To note any requests to speak on any items that are on the agenda in accordance with the Council’s Public Speaking Scheme (see footnote to this agenda).
Minutes:
Councillor Isobel Seccombe (Leader of Council and Chair of Cabinet) welcomed Keith Kondakor to the meeting who spoke to item 6 on the agenda - West Midlands Combined Authority & Devolution for Warwickshire.
Mr Kondakor stated his view that it was important for Warwickshire to join a transport authority. In his opinion, systems were collapsing, including stable climate, transport (particularly public transport), democracy and financial systems. He was of the view that there was an urgent need to improve public transport links and remove geographic barriers between Warwickshire, Coventry, and Birmingham and emphasised the important role of the Combined Authority to rapidly improve bus services, bus fares, bus routes, train services in a way that mirrored services in London which could be operated under a single ticket system.
Mr Kondakor also believed there was a democratic emergency, which meant that the right safeguards were needed to be in place in order to join the Combined Authority. He noted that in London, there was an Assembly with proportional representation so that every part of London and every political party had a check on the Mayor, and if Warwickshire did join the West Midlands Combined Authority, effectively creating a regional Mayor, he would welcome a similar structure. He felt this was important since one political party had a large majority, particularly among the leadership, and such a structure would make provision for other parties to ask the Mayor questions.
Mr Kondakor went on to claim that there was a financial crisis which would be mitigated by joining the Combined Authority and he stated it was important to work on one area rather than in silos.
He considered that it was important to act with pace and the opportunity to join a combined authority for transport, but not the minutia of day to day living, was important for strategy, fares and high level issues which needed to be addressed across the region.
He stated that it was important from a climate change point of view that action was taken with speed. Wholesale improvements to public transport and regional planning were needed to tackle climate change and cope with the resulting impacts. He considered that being part of a region would provide the resilience to support this aim and he hoped, therefore, that it would be possible to move forward with joining West Midlands Combined Authority in a democratic way rather than as a gain for a political party. He noted that four different parties were involved in the leadership of the district and borough councils in Warwickshire and he hoped that any regional structure would provide a voice for all and preserve democracy.
Councillor Izzi Seccombe also read a statement from Richard Waller relating to item 8 on the agenda – Concessionary Travel – Introduction of a Companion Pass. When concessionary travel was considered by the Cabinet in April, Mr Waller attended to speak on behalf of his son, Lewis, but it had been more challenging for him to attend on this occasion.
The statement read “as it looks like a year away in total every disabled person such as Lewis will need to go through FABA to have the cost of their carer travelling added as eligible expenses before the Council deducts care contributions. This will be completed now, again in October for the bus fare increase and again in January when the C+ scheme comes into effect. I believe it affects a couple of thousand disabled people so FABA will be dealing with an extra workload of 6000 assessment adjustments in the coming six months. Stagecoach currently takes two weeks to issue smartcards. This will increase to four weeks in August when the new intake of sixth-formers apply (from personal experience). Flashing software in ticket machines is also a simple operation, as bus companies such as Stagecoach already have this system up and running in other counties. I do not see why the Council would want to wait until December to accept applications for the C+ and force its officers to complete the 6000 assessment adjustments in the meantime. The Council does not save any money by delaying the introductions, it only burdens the already overworked staff 6000 times.” Councillor Seccombe then passed the statement to the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, Councillor Matecki, to consider.