Briefing Note of the West Midlands Combined Authority
Minutes:
The Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee considered a presentation from representatives of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) detailing an overview of the activity of the WMCA in Coventry for 2024/25, with a focus on Jobs for Everyone; Homes for Everyone; Growth for Everyone and Journeys for Everyone.
In respect of Jobs for Everyone, the WMCA Employment and Skills Strategy 2024-27 seeks to build upon successes to date, by setting out a vision for an integrated employment and skills system for the Region, through which the WMCA can stimulate economic growth, deliver better outcomes for residents and businesses, and create healthier, thriving communities. The presentation further highlighted funding allocations and activities that had taken place under the following topics:
· Building strong and inclusive communities
· Providing a good education to Level 2 for those who need it
· Moving residents into employment and careers progression
· Meeting future skills needs through upskilling and reskilling
With regard to Growth for Everyone, Business Advisers leverage their extensive knowledge, networks and expertise to offer businesses valuable insights, introductions and advice to grow their Business. They understand the Region’s support landscape and can signpost Businesses to third party programmes, as well as our own opportunities. The West Midlands SME Grants Programme seeks to increase productivity by improving business confidence, stimulating business activity, attracting investment, safeguarding existing and creating new jobs within local communities. The presentation further highlighted funding allocations and activities that had taken place under the following topics:
· Investment Zones
· Environment
· Energy – Net Zero Neighbourhood
· Devolution
Through Homes for Everyone, monthly Local Authority Engagement meetings with the city Council Property Team take place to discuss property and grant projects, including ongoing schemes and potential future initiatives. Regular discussions are held to identify top priority projects, both public and private, which could be services through WMCA grant and investment assistance. There were a number of projects within the city which had been completed or approved. Projects at Wood End, Henley Manor (Spirit Quarters) had been completed and projects were approved for Abbotts Lane, Bishops Gate, City Centre South and Paradise Street.
Journeys for Everyone sought to connect communities and make travel easier safer and more affordable for everyone. This was achieved through various projects including the following:
· Workwise
o 156 Coventry residents supported in accessing employment through workwise tickets.
· Ring and Ride and Demand Responsive Transport
o 35,625 journeys completed in 2024 using the West Midlands Ring and Ride service, which continues to increase. The service has seen a recent introduction of newer vehicles into the fleet.
o Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) are undertaking a procurement exercise for the provision of Ring and Ride services in the Region.
· Buses
o £2.073m annualised cost of subsidised routes within Coventry and across boundaries.
· Bus Services – Passenger Incentive Programme
o 42,212 codes issued for free bus travel, with 833,021 individual bus journeys made to date.
o 64 organisations across Coventry have received support over the calendar year. With campaigns still active, this figure is likely to increase.
· Rail
o Coventry East (Binley / Willenhall) station study.
o Coventry – Leicester – Nottingham Scheme.
· Network Resilience
o Continuation of work in supporting Coventry Highway Officers in the development of Disruption Management Plans, which aim to reduce the disruptive impacts of the construction activities upon the communities within the city.
o Work with Coventry Building Society Arena and Coventry City Football Club on new Fan Travel Survey and a continuing Bus offer incentive
o Transport Safety Officers have spent over 1,000 hours patrolling on bus and railway routes in Coventry, engaging with over 26,000 people and educated over 800 people about their behaviour whilst using the transport network.
· City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement
o £111m allocated to projects promoted by Coventry.
o Interventions with West Midlands City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) have been selected to maximise growth outcomes, enable modal shift and improve accessibility, especially in traditionally under-served and deprived areas of the region.
· Very Light Rail (VLR)
o Continued support for the Very Light Rail Regional Programme.
o TfWM continue to develop the priority Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Corridors across the West Midlands.
o Suitable consultants currently being procured to undertake a MRT study for the Coventry to Investment Zone Corridor.
o TfWM are working closely with the City Council to undertake research and development of a Universal Trackform, which will investigate the potential use and adaption of the current VLR trackform being developed for operation.
· Active Travel
o TfWM is working with Coventry to progress the recently announced Active Travel Fund round 5 funding award. This capital allocation will pay for new Active Travel infrastructure across Coventry.
o Appointment of an Active Travel Commissioner.
o WMCA has recently been allocated Integrated Settlement Funding which will also fund Active Travel schemes across Coventry.
o Working with Coventry in the development / delivery of a range of Active Travel measures, including the Binley Active Travel Corridor, City Centre and a School-based Active Travel Measures programme.
The Committee asked questions, received responses from officers and requested additional information in respect of the following:
a) The promotion of the Gigapark, particularly in light of the current uncertainty in the automotive industry.
b) A breakdown of the data contained within the report on a ward by ward basis, accepting that in some cases this will not be possible where the WMCA pass funding on to other organisations.
c) What the WMCAs involvement has been with regard to the Spirit Quarter, given that this was started prior to the WMCA being constituted.
d) Details of which areas of the city are referred to as Henley Manor.
e) Whether there would be a possibility of extending the ‘on demand’ bus service to enable users to travel to Birmingham.
f) The proposals within the Binley Active Travel Scheme, particularly in respect of a Binley / Willenhall rail station.
g) How the ‘on demand’ bus service will be funded long term in light of the current and short term funding coming from Section 106 monies.
In addition, the Committee recommended that officers of the WMCA, with support from Coventry City Council officers, investigate options for engagement at a ward level to ensure that both Ward Councillors and the public are kept informed of issues affecting the local area. It was further suggested that, as the local visibility of the WMCA is low, consideration be given to holding road shows in Broadgate to promote the work of the WMCA with Coventry citizens.
RESOLVED that, the Scrutiny Co-ordination Committee:
1. Note the information provided within Appendix 1 of the report.
2. Recommend that officers of the West Midlands Combined Authority, with support from Coventry City Council officers, investigate options for engagement at a ward level to ensure that Ward Councillors and the public are kept informed of issues affecting the local area.
3. As local visibility of the West Midlands Combined Authority is low, consideration be given to holding roadshows in Broadgate to promote the work of the West Midlands Combined Authority to Coventry citizens.
4. Requests that additional information be circulated in respect of items a to g above.
Supporting documents: