.

That the minutes of the GMCA Audit Committee meeting held on 15 November 2023 be noted.

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

That the statement from the Deputy Mayor updating on the progress of the Baird Review be received.

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

1. That the renewal of the seven existing private sector members' terms of office for another two-year term (Lou Cordwell, Lorna Fitzsimons, Vimla Appadoo; Marilyn Comrie; Steve Connor; Chris Oglesby and Justin Kelly) be endorsed.

2. That the recommendation that to two existing Board members continue as ex-officio members, representing the Growth Company and Greater Manchester Chamber of Commerce (Mike Blackburn and Clive Memmott), be endorsed.

3. That that the appointment of the five new private sector members invited to join the Business Board (Devrim Celal; Laura Percy; Mike Wilton; Steve Rothberg; and James Byrne) be endorsed.

Report of Councillor Arooj Shah, Portfolio lead for Equalities and Communities.

1.               That the progress made with the response to the 2022 Big Disability Survey and the issues which have been identified relating to its delivery be noted.

2.            That the importance of its constituent organisations achieving a co-ordinated, multi-stakeholder, and effectively resourced Greater Manchester wide response, aimed at improving the lives of disabled people be actively endorsed.

3.            That the comments contributed by Melvin Bradley, Co-Chair of the Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel, be received.

4.            That the ten Greater Manchester Local Authorities be requested to ensure that there were clear consistent arrangements in place to respond to the recommendations of the Greater Manchester Disabled People’s Panel.

Report of Councillor Mark Hunter, Portfolio lead for Children and Young People.

1. That the commitment of all Greater Manchester Local Authorities to tackle the high costs and reliance on agency social workers, by signing up to the ‘Greater Manchester Pledge’, be noted.

2. That the progress to date on ‘Project Skyline’ and the intention to launch the procurement exercise for the proposed children’s homes in the final quarter of 2023/24 be noted.

3. That the Greaer Manchester level response to the challenge of how to increase the number of foster carers across the city-region be noted.

4. That the lobbying of Government for fair and sustainable funding for children’s services continues, including an acceleration of the regulation and statutory guidance required to tackle the rising costs of placements for Looked After Children and the high cost associated with agency social workers, be supported.

5. That Greater Manchester Local Authorities be encouraged to identify areas of particular interest, within the Greater Manchester Children’s programme, for the next thematic update from the Greater Manchester Children’s Board to GMCA.

Report of Deputy Mayor, Police, Crime and Fire, Kate Green.

1.                    That the contents of the report and the accompanying Violence Reduction Strategy be noted.

2.            That approval and commitment be given to a ten-year strategic plan to reduce violence across Greater Manchester.

3.            That a commitment be given to work with the Violence Reduction Unit (VRU) and its partners to implement the commitments set out in the strategy.

4.            That the update from the Mayor of Greater Manchester,  on plans to work to work with the Royal Foundation on pathways for vulnerable young people be received.

5.            That the comments made by Councillor Nadim Muslim, on behalf of the Overview & Scrutiny Committee, be received.

6.            That it be noted that the Deputy Mayor will lead on the development of a detailed action plan over the coming months.

Report of Councillor Bev Craig, Portfolio lead for Economy, Business and Inclusive Growth.

1. That the update on the work of Innovation Greater Manchester Partnership be noted.

2. That it be noted that the Innovation Greater Manchester Board approved a series of recommendations at its Board meeting of 12 October 2023, approving the creation of a triple helix Partnership arrangement, as set out in the report submitted.

3. That approval be given to the GMCA entering into such a Partnership Agreement and move to appoint a new Chair for Innovation Greater Manchester Partnership, and that authority be delegated to the Chief Executive Officer, GMCA & TfGM, in consultation with the Economic Portfolio Lead and the GMCA Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, to agree the terms of the Partnership Agreement, in accordance with the terms set out in the report submitted.

4.    That approval be given to the use of already committed resources to support the development of Innovation Greater Manchester in its new form in 2023/24 and to consider 2024/25 resources as part of the Retained Business Rates process.

Report of Councillor Tom Ross, Portfolio lead for Green City Region.

1. That it be noted that the GMCA has proceeded with a consortium bid for circ. £9m from Salix (NPBD) under the Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 3c.

2. That that the receipt and defrayment of Public Sector Decarbonisation Scheme Phase 3c funding be advocated, with authority delegated to the GMCA Treasurer and GMCA Solicitor and Monitoring Officer to sign all necessary legal agreements (subject to successful award).

3. That it be noted that the impact assessment revealed a positive impact for both environment and economy outcomes.

4. That a top slice from any capital grant awarded, to underpin the GMCA’s cost of coordinating and project managing the scheme, be approved.

5. That the scale of the top slice will be confirmed on receipt of the grant.

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio lead for Housing.

1.                    That approval be given to the allocation of up to £11.905m from the GM Brownfield programme funding devolved to GMCA, in line with the details contained at Appendix 1.

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

Report of Councillor Ged Cooney, Portfolio lead for Housing.

1.    That the contents of the paper be noted.

2.    That intention to progress with development of the Housing Delivery Plan, in line with the timeframe, be approved.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio lead for Resources and Investment.

That the Treasury Management Strategy Statement and Annual Investment Strategy Mid-Year Review Report 2023/24 be approved.

Report of Councillor David Molyneux, Portfolio lead for Resources and Investment.

1. That an equity investment of up to £350k to Wi-Q Limited be approved.

2. That an equity investment of up to £1m to SMIDSY Ltd (trading as “Beryl”) be approved.

3. That a loan novation of up to £12.95m to Chancerygate (Erdington) Ltd be approved.

4. That authority be delegated to the GMCA Treasurer and GMCA Solicitor and Monitoring Officer, to review the due diligence information in respect of the above investments, and, subject to their satisfactory review and agreement of the due diligence information and the overall detailed commercial terms of the investments, to sign off any outstanding conditions, issue final approvals and complete any necessary related documentation in respect of the investments 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 and 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 19 above refers).