Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

It was noted that Councillor David Bithell and Darren Williams were having difficulty in joining the meeting due to technical issues.  Councillor Robert G Parry took the Chair for items 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and 6. 

To receive any declarations of personal interest.

None to note

To note any items that are a matter of urgency in the view of the Chair for consideration.

No urgent items were received for discussion.

The Chair shall propose that the minutes of the meeting held on 14th of

September 2020 be signed as true records (attached).

The minutes of the previous meeting, held on 14 September 2020, were accepted as a true record and were proposed and seconded. 

To consider matters arising from previous minutes.

There were no matters arising from the minutes. 

Iwan Evans, Monitoring Officer – Lead Authority, to inform the Sub-Board of the ongoing consultation on CJC’s.

Followed by an update presentation from Welsh Government Officials.

RESOLVED to accept the information.

RESOLVED to accept the information.

The Monitoring Officer noted that the purpose of the item was to inform the Sub-Board of the consultation that was underway. 

The Monitoring Officer referred to the paper he had prepared which noted that Welsh Government was currently undertaking a consultation on proposals to establish Corporate Joint Committees (CJCs) in the four areas of Wales based on footprint (North Wales, Mid Wales, South-West Wales and South-East Wales).

Within the Bill, there were two categories of CJC: CJCs by Regulation and CJCs by Request.  The possible areas for a CJC by Regulation are limited to four, namely improving education, transportation (Regional Transportation Plan), the function of preparing a Strategic Development Plan and the economic well-being function.

It was confirmed that the CJCs were separate corporate bodies, established through Councils - i.e. were corporations in their own right, and operated semi-independently from the Councils.

In terms of the transport field, the mandatory membership for the six Leaders of North Wales Councils (with the right to co-opt) was confirmed.  It was noted that there would be an option here to establish Sub-committees.

In terms of finance and funding matters, it was confirmed that the Councils funded the CJCs by agreement, along with arranging scrutiny and audit matters, again by agreement.

The following questions arose from the discussion:

·         What would the formal relationship be with the Authorities?

·         In terms of matters such as scrutiny, code of conduct etc., under what arrangement would these matters fall?

Gratitude was expressed for the report and the following observations were received:

·         The CJCs would take powers from the Councils.  It was noted that Welsh Government officers had already contacted some members of the Sub-Board, noting that this was a vehicle for Local Government to shape and build on the work that has already been done.

It was reiterated that the intention was to strengthen the situation and include Members, giving them an opportunity to share their views fully and with honesty on these draft regulations.

·         How did Transport for Wales and the Trunk Road Agency fit in?

Appointing officers was a matter of concern, especially in reading that the roles would take up 1-5 days of an officer's time.

Was there a misconception here that this would save money?  Councils did not now have officers duplicating work.

How were they to be funded?

Giving Local Authorities the power to run their own bus transportation was very difficult without local expertise.

Concerns were also noted relating to governance matters.

A Welsh Government Officer responded, confirming that the only function being transferred to the CJC was the Local Transportation Plan, that the activities around buses remained with the Local Authorities, and that transferring other functions would be optional.

In terms of Transport for Wales, it was confirmed that this was a delivery body, and that it would fit in wherever the CJC wished for it to fit in.

The Transport for Wales Officer noted that Transport for Wales had agreed to a set of principles  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

To include an update on Bus Reform, Development of National Strategic Bus Network and Bus Emergency Scheme.

Including an update presentation from Lee Robinson, TfW.

RESOLVED to accept the report

RESOLVED to accept the report

It was confirmed that due to COVID, Transport for Wales was working with bus providers to look at new ways of funding and considering which routed they ran.  He also referred to the Emergency Scheme for the Bus Sector, confirming that a discussion with providers had been arranged for 8/12/20, but that there were time restrictions due to COVID.

Reference was made to the Partnership Agreement to discuss routes and the carbon agenda, but he confirmed that the providers saw the discussion as being one sided.

The Officer gave a presentation on the Amendment and Design of the Bus Network, confirming that they would be working across four regions; North Wales, Mid Wales, South-East Wales and South-West Wales.

He reminded the Sub-Board that it had commissioned a piece of work to look at eight specific matters for the region, and agreed to share the presentation.

Cabinet Members were asked for any further observations before moving on:

There was a difference between rural and urban, but each County present here was different.  Tourism was very important, and there was a need to convey that message.  It had been noticed that work was focussed around urban metro hubs - it was possible for some core routes to be urban to urban, and an enquiry was made as to where this worked, and how it was possible to measure social value and economic value.  Transport for Wales was requested not to forget the older population when undertaking any consultation work, bearing in mind that we were not living through a normal, representative time.

It was also requested that there should be consideration given to how this connected to the financing of education, as well as the financing of social health care.

A Welsh Government Officer noted that he encouraged rural matters in the community, as well as the importance of considering people within communities when planning the network.

It was agreed that Iwan P Jones, in preparation for the meeting arranged for 18/1/21, would get in touch to gather views on matters regarding buses.

(i)                   Regional Fleet Low – Emission vehicles, Rhys Horan, Welsh Government Energy Service.

(ii)                 Deeside Hydrogen Hub, progress with hydrogen work and potential for unified specifications and joint procurement of fleet, Iwan Prys Jones – Programme Manager NWEAB.

(iii)      A New Wales Transport Strategy, Iwan Prys Jones – Programme Manager NWEAB.

RESOLVED to accept the reports.

RESOLVED to accept the reports.

  No discussion was held