Issue - meetings

To consider the joint report of the Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access & Performance) and the Director of City Development seeking authority for a statutory review of specified functions to be undertaken with the intention of a further report being prepared in due course to include a draft Scheme of Governance for a Combined Authority, should the Review conclude that this is the most beneficial option for the area, and a timetable for its establishment

The Assistant Chief Executive (Customer Access and Performance) and the Director of City Development submitted a joint report seeking authority for a statutory review of specified functions to be undertaken with the intention of a further report being prepared in due course to include a draft Scheme of Governance for a Combined Authority, should the Review conclude that this was the most beneficial option for the area, and that it satisfied the statutory tests.

By way of an introduction to the report, the Chief Executive advised that although the primary focus of the proposals was upon transport provision, potentially it could also relate to wider arrangements aimed at the promotion of economic development and regeneration in West Yorkshire.  The Board was also informed that York City Council had expressed an interest in being more formally involved in the potential establishment of a Combined Authority for the area.

The suggestion was welcomed that a cross-party approach would be taken in respect of the further work to be carried out on the potential establishment of a Combined Authority.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That it be agreed that the Council should be party, together with other West Yorkshire Authorities (including the ITA), to a Review of governance arrangements relating to transport, economic development and regeneration in West Yorkshire, pursuant to Section 108 of the Local Democracy, Economic Development and Construction Act 2009 and Section 82 of the Local Transport Act 2008.

(b)  That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader be authorised to commission the preparation of the Review, in consultation with the other West Yorkshire Authorities.

(c)  That the Chief Executive in consultation with the Leader be authorised to commission the preparation (in consultation with the other West Yorkshire Authorities) of a draft Scheme for a Combined Authority for consideration by Executive Board and Council, if the Review recommends that a Combined Authority would be the most beneficial option for West Yorkshire.

(d)  That the provisional timetable and next steps on the governance review process be noted, including, if appropriate, the submission of a draft Scheme to Executive Board and Council by January 2013 and a final scheme which takes account of consultation and submitted to the Secretary of State by July 2013, in order to be in a position by April 2014 to receive significant devolved powers and funding via the City Deal.