Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance and Devolution.

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution (Councillor Alex Ganotis) submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) detailing a proposal to make changes to the membership and Operating Agreement for the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee and seeking the authorisation of the Council Meeting to consent to those changes to the Joint Committee.

The Leader of the Council reported that the Cabinet at its meeting on 14 August 2018 had given approval to the proposed changes insofar as they related to the discharge of executive functions.

MOVED AND SECONDED – That approval be given to the following changes to the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee insofar as they related to discharge of non-executive functions:-

·         the size of TfGMC being 23 members to be appointed as follows-

o   each Local Authority to appoint one member (Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead), save for Manchester City Council to appoint two members (including Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead).

o   to nominate a further member, to be appointed by GMCA to ensure political balance.

·         that the remaining 2 appointments will be one member to be appointed by GMCA and one member appointed by the Mayor.

·         to amend the Operating Agreement to reflect these changes.

·         that the Terms of Reference be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Mayor’s current transport powers with a further review in 2019/20 to reflect proposed powers.

For the motion 22, against 32, abstentions 4.

MOTION NOT CARRIED

To consider a report of the Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance and Devolution

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has sought consent from the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities on proposed changes to the composition and Terms of Reference of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, in light of devolution of transportation powers to the Mayor.

The Council Meeting has been invited to agree the following changes:

•           Agree the size of TfGMC as 23 members

•           Each Local Authority to appoint 1 member to TfGMC (Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead) , save for Manchester City Council to appoint 2 members (including Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead)

•           To nominate a further member, to be appointed by GMCA to ensure political balance

•           Note that the remaining 2 appointments are 1 member to be appointed by GMCA and 1 member appointed by the Mayor

•           Agree to amend the Operating Agreement to reflect these changes

•           Note that the Terms of Reference will be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Mayor’s current transport powers with a further review in 2019/20 to reflect proposed powers.

The Cabinet will be updated at the meeting.

Officer Contact: Patrick Arran on 0161 474 3219 or email: patrick.arran@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council and Cabinet Member for Policy, Finance & Devolution submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Cabinet to consider proposals to change the membership and Operating Agreement of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, and seeking the authorisation of the Cabinet and Council Meeting to consent to those changes to the Joint Committee.

The Leader of the Council highlighted the detailed discussion that had taken place at the Corporate, Resource Management & Governance Scrutiny Committee on these proposals and the concerns that had been raised in relation to the continuation of the sub-committee structures of TfGMC and the process for nominating and appointing members, in particular those members from opposition groups. The Leader of the Council had undertaken to seek assurances from GMCA in relation to these concerns, and further feedback had been provided and circulated to the Cabinet in an Addendum to the report.

RESOLVED – That, in light of the assurances received from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority in relation to the nomination/appointment process for opposition members being in line with the approach taken to GMCA Scrutiny Committees and on the continuation of the sub-committee arrangements for the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee (TfGMC), approval be given to the following proposed changes to the TfGMC in so far as they relate to the discharge of executive functions:-

•              the size of TfGMC being 23 members to be appointed as follows-

-       each Local Authority to appoint 1 member (Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead), save for Manchester City Council to appoint 2 members (including Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead)

-       to nominate a further member, to be appointed by GMCA to ensure political balance

•              that the remaining 2 appointments will be 1 member to be appointed by GMCA and 1 member appointed by the Mayor

•              to amend the Operating Agreement to reflect these changes

•              that the Terms of Reference be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Mayor’s current transport powers with a further review in 2019/20 to reflect proposed powers.

To consider a report of the Monitoring Officer.

The Greater Manchester Combined Authority has sought consent from the 10 Greater Manchester Local Authorities on proposed changes to the composition and Terms of Reference of the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee, in light of devolution of transportation powers to the Mayor.

The Cabinet and Council Meeting will be invited to agree the following for the changes:

•           Agree the size of TfGMC as 23 members -

•           Each Local Authority to appoint 1 member to TfGMC (Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead) , save for Manchester City Council to appoint 2 members (including Transport and Highways Portfolio Lead)

•           To nominate a further member, to be appointed by GMCA to ensure political balance

•           Note that the remaining 2 appointments are 1 member to be appointed by GMCA and 1 member appointed by the Mayor

•           Agree to amend the Operating Agreement to reflect these changes

•           Note that the Terms of Reference will be reviewed to ensure that they reflect the Mayor’s current transport powers with a further review in 2019/20 to reflect proposed powers.

The Scrutiny Committee is invited to consider the report and make comment.

Officer contact: Patrick Arran, 0161 474 3219, patrick.arran@stockport.gov.uk

The Leader of the Council submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) inviting the Scrutiny Committee to comment on proposals from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to proposed changes to the membership and operating agreement for the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee.

A number of Councillors expressed concern at the process undertaken for the consultation and at the suggested process for appointing Councillors to sit on the Committee to ensure political balance. It was suggested that the appointment of Councillors from opposition groups should follow a process similar to that adopted for the appointment of Councillors to the GMCA Scrutiny Committees. Furthermore, clarification was sought in respect to the Terms of Reference and future role of the Committee and to whether or not there would be the need for sub-committees.

RESOLVED – (1) That prior to the submission of the report to the September Council Meeting, the Leader of the Council be requested to:-

•           Clarify the Terms of Reference for the Committee and whether it was proposed that there would be sub-committees.

•           Investigate the request that appointments to the Committee by opposition parties follows a similar process to that was adopted for appointments to the GMCA Scrutiny Committees.

(2) That subject to further consideration being given to the appointments process, the Scrutiny Committee would be minded to support the proposal that the Transport for Greater Manchester Committee comprise of 23 members as detailed in the report.