Decision details

To update Cabinet on the work to establish the WECA Integrated Transport Authority.

RESOLVED (unanimously) that the Cabinet agreed to:

2.1 Approve the transfer to WECA of the staff (and associated costs) to enable the direct delivery by WECA of the four core public transport functions contained in the WECA Order 2017, on the basis that there is no additional cost to this authority or loss of income

2.2 Delegate to the Director of Environment authority to progress the transfer arrangements, in consultation with the Cabinet Members for Transport.

The WECA Order 2017 transferred to the Combined Authority responsibility for certain transport functions, primarily related to public transport operations including Concessionary Travel, Bus Service Information, Community Transport and Supported Bus Services (as a joint function), but also including responsibility to develop transport policies for its area and to carry out its functions to implement those policies.

Transfer of concessionary pass eligibility assessment and pass printing/issuing.  These services are delivered by the UAs via a combination of customer services, administration/business support and revenues & benefits teams with a variety of application processes including online. WECA does not currently have an equivalent Customer Service facility and is unlikely to be able to provide this in the near future. Whilst online applications could be encouraged it is unlikely that the customer group can be entirely moved to online services in the short term. Regardless, the online application process requires standardisation for use at a regional level. It is therefore considered that this activity would best remain within the UAs, at present, whilst the integrated team considers the appropriateness and practicality of standardising processes.