Agenda and minutes

To appoint a Chairman for this meeting of the Scrutiny Call-In Committee.

Present:  Councillors: M Gough, M Brain, S Caudwell, P Hogarth MBE, D Holl-Allen MBE, M McLoughlin, M Parker

In

Attendance:  Councillor K Hawkins – Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Highways

  Councillor T Hodgson

  Councillor K Thomas

  Councillor D Cole

Officers:  Alan Brown: Assistant Director, Highways & Environment

  Paul Tovey: Head of Highway Management

  Joseph Bright: Democratic Services

Paul Rogers: Democratic Services

The Call-In Committee meeting commenced at 6:00 p.m.

1.  ELECTION OF CHAIRMAN

Nominations were requested for a Councillor to act as the Chairman for this meeting of the Call-In Committee.

Councillor S Caudwell proposed the appointment of Councillor M Brain as Chairman, seconded by Councillor M McLoughlin.

Councillor M Gough proposed the appointment of Councillor Mrs D Holl-Allen, seconded by Councillor M Parker.

Following a vote on the appointment of the Chairman, Councillor M Brain received 3 votes and Councillor Mrs D Holl Allen 4 votes.

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Mrs D Holl Allen be appointed as Chairman for this meeting of the Call-In Committee.

To receive apologies for absence and Member substitutions for this meeting.

No apologies for absence were received.

To receive declarations of interest from Members in accordance with the Code of Conduct.

No declarations of pecuniary or conflicts of interest were submitted.

To receive any questions or deputations in accordance with the Council’s Standing Orders.

No questions or deputations were submitted.

  The Scrutiny Call-In Procedure Note was noted.

The Call-In Notice submitted in respect of the decision by the Cabinet Portfolio Holder (CPH) for Environment and Highways, Councillor K Hawkins, in respect of the decision taken on the ‘West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme in Solihull’ from the CPH Decision Session held on 22^nd April 2021.

The full details of the reasons for the Call-In Notice were set out at Agenda Item 6 of the documents for this meeting. Councillors K Thomas, D Cole and T Hodgson explained in detail their reasons for the Call-In request, as detailed below:

Councillor K Thomas addressed the Call-In Committee stating that she was concerned with the decision taken by the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Highways for the following reasons. 

Councillor Thomas advised the Call-In Committee that the decision for the Call-In was not related to the decision to approve the West Midlands Hire Scheme in principle, nor was it a matter of governance process or procedure, but rather a matter pertaining to equality and fairness, life chances and health outcomes. The proposed first tranche for the 10 cycle hire locations in the Wards of Sillhill, St. Alphege, Knowle and Blythe rank as 75^th percentile and above nationally on the index of deprivation , whereas Ward in North Solihull fell within the top 10% nationally for measurements of deprivation.  The proposed siting of the West Midlands Cycle sites are not, therefore, fair in their placement and siting within the borough.

Community organisations were seeking to secure more initiatives in the north of the borough, with the Council having the opportunity to promote the scheme in the north of the borough, but apparently choosing not to do so. The schemes docking station locations have been located in the prosperous areas in the south of the borough, leaving areas in the north of the borough behind in terms of missed opportunity.

Cycling U.K. statistics show that with regard to age, cycling as a transportation choice tails off after 45 years of age, reducing in uptake by 33% for every 10 years beyond 45 years. Students have been identified as the occupation most likely to cycle, as well as those people earning under £20,000 per year.

Should the choice of location be reconsidered, 2 docking stations could be located in Wards in the north of the borough, with a further 2 docking station located in Shirley. It would also be relevant to reconsider the docking station locations to help address health inequalities in the borough.

Some further joined up thinking was required to link the West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme proposals and use of British Cycling funding to potentially fund additional Solihull Council bicycle stations, which would deliver a cohesive and joined up approach across the borough.

The charging regime for the West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme was more expensive than that for the London Cycle Hire Scheme, with the pricing mechanism potentially deterring the wider community from actively supporting the scheme.  The West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme could support the delivery of the Council’s and wider regional objectives in tackling climate change, net zero and carbon emissions and modal shift and should, therefore, at the least have the pricing structure brought into line with the London model to support the delivery of Council priorities.

For the above  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

Documents considered by Councillor K Hawkins as part of the decision making process on 22^nd April 2021 and detail for the decision arising.

The papers considered by the Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Highways at the Decision Session of 22 April 2021 were noted.

Councillor Hawkins will provide a verbal response to the Call-In Committee regarding the grounds cited in the Call-In Notice.

The Chairman invited Councillor Hawkins, Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Environment and Infrastructure, to respond to the Call-In Notice.

Councillor Hawkins addressed the Call-In Committee and stated that

Was a public transport scheme funded by the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) and approved in July 2020.  An initial tranche of 1,500 bicycles were to be introduced in all West Midlands towns. The scheme was a commercial transport scheme where customers were expected to pay a fee for cycle hire, with journeys taking place between docking stations, retail centres, public transport interchanges and significant public buildings such as hospitals, colleges, leisure facilities and workplaces.  The 10 preferred site locations were considered to have the greatest income potential for maximising operating profit, which in turn would continue to support the scheme.

Councillor Hawkins acknowledged the issue of health inequalities and the 10 years life gap between residents in the north and south of the borough, which the Council Plan also addressed, highlighted that the main priority of the West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme was to provide affordable public transport in the West Midlands region and provide further public transport options for residents.  This was phase one of the scheme across the West Midlands and within Solihull.

The schemes primary function was to facilitate people reaching education, leisure and employment facilities by public transport and reducing the need to travel by car. Those using the scheme would be physically active and supporting their health.  Councillor Hawkins stated that the initiatives being delivered through his Portfolio would continue to address the life expectancy gap in the borough as a priority, with many of the schemes being open and promoted to schools and community groups.

The Cycle Infrastructure Programme delivered as part of the Wildlife Ways project had delivered a range of cycle friendly routes with more planned as part of the Councils Walking and Cycling Improvement Plan.  A high quality cycle network was planned to grow across the borough over time in tandem with the West Midlands Cycle Hire Scheme, which had been launched in Birmingham and major town centres, which was expected to generate the majority of income and with a with a view to growth and expansion of the network over the next 3 – 5 years. 

In respect of location of cycle docking station being situated in the north of the borough, the Cabinet Portfolio Holder (Environment and Infrastructure) advised that there was such an opportunity to do so. The Cabinet Portfolio Holder (Environment and Infrastructure) was invited to review cycle docking station locations following the WMCA scheme funding decision of 2020. In consultation with Solihull Officers, Transport for West Midlands (TfWM)  sought to identify the best locations for the cycle docking stations to make the scheme a success in Solihull. 

Solihull Town Centre and Train Station were viewed as good initial choices to site docking stations due to the presence in the area of the hospital, major retailers and college campus.  The docking station locations were seen to support the Active  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.