Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

a.  To agree the minutes of the meeting held on 20^th November 2025

b.  Matters arising

The minutes of the meeting held on 20^th November 2025 were agreed and signed as a true record, subject to the inclusion to the text below at the end or Recommendation 2 of Minute 41, headed “Change (Transformation) Programme Update”

  ‘Should they fail to aid or work in a cross-departmental way, they should not be installed.’

There were no matters arising.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee received a presentation by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), that provided an update on corporate matters undertaken by the WMCA.

The Presentation included the following:

·  The WMCA Vision – “Together we are making the West Midlands the best place to live, work and visit.

·  The Values – Collaborative, Driven, Inclusive and Innovative.

·  The Mayor’s Office and Mayoral Priorities.

·  The Executive Leadership Team.

·  Priorities of the Interim Chief Executive – Relationships, Transformation and Delivery.

·  The West Midlands Growth Plan.

·  The Spatial Development Strategy.

·  The Regional Investment Summit.

·  The English Devolution and Community Empowerment Bill / Act.

·  What does the WMCA do for Coventry.

·  Budget and Business Plan.

·  A New Approach: Corporate Planning (subject to WMCA Board approval).

·  2025/26 Financial Year Budget.

·  Capital and Revenue Output.

·  2025/26 Annual Business Plan.

·  The Integrated Settlement.

·  Further IS funding opportunities this year.

The Committee asked questions and received responses in respect of a number of matters, including:

·  Electric Vehicle Battery technology.

·  Whether WMCA were a key stakeholder in respect of the impact of Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) across the region.

·  Thoughts of the WMCA on a tourism levy.

·  The role of WMCA Members in the 4 Taskforces and how they interact with the Local Authorities and Districts.

·  Roles of the Taskforces in assisting the Mayor to develop Policy.

·  Informal and constitutional structures and what these add to the Lord Mayoral function.

·  The role of Scrutiny within the WMCA.

·  WMCA Survey and whether this is regional or specific to Coventry.

·  Proposals within the Growth Plan for 120k new homes and where planning powers sit across the region.

·  The Spatial Development Strategy and rights to protect green belt locally.

·  Transportation regionally, including the need to ensure transport links to new developments both residential and commercial.

·  Comparative data with other authorities within the WMCA.

The Committee agreed the following actions arising from the presentation:

1.  That an all Member’s Engagement Session (All-Members Seminar) be set up to share information on the WMCA.

2.  That additional information be circulated on the Spatial Development Strategy.

3.  The link to the recent Member Survey be shared with the Committee.

4.  Comparative data be provided to identify how Coventry compares against other authorities, to include Jobs Growth, Homelessness, Skills and Employment, and Educational Achievement.

5.  That the Transformation Programme Report be shared with the Committee after its publication in February 2026.

6.  The Spatial Development Strategy Review to be circulated when available.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee note the presentation by the West Midlands Combined Authority and request additional information as set out in 1 to 6 above.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee received a presentation by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA), that provided an update on scrutiny matters within the WMCA.

The Presentation included the following:

·  Scrutiny within the WMCA – Pre-Decision; Post Decision; Policy Development; Mayoral Accountability.

·  How Does it differ – Scale, Scope, Guidance.

·  Independent Review of Transport Scrutiny and LGA Corporate Peer Challenge.

·  The WMCA Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

o  The Work Programme – Current and planned work. 

·  Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

o  The Work Programme – Current and planned work. 

·  Audit, Risk and Assurance Committee.

o  The Work Programme – Current and planned work. 

·  Annual Scrutiny Report.

·  How to get involved.

The Committee asked questions and received responses in respect of a number of matters, including:

·  The impact and implications of AI, particularly in relation to the labour market.

·  The independent review of the Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny Committee and impact of the recommendations of the independent review not being supported by Birmingham.

·  Decontamination of land and transferring costs to developers where taxpayer’s money has funded the decontamination.

·  Role of scrutiny in the formal decision making of the Mayor.

RESOLVED that the Scrutiny and Co-ordination Committee note the presentation by the West Midlands Combined Authority.

The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a report of the Director of Law and Governance that provided information regarding the Committee’s Work Programme and Outstanding Issues for 2025/26. The Committee noted that the next scheduled meeting would take place on 15^th January 2026 and would be a joint meeting with members of the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) for an item related to Selective Licensing.

RESOLVED that Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee notes the Work Programme attached as an appendix to the report. 

Any other items of public business which the Chair decides to take as a matter of urgency because of the special circumstances involved.

There were no other items of public business.