Merseytravel PTE

[wirralbus]

RE: Merseytravel PTE
Elected Members have endorsed both the idea of a Combined Authority for the Liverpool City Region and a proposed draft scheme for its set up, at a special meeting of the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority today (Thursday 15 August).

It was agreed* that establishing a Combined Authority will formalise already strong joint working arrangements between the six districts, allow future funding opportunities to be exploited and enable services to be delivered in a more efficient and effective way.

Members were encouraged to see that the proposals placed transport at the heart of the City Region’s high-level decision making structures – a recognition of the importance of transport considerations in strategic decision making on economic and regeneration matters. This builds on the work of the Local Transport Body.

They also welcomed the proposal to bring strategic highway management into the remit of the Combined Authority as a means of delivering a truly integrated transport strategy for the City Region.

In offering their support, members acknowledged that the creation of a Combined Authority would dissolve the ITA – the political decision making arm of Merseytravel.

They are seeking commitment to the proposal made in the draft scheme that a dedicated transport joint committee be set up to provide specialist advice and support to the Combined Authority.

Members consider that the ITA, having recently modernised and streamlined its arrangements, is well placed to fulfil the role of a permanent transport joint committee, with the addition of councillors from Halton Borough Council.

Said Chair of Merseytravel, Cllr Liam Robinson:
“The proposed measures would put us in the London league, with our transport governance arrangements miles ahead of other City Regions. It would create new and exciting opportunities.

“Should a Combined Authority get the go-ahead, the political, decision-making arm of Merseytravel will be subsumed, and we are confident that we’re well placed to fulfil the role of a new transport joint committee.

“We’ve had enviable successes over the past 40 years such as the refranchised Merseyrail system – one of the consistently best performing networks in the country. We’ve also generated significant additional funding for the City Region from both national and European sources. In addition, our new structure makes us lean and responsive.

“Whatever the over-arching governance structure, Merseytravel’s delivery and policy development arm will continue to be required to deliver excellent operational transport arrangements.”

Merseytravel have been a fundamental part of the governance review. It also constitutes two separate consultees.

The outcome of the meeting will form the basis of a consultation response to the governance review and draft scheme from the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA). The Executive will be submitting a separate response.


*Votes of the ITA to endorse draft findings of the Liverpool City Region strategic governance review, the idea of a Combined Authority and a proposed draft scheme for its set up.
Wirral
Councillor Ron Abbey Labour (For)
Councillor Steve Foulkes Labour (For)
Councillor Les Rowlands Merseytravel Alliance (Against)
Councillor John Salter Labour (For)

St Helens
Councillor John Fulham Labour (For)
Councillor Marlene Quinn Labour (For)

Sefton
Councillor Anthony Carr Labour (For)
Councillor John Dodd Merseytravel Alliance (Against)
Councillor Gordon Friel Labour (For)
Councillor Stephen Kermode Labour (For)
Liverpool
Councillor Joanne Calvert Labour (For)
Councillor Mark Norris Labour (For)
Councillor Mary Rasmussen Labour (For)
Councillor Liam Robinson Labour (For)
Councillor Hayley Todd Labour (Absent- apologies given)
Councillor Jeremy Wolfson Labour (For)

Knowsley
Councillor Ken McGlashan Labour Co-Operative (For)
Councillor Malcolm Sharp Labour (For)

The Cabinets of the six local authorities that make up the Liverpool City Region are also considering the governance review and proposals.

Merseytravel is currently the operating name for both the Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) which comprises councillors from each of the districts, and the Passenger Transport Executive (PTE) which is made up of paid officers responsible for operational transport arrangements and their delivery. The ITA and the PTE are both statutory bodies.

The proposed draft scheme for the Combined Authority would see the responsibilities of the ITA subsumed into it and a transport committee created to advise the Combined Authority on strategic transport issues. The statutory Executive delivery arm of Merseytravel would remain.