Calls for greater local authority scrutiny as West Midlands transport projects attract billions of pounds of investment from the government
Council leaders have called for enhanced scrutiny in the wake of billions of pounds being committed to transport projects in the West Midlands.
Members of the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) Board called for a review into the effectiveness of the scrutiny, governance and delivery functions of the organisation.
They said it was imperative they “get things right” in light of the huge amounts of funding the Government has confirmed in recent weeks.
This includes a £2.4 billion transport war chest to be spent on projects with the first to benefit being an extension of the Metro from Birmingham city centre to the ambitious £3 billion Sports Quarter project in Bordesley.
The tram will then be expanded to go onwards to East Birmingham and North Solihull up to the airport.
In last week’s Spending Review, Chancellor Rachel Reeves also committed funds for the next stage of developing the £1.75 billion Midland Rail Hub, as well as further cash for housing.
WMCA has an Overview and Scrutiny Committee as well as a separate Transport Delivery Overview and Scrutiny (TDOS) Committee – both of which usually meet once a month.
At Friday’s (June 13) Board meeting, City of Wolverhampton Council leader Stephen Simkins proposed a full review be carried out of the scrutiny function at WMCA.
His amendment also called for the TDOS Committee not to meet until a review was carried out.
He said: “It is really important considering the announcements that have come about the resources and funds which have been made available so I think it’s right and proper we scrutinise who effective scrutiny is.
“We do it on an annual basis at Wolverhampton to see what works well and what doesn’t and they should report back to us.
It is important we get things right with the resources that are coming into this region, we have effective accountability not just for the mayor but leaders as well.”
Looking at the way the WMCA works from 'top to bottom'
Leaders from across the local authorities agreed with having a review with Dudley’s Patrick Harley proposing they look at the way WMCA works from “top to bottom” through a Local Government Association (LGA) peer review.
He said: “That could look at how effective scrutiny is, governance which has been an issue here in the past, officer-member relationships and obviously delivery of projects, particularly with the sums of money that have been announced in the last couple of weeks.
“We have to make the governance, scrutiny and delivery is absolutely spot on, otherwise this region fails.”
But Birmingham councillor Tim Huxtable, who chairs the TDOS Committee, said a review of WMCA’s scrutiny system was carried out just two years ago.
He said: “We put in place measures that were fit for purpose for both the main overview and scrutiny committee and the TDOS committee.
“Given the announcement for the funding for huge transport projects within the West Midlands, which will need effective oversight and scrutiny, I do question why we need to go through a full review so soon after the (previous one).”
He added: “This prevents the TDOS meeting before the review is undertaken. We won’t have met before July 18 board.
“At a time when transport needs effective oversight and scrutiny, that’s a long time for TDOS not to meet. I think that places a huge burden on the main Overview & Scrutiny committee.”
The Board was told conversations have already started with the LGA on a review and progress will be reported back.
They were recommended to carry out an initial review for July’s Board meeting, with a more detailed insight carried out later if required.
