Decisions

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

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

•          14 December; 2 – 4 PM

•          25 January; 2 – 4 PM

•          22 February; 2 – 4 PM

•          21 March; 2 – 4 PM

RESOLVED/-

1.     That the current position in relation to CRSTS1 and the recent announcement of indicative funding for CRSTS2 be noted.

2.     That it be noted that the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) in relation to the £53.6m Active Travel allocation within CRSTS1 has been submitted and approved in line with the previously agreed CRSTS assurance process. The drawdown of specific financial releases in relation to individual schemes within this overall allocation would be progressed through the previously agreed Mayoral Challenge Fund (MCF) governance process, as detailed within this report.

3.     That the proposed reallocation of £6.8m CRSTS funding from the A577 Complementary Works scheme to the Golborne Station scheme be noted.

4.     That in line with previously adopted practice, the draw-down of Active Travel funding as be approved as follows:

·         £1m of ATF3 funding for delivery of the Salford Irwell Street Phase 1 scheme;

·         £0.25m of ATF4 funding for the development of the Manchester Cycleway, Yellow Brick Road scheme;

·         £0.35m of ATF4 funding for the development of the Manchester Cycleway, CYCLOPS scheme

·         £0.17m of ATF4 funding for the development of the Bury Parkhills Road, Heywood Street Junctions scheme; and

·         £0.12m of ATF4 funding for the development of the Bury Radcliffe Metrolink Active Travel Access Package.

5.     That it be agreed that the consideration and approval of the bid to the second round of funding for the DfT’s Zero Emission Bus Regional Areas (ZEBRA) Scheme to the Chief Executive, GMCA and TfGM for submission to Government by 15th December.

RESOLVED/-

1.     That the contents of the report be noted.

2.     That plans to reduce road casualty figures through engagement with business owners to encourage the adoption of accountability standards through operation AVRO be noted.

3.     That it be agreed that details of neighbourhood policing inspectors be shared with the Committee to allow members to share road safety issues directly with GMP.

4.     That it be agreed that on behalf of the Committee a letter be sent to the Department of Transport outlining the concerns of members alongside recommending that a review of the existing criteria for the installation of speed cameras be undertaken.

5.     That be agreed that a meeting be arranged with the Chief Constable to explore the options available to Greater Manchester until a response from Government is received.

RESOLVED/-

1.    That it be noted that the key role the Greater Manchester Streets for All Design Guide will have in helping the region achieve the ambition set out in the Streets for All Strategy, GMTS 2040, and in building the Bee Network.

2.    That the Greater Manchester Streets for All Design Guide V1.1; be adopted.

3.    That it be noted that all schemes funded through the GMCA should be developed and designed following the approach and requirements set out in the Streets for All Design Guidance.

4.    That it be noted that Supplementary Technical Guidance and any minor updates to the Design Guide be agreed by TfGM and local authorities using the GM Transport Strategy, GM Highways and GM Delivery Groups.

5.    That it be noted that the commitment to return to this Committee in the event of substantive revision and update.

RESOLVED/-

1.     That the progress on Greater Manchester’s committed transport delivery programme be noted.

2.     That progress against the existing Right Mix vision and established 2040 Transport Strategy key performance indicators be noted.

3.     That it be agreed that the implications of KPI monitoring, and delivery progress should be considered carefully to shape the refresh of the Local Transport Plan.

4.     That it be noted that the Rapid Transit Strategy, that would also include an update on the position around Tram-Train schemes and long-term rapid transit options would be brought to a future meeting of the Committee.

5.     That the measures that have been deployed to improve safety on the network, including the launch of the #IsThisOK? campaign to encourage men travelling on public transport to consider their behaviour towards women and girls be noted.

6.     That it be noted that TfGM had received funding following a successful joint bid with the British Transport Police and have since procured the headsets and the VR software needed for the delivery of VR Headset Scheme. Virtual reality headsets will be used to give youngsters an insight into the real impact missile attacks on trains, trams and buses have on passengers and drivers which will potentially deter antisocial behaviour on the network.

7.     That further details on the merger of A560 Stockport Road scheme with Tameside - Hattersley Viaduct scheme be provided to Councillor Bray following the meeting.

That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 26 October 2023 be approved as a correct record.

The Chair welcomed Dame Sarah Storey, Active Travel Commissioner, Vernon Everitt, Transport Commissioner and Michael Parker, Chief Inspector for Road Safety to the meeting.

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Prescott, Dan Costello, Elaine Taylor, Aidan Williams, Paul Dennett and Hamid Khurram. 

None received.

RESOLVED/-

1.     That it be noted that following a public consultation which attracted 750,000 responses the Transport Secretary has asked all train operators to withdraw their proposals to close ticket offices.

2.     In noting the concerns raised around the decision taken by Avanti West Coast to remove 1 train per hour from their London-Manchester route from December, it was agreed that a further performance update be provided under the rail programme item that was currently scheduled for January 2024.

3.     That the update in relation to the performance of Tranche 1 services be noted and that the relevant data in relation to punctuality of services be circulated to members following the meeting.

4.     That it be noted that to improve customer experience further improvements to the Bee Network application including the added functionality of journey planning including apple and google pay functionality would be included within future updates of the Bee Network application.