METRO Mayor Tim Bowles is set to chair his first meeting of the West of England Combined Authority.

Mr Bowles, a former South Gloucestershire Councillor, was elected in May, taking on the new role in May, which has powers devolved from central government for transport, housing, adult education and skills.

The other members of the West of England Combined Authority (WECA) are South Gloucestershire Council leader Cllr Matthew Riddle, Cllr Tim Warren, leader of Bath and North East Somerset Council, and Marvin Rees, mayor of Bristol.

At the public meeting, which will take place at BAWA in Filton at 9.30am on Wednesday, June 28, will see a deputy mayor appointed, and members formally agreeing ways of working to ensure the organisation makes the most of new devolved powers.

Members will discuss progress on how WECA will prioritise funding to projects that generate economic growth, including funding for skills, business and infrastructure, and will also discuss the terms of reference around transport powers devolved to the mayor and the combined authority.

Mr Bowles said: “Taking on these new powers, funding and responsibilities from central Government means we can be much more ambitious as a region.

“This is an evolution of the effective joint working that’s been going on across the West of England for many years.

“By working together we can achieve so much more; together we will make decisions about what is best for our region and its residents, cutting across the divides of council boundaries.”

The preparation of a Joint Local Transport Plan (JLTP) covering the Combined Authority area, and North Somerset, is a key priority. This essential tool will ensure that transport is planned in a way that best meets the needs of the area, ensuring the right infrastructure is in place to support anticipated future growth.

Terms of reference for developing a Bus Strategy and a Key Route Network (KRN) will also be discussed.

The Bus Strategy will review the bus network across Bath and North East Somerset, Bristol and South Gloucestershire, and look at where improvements are needed to help meet the transport and economic objectives. 

If the meeting approves the approach, the new JLTP, Bus Strategy and KRN will be drafted and a Strategic Environmental Assessment undertaken.

For more information on the meeting, which will be webcast live, can be found at www.westofengland-ca.org.uk