Agenda and draft minutes

For the Committee to appoint a Vice Chair of the General Purposes Committee.

Lead: Joanne Barclay

1.1          The Chief Executive welcomed everyone to the meeting and invited the Monitoring Officer to take the Committee through the appointment of the Vice Chair of the Committee (in the absence of the Chair).

1.2          The Monitoring Officer invited nominations for the Vice Chair of the Committee.

1.3          Cllr Kilbane indicated he was willing to stand and this was proposed by Cllr Gannon and seconded by Cllr Ieronimo.

Resolved:

That Cllr Kilbane be appointed Vice Chair of the General Purposes Committee and Chair for the meeting.

The Chair to welcome Members to the meeting.

Lead: Chair

2.1          The Chair welcomed Members and apologies were received from Mayors Burnham and Coppard and Cllrs O’Brien and Hunt.

2.2          The Chair welcomed the new Monitoring Officer to her first meeting since taking up her position.

Members are required to declare any personal, prejudicial or disclosable pecuniary interest they may have relating to items on the agenda and state the nature of such interest.

Lead: Chair

3.1          There were no Declarations of Interest.

To approve the minutes of the meeting held 30 October 2024 (including updates on agreed matters as appropriate).

Lead: Chair

4.1          The minutes of the consultation call meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 October 2024 were considered. and there were no matters arising.

4.2          The Chief Executive informed the Committee that the issues discussed at the last meeting (constitutional changes arising from the next round of devolution deals and the membership of the Audit & Governance Committee) were taken through to the December Board for approval.

Resolved:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2024 be noted and confirmed as a correct record.

To consider, in the context of a reduction in the number of constituent authorities, the need for changes to the definition of what constitutes a quorate meeting

Lead: Joanne Barclay

5.1          Members received the report from the Monitoring Officer who outlined the key points within the report.

5.2          Cllr Swinburn raised his concern in relation to the position of the new Greater Lincolnshire Combined County Authority and the loss of voting rights on the TfN Board once the new authority has been formed.

5.3          The Monitoring Officer explained that once the new combined authority has been established, they will continue to be represented on the TfN Board by virtue of being co-opted as a ‘Rail North’ authority. This she explained would allow them to participate in the debates on any matter brought to Board, however, should there be a vote required at Board they will only be able to vote on issues relating to rail matters.

5.4          The Chief Executive reiterated what was said at the December Board on this matter. He reassured Cllr Swinburn about the importance of connectivity across the Humber estuary and  with the rest of the north and that this continues to be recognised by TfN. He informed Cllr Swinburn that meetings were already scheduled with officers from the new authority to ensure that working connections are maintained and ensure an understanding of the issues that span across the Humber estuary area inform TfN’s work.

Resolved:

That General Purpose Committee recommends to TfN Board:

1)   To amend the quorum for TfN Board (for all decisions other than rail contract related) to 7 members who together hold at least 50% of the weighted vote.

2)   To amend the quorum for TfN Board (rail contract related) to 9 members who together hold at least 50% of the weighted vote.

3)   To amend the quorum for Rail North Committee to 9 members who together hold at least 50% of the weighted vote.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of items 6 & 7 on the grounds that:

(1)They involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in the Paragraphs 1 & 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To resolve that the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Items 7 and 8 on the grounds that: They involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as set out in Paragraphs 1 & 2 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended) and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

To approve the private minutes of the meeting held 30 October 2024. (including updates on agreed matters as appropriate).

Lead: Chair

7.1          The private minutes of the consultation call meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 30 October 2024 were considered and there were no matters arising.

Resolved:

That the private minutes of the meeting held on 30 October 2024 be noted and confirmed as a correct record.

To receive and consider the review of objectives for 2024/25 and to consider and agree the objectives for 2025/26

Lead: Stephen Hipwell

8.1          The report was received by Members who were then invited to ask questions and make comments. 

Resolved:

That the report be noted