Agenda and minutes

The Chair will make a safety announcement at the start of the meeting.

Please note: the 15 June meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Management Board was adjourned (until 5.00 pm on 27 June) to enable the Board to give further consideration to the following matters at this reconvened meeting:

·         The proposals on a Combined Authority and Devolution that are to be considered by the Cabinet and Full Council on 29 June 2016.

·         The 29 June Cabinet report on support for capital development of culture venues.

The Chair welcomed members to this reconvened meeting.

The draft minutes of the (adjourned) meeting of the OSM Board held on 15 June 2016 are included in this agenda pack, for members’ information.

Noted.

At the 15 June OSM Board, members gave initial consideration to the devolution proposals.  It was also agreed that consideration of this particular issue should be adjourned to this meeting (27 June), to enable the Board to discuss the 29 June Cabinet and Full Council reports on these matters.  A copy of the 29 June Cabinet and Full Council reports are attached for background / information.

The views of the OSM Board will be reported to the 29 June Cabinet and Full Council meetings.

The Board noted that the 29 June Cabinet and Full Council reports had been pre-circulated.

Presentations were made by the devolution team covering:

1.      Present review deal and financial implications

·         Appropriate functional economic market area.

·         Current governance is complex.

·         Mayoral Combined Authority (MCA) most efficient arrangement to provide transparency, efficiency and accountability.

·         Engagement with a range of key stakeholders to inform development of the review.

·         Devolution deal brings resources and powers to address evidenced issues affecting the area’s productivity and sustainability (social, economic and environmental).

·         Finance:

-          New government grants - £30m x 30 years.

-          New revenue streams – supplementary business rate

-          New powers over existing money – transport and skills; allocation by the MCA; protection for unitary authority revenue.

-          Protection for existing City Deal funds.

-          Risks identified in securing Gain Share, allocating transport budgets and viability of FE colleges; mitigations developed.

2.      Present scheme and consultation

·         Scheme sets out the logistics of how the CA and Mayor will operate.

·         Aim of more efficient delivery of economic development and transport.

·         Four CA members; mix of voting arrangements.

·         No removal of UA powers or resources, nor imposition of liabilities.

·         Robust public scrutiny.

·         If scheme is approved, consultation would start on 4 July for six weeks; online and hard copy.

·         Consultation on scheme to inform Secretary of State creation of statutory order.

3.      Decision making process

·         Executive decision with opportunity for Full Council debate.

·         Cabinet will meet to make a recommendation to Full Council.  Cabinet will adjourn to allow a Full Council debate and will re-convene to decide in light of the Full Council debate.

·         No ability to call-in the decision as this will have been debated at scrutiny and Full Council, as well as Cabinet.

OSM comments for submission to Cabinet and Full Council:

OSM noted that the recommendations set out in the Cabinet and Full Council report will be determined / voted on as a “package” of interrelated recommendations.

Full Council will also consider any amendments proposed, setting out any additional points that Cabinet are asked to consider.

Having discussed all of the above, OSM

RESOLVED -  that, in considering the Combined Authority and Devolution proposals, Cabinet and Full Council be asked to note and endorse the following comments:

a.      Robust scrutiny – it will be essential to ensure that robust scrutiny is put in place, is ongoing, and appropriately resourced by each of the authorities.  It is noted that there will be legislative backing for the scrutiny role (currently this is not the case at a West of England level).

b.      Impact of reduced EU funding – following the EU referendum result, it is important to note that there will be a potential impact resulting from reduced EU funding.

c.       Environmental protection and equalities considerations: whilst recognising the vital importance of securing ongoing economic growth, it is also essential that reducing environmental impacts and inequality are central to the devolution agreement, and are key elements within the economic model.

d.      Metro-Mayor concerns:  ...  view the full minutes text for item 19.

At the 15 June OSM Board, in reviewing the Mayor’s forward plan, it was noted that a key decision report was scheduled for the 29 June Cabinet seeking approval to support capital development of culture venues in the city, with a particular focus on Colston Hall.  It was agreed that consideration of this particular issue should be adjourned to this meeting (27 June), with a view to relevant officers being asked to attend the reconvened Board meeting to respond to questions from Board members on this matter.  A copy of the 29 June Cabinet report is attached for background / information.

The Board discussed this Cabinet report.

The report outlined the proposed future funding arrangements for three of the key cultural venues in the city: Bristol Old Vic, St George’s  and the Colston Hall, brought to OSM for comment since it was the only scrutiny meeting in the appropriate timeframe.

The report set out how the proposed BCC support would allow the venues to meet the threshold for further funding support from organisations such as the Arts Council and the Heritage Lottery Fund.

In discussion, members were supportive of the report and recognised the importance of cultural investment and the significance of the three venues, both locally and on a wider, global level.

Although being supportive of the proposals, members were keen to emphasise the significance of the Music Trust as an integral organisation in terms of the City’s cultural offer.  Members also highlighted the importance, with particular reference to the Colston Hall in particular, of ensuring that the lease arrangements were negotiated and concluded in the most appropriate and sensible manner. 

RESOLVED-

That the above comments be forwarded to the 29 June Cabinet.