Agenda and minutes

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests.

(a)  To agree the Minutes of the meeting held on 8^th November 2023

(b)  Matters arising

The Minutes of the meeting held on 8 November 2023 were agreed and signed as a true record subject to an amendment suggested by Councillor T Jandu. There were no matters arising.

Briefing Note of the Head of Network Transformation,

Transport for West Midlands

The Business, Economy, and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received an update on the ongoing work to consider future options for delivering bus services in the West Midlands, including assessing the existing Enhanced Partnership Scheme, undertaking a Full Franchising Assessment, and considerations relating to municipal bus company operations such as those that operated before deregulation of bus services in 1986.

For context, the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) adopted its Vision for Bus in 2019, which set long-term objectives for better bus services in the region. In assessing its options, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) commissioned work in early 2020 to assess the regulatory tools available by the Bus Service Act 2017 and compared Franchising and Enhanced Partnership as possible ways of delivering the Vision for Bus. The initial assessment concluded that Franchising would likely give greater control and certainty over the delivery of the Vision for Bus objectives, as well as better value for money and transparency. However, the assessment also recognised the risks associated with Franchising, such as financial and legal risks, and the significant commitments needed for a successful Enhanced Partnership.

As a result, the WMCA Board agreed in February 2022 that work should progress to a Full Franchising Assessment, which was required by legislation, before any regulatory change was considered. The assessment would follow the Government's Green Book approach and consider the scheme in detail. The Full Franchising Assessment would also compare how well the Authority's objectives could be met through other delivery approaches, such as the status quo Enhanced Partnership, a more ambitious Enhanced Partnership, or municipalisation.

Councillor J O’Boyle, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Regeneration and Climate Change, introduced the discussion by highlighting what an important year 2024 would be for bus services in the city and the region. Alongside a final decision on the model for bus delivery options, he hoped the city would continue to outperform patronage regional averages and continue to push to meet the target of making all Coventry buses electric by 2025. He also recognised that a service review was underway, and the risks associated with the potential proposed end of funding in 2025. 

Representatives from Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) attended the meeting and provided the Board with a detailed presentation that covered:

• Post-covid recovery and context.
• The protection of the existing network – in place until Dec 2024 – and the bus recovery package.
• The future bus options decision – July 2024 – Enhanced Partnership (EP) or Franchising.
• Longer term funding for the network from January 2025 to 2027 (in place through levy and additional government funds).
• Future sustainability and security of the network – long term funding.

In considering the briefing note and the presentation, the Board questioned officers and representatives from TfWM and received responses on a number of matters relating to bus delivery options including:

• The lessons learnt from the process and roll-out of the franchise fodel in Manchester.
• The skillset and experience of those assessing which bus delivery model will be  ...  view the full minutes text for item 13.

Report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator

The Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3) received a report of the Scrutiny Co-ordinator that detailed issues on the Board’s Work Programme for meetings of the Board for 2023/24.

RESOLVED that the Business, Economy and Enterprise Scrutiny Board (3):

1)  Notes the issues on the Board’s Work Programme for 2023/24.

2)  Notes that an item on ‘EV Charging Point Installation Roll Out’, has been added to the Work Programme.

3)  Requests that an item on ‘Bus Delivery Options Final Report’ be added to the Work Programme for consideration at a meeting of the Board early in the Municipal Year 2024/25.

There were no other items of public business.