The West of England Combined Authority Committee and West of England Joint Committee met on Friday 23 October 2026. The committee approved an award of £2 million from the Economic Development Fund (EDF2) to Bristol City Council for Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership Resources and noted budget forecasts for 2026/27. The committee also approved the updated West of England Local Assurance Framework and various funding allocations, including £5 million in grant and £2 million in repayable grant for the Fashion Museum Bath project.

Key decisions included the adoption of a revised Constitution, effective from 1 November 2026, and the approval of the Future Places Fund business case and Investment Strategy. The Future Places Fund aims to support a total investment programme of £500 million over its first five years of operation. The committee also noted updates on the Local Transport Delivery Plan and endorsed the proposed strategic direction for Adult Skills commissioning for 2027/28 to 2035/36.

Joint Committee Budget Forecast 2026/27

The West of England Joint Committee noted its revenue and capital forecasts for the 2026/27 financial year. A significant decision was the approval of an award of £2 million from the Economic Development Fund (EDF2) to Bristol City Council for Bristol Temple Quarter Limited Liability Partnership Resources. Authority was also delegated to the West of England Combined Authority's Executive Director of Transport to approve development funding applications for transport schemes within the City Regions Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS), Transport for City Regions, Investment Fund and Active Travel Fund programmes, drawing on the EDF, in consultation with Unitary Authority Directors of Infrastructure, subject to affordability within agreed EDF allocations and no additional strain on the EDF. Furthermore, a change request for Invest Bristol and Bath was approved, along with an award of £1 million from the Revolving Infrastructure Fund to extend the service until March 2028. The committee also noted the receipt of £17.2 million of social housing fund wave 3 funding and agreed to delegate authority for the allocation of this and similar environmental funds to the Director of Delivery and Operations, in consultation with the MCA s73 officer.

Investment Fund Programme & Grant Assurance

The West of England Combined Authority Committee approved the updated West of England Local Assurance Framework. Authority was delegated to the MCA Director of Place, in consultation with the equivalent Directors from the Unitary Authorities, for the finalisation of the allocation and use of the Nature Recovery Fund, including grant giving. An additional £208,416 was approved for the Muller Road Phase 2 scheme, drawing on the existing allocation for Lockleaze Sustainable Transport Initiatives. Authority was also delegated to the West of England Combined Authority's Executive Director of Transport, in consultation with Unitary Authority Directors, to approve the Concorde Way (Dovercourt Road) and Muller Road Phase 2 Full Business Cases and the award of delivery funding, subject to affordability within the £2.749 million funding previously allocated to Lockleaze Sustainable Transport Improvements. The committee approved the Data Lab programme business case, awarding £680,000 for its first year of delivery, and allocated a further £1,460,000 for two additional years, with delegated authority for release to the MCA Director of Strategy in consultation with the equivalent Directors of the Unitary Authorities and the MCA Director of Finance, Investment and Commercial. The Full Business Case for the Fashion Museum Bath project was approved, along with an award of £5 million in grant and £2 million in repayable grant. The Skills Connect Transitional Model Full Business Case was also approved, with an award of £1.7 million for 2027/28. An allocation of £2.1 million was approved for Business Support activity in 2027/28, with delegated authority to approve the Full Business Case to the MCA Director of Delivery and Operations in consultation with the equivalent Directors of the Unitary Authorities. The committee approved the proposed process for allocating £15 million in capital grant funding from the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government (MHCLG) to support regional growth, noting this was contingent on the expansion of the West of England Combined Authority to include North Somerset. Several other funding acceptances and delegations were noted, including grants from the Office for Investment, applications for British Film Institute Skills Cluster funding, and allocations from the Brownfield Housing Fund, Bus Reform funding, and for the Economic Security Advisory Service. The submission of a bid for the Integrated Transport Digital Twin was also noted, with delegated authority for the detail of the delivery and use of any funding secured to the Executive Director of Transport in consultation with the equivalent Directors from the Unitary Authorities. Finally, £10,000 from the Local Government Association for leadership development was noted, with delegated authority to spend granted to the MCA's Head of Human Resources and Organisational Development.

Delivery Assurance

The West of England Combined Authority Committee approved the change requests for schemes within the current Investment Fund programme as set out in Appendix 1.

Forward Plan of Regional Strategic Work

The committee noted the forward plan of regional strategic work and provided steers on priorities and the direction of the work areas it contained. This includes an update to the investment prospectus expected before the new year, and a revision of the outcomes framework to align with updated strategic focuses such as rough sleeping, skills, and community energy. The plan also highlights ongoing strategic work, including the Spatial Development Strategy, Transport Strategy, and sector plans. Two significant new workstreams will address the challenge of over one million young people not in education, employment, or training.

Adult Skills Strategic Commissioning Plan 2027/28 to 2035/36

The committee noted the rationale for establishing a multi-year Adult Skills Strategic Commissioning Plan and endorsed its proposed strategic direction, outcomes-led approach, and three commissioning priorities. A three-year delegation, ending on 22 October 2029, was agreed for the West of England Director of Delivery and Operations, in consultation with equivalent Unitary Authority Directors, to manage and administer devolved Adult Skills funding, including delivery plans, budgets, funding routes, and provider arrangements. The committee also agreed that the Mayoral Combined Authority would provide an Annual Adult Skills Strategic Commissioning Progress and Performance report for noting annually, detailing funding utilisation and outcomes achieved against the WECA Outcomes Framework and Value for Money arrangements.

Transport - Local Transport Delivery Plan Update

The committee noted the update regarding the Local Transport Delivery Plan. The plan outlines the prioritisation of transport funding across key areas, including £150 million for better buses, £150 million for the rail programme (supporting five new stations), and £150 million for mass transit projects. The plan also includes the Mayor's Potholes and Pavement Fund, with £215 million allocated for repairs over the coming years. Active travel initiatives are also detailed, aiming for 60% of 5 to 16-year-olds to walk, wheel, or cycle to school by 2035.

Constitutional Review & Delegations from the West of England Combined Authority Committee

The West of England Combined Authority Committee approved amendments to the Constitution, adopting the revised Constitution with effect from 1 November 2026, save that the proposal for the Audit Committee to be chaired by an Independent Person will take effect from the first meeting of the 2027/2028 municipal year. Authority was delegated to the Monitoring Officer to make any necessary consequential, typographical, formatting, cross-referencing and drafting amendments arising from the committee's decision prior to publication of the amended Constitution. The committee also confirmed that where authority is delegated to a Director or officer to exercise a function in consultation with counterpart officers of the Constituent Councils, the requirement to consult shall not require consensus, agreement or concurrence between those officers before the delegated decision may be taken. Furthermore, John Cappock was approved for appointment as an independent member to the Audit Committee for an initial period up to the end of municipal year 2028/29.

Future Places Fund

The West of England Combined Authority Committee approved the business case for the Future Places Fund as set out in Appendix A and the Investment Strategy for the Future Places Fund as set out in Appendix B. Authority was delegated to the MCA's Director of Place, in consultation with the MCA's Section 73 Officer, to enter into an agreement for the appointment of a Fund Adviser to the Future Places Fund. Authority was also delegated to the MCA's Director of Place, in consultation with the MCA's Section 73 Officer and supported by the Future Places Fund Investment Board, to make investment decisions and approve material variations, recovery actions and other fund management decisions required for the operation of the Future Places Fund. The committee also approved in principle the proposed borrowing of up to £65 million to capitalise the Future Places Fund and approved the draft Terms of Reference for the Future Places Fund Investment Board.