Our Advisory Boards provide advice to the Mayor and the Cabinet, and support them to make good, evidence-based decisions about what we do. This includes:
- providing advice on the delivery of our vision, ambitions, and programme of activities
- bringing together key stakeholders to support the development and devliery of our programme of activities
- providing advice and information to the Combined Authority to ensure there's a robust evidence base for decision-making
The Combined Authority has a Business and Economy Board, and seven Portfolio Advisory Boards which cover Finance and Investment, Transport, and the five missions outlined in our Corporate Plan.
Role and responsibilities
Advisory Boards have no decision-making powers. Their role includes:
Reviewing policy proposals
Considering - and providing advice on - policy proposals.
Developing delivery programmes
Working with a range of agencies and delivery partners to contribute to the development of delivery programmes, and ensure they match the ambitions in the Authority's Corporate Plan.
Aligning our strategy
Working to align the Combined Authority's strategies, policies, and programmes, and communicating regularly with other relevant advisory boards, partnerships and forums.
Tackling strategic barriers
Identifying strategic level barriers to delivery, and brokering agreement to resolve them.
People
The Chair
Each Portfolio Advisory Board is chaired by the 'Portfolio Holder'. This designation will be agreed by Cabinet, usually at its annual meeting. The Chair will nominate a member of the Portfolio Advisory Board to act as Chair of meetings in their absence.
The Business and Economy Board is chaired by the Business Board Member of Cabinet, appointed by Cabinet as a representative of business interests within the area. The Vice Chair will be the Substitute Business Board Member of Cabinet, who acts in their absence.
The Chair is supported by a ‘link officer(s)’ – a named senior officer(s) within the appropriate area of work to assist in work planning, information gathering and briefings.
Membership
Members of the Advisory Board are generally people and organisations from outside the Combined Authority who represent key partners and organisations, and act as a voice from their sector, in each of our mission areas.
Membership is determined annually by the Cabinet. In-year appointments can be agreed by the Chief Executive, in consultation with the appropriate Board Chair.
Any person appointed as a member of an Advisory Board will be expected to adhere to the Nolan Principles of Public Life and will also be expected to declare any interests in matters to be considered.
The Finance and Investment Board, the Transport Advisory Board, and the Proud to Call Home Advisory Board include elected members from each constituent authority.
Other Advisory Boards share agendas and papers for each meeting with relevant Cabinet members at each constituent authority for information. The Chair will hold update meetings for these members from time to time regarding the work relating to the board and it's mission area, and on occasion it may be appropriate for these members to be invited by the Chair to attend Advisory Board meetings.
Observers and guests can be invited to meetings for specific purposes. Each Advisory Board will have available to them officers from the Combined Authority and its seven constituent authorities to advise, support and facilitate their work.
Attendance
Each member is expected to commit to attend the Advisory Board meetings. Consistent attendance by the same people creates a knowledgeable, effective and trusted working environment.
If a member is unable to attend a meeting, then with the agreement of the Chair, an alternative appropriate person can attend to represent them.
Meetings
Each board agrees a schedule of meetings at the beginning of the year. The frequency of meetings is at the discretion of the Chair, and - with the exception of the Finance and Investment Board - meetings are usually held once a quarter.
Additional meetings can be called if required. Workshops or briefings can be arranged involving others who are not members of a board to facilitate wider, cross-board working.
Advisory Boards are not decision-making or formal committee meetings. As such, they:
- meet in private to facilitate open and honest discussion
- meet online to support regular attendance
- ensure their work programme complements key decisions to be taken throughout the year
- not have a quorum
- circulate, via email, an agenda five working days in advance of the meeting.
Reporting
In most cases, the Chair of each Advisory Board is responsible for reporting to Cabinet the views, recommendations, and considerations of the board. This can be done through a variety of methods, including but not limited to:
- a report to Cabinet
- specific sections of a report to Cabinet
- contributing to a task and finish group
- attendance at other meetings
The Finance and Investment Advisory Board reports slightly differently, in line with the requirements set out in our Single Assurance Framework.
Review
The organisation and terms of reference for each Advisory Bord is reviewed and re-appointed by Cabinet on an annual basis. This ensures that the Boards reflect any changes in our missions, and that their methods of operation can be adapted to respond to lessons learned from experience.