Issue - meetings

To consider and approve Budget Revision 3:  to receive an update on TfN’s core funding and consider the implications for TfN.

Lead: Paul Kelly

6.1          Members received the report of the Finance Director who highlighted the key elements of the report.

6.2          The Chair expressed concern that the TfN has not yet received a funding settlement and the impact that this is having on the lives of Officers. 

6.3          The Chief Executive noted that the DfT has restated that TfN’s role as a statutory body and the duties that the organisation needs to fulfil remain the same; however, the funding has not yet been allocated to reflect this commitment. 

He also expressed concern as to the impact that this uncertainty is having on the ability of TfN to deliver its agreed work programme, as well as the impact it is having on the health and well-being of the staff.   With this in mind he proposed an additional recommendation to the paper: namely that the Chair write to the Secretary of state requesting an urgent meeting be set up so this issue can be addressed. [A draft of the letter had been tabled prior to the meeting.]

6.4          Members expressed their support for the staff and their increasing concern about the impact the uncertainty was having.  In addition, they flagged their concern about the potential loss of knowledge should they move on due to the lack of certainty.

Members suggested that they would raise their concerns during upcoming individual meetings with the Secretary of State.

6.5          Mr. Ben Smith stated that the Department understands the need for the funding situation to be resolved as soon as possible and that this has also been made clear to Ministers. He explained that the Secretary of State was keen to meet with the new Chair and understood that the issue of funding would be discussed at this meeting.  He also confirmed that none of the Sub National Transport bodies had received notification of their funding: the meeting noted that unlike other STBs, TfN as a statutory body has to set a funded budget before the end of the financial year.

Resolved:

1)   That the current uncertainty in relation to TfN’s financial position and the steps taken in mitigation be noted;

2)   That the commencement and completion of the required TUPE process with the DfT in relation to posts funded through Transport Development fund be approved;

3)   That the financial performance in the nine-month period to December 2021 be noted and that the Revision 3 Budget be approved;

4)   That the current risk position be noted and the deferral of the Corporate Risk Register report until the Board meeting in June 2022 be approved.

That the Interim Chair write to the Secretary of State seeking an urgent meeting to resolve the uncertainty regarding TFN’s core funding.