The Director of Technical Services reported upon the proposed Governance Review of the Merseyside Integrated Transport Authority (ITA) in accordance with the requirements of the new Local Transport Act, enacted in November 2008. He set out the aims of the Act and indicated that in order to ensure that the ITA was fit for purpose and suited to local circumstances so that it could take on its enhanced role, the Act allows for a comprehensive review of governance of the ITA. He presented an agreed review brief and reported that the review would be undertaken by Atkins Consulting, based on the level of expertise they had built up in other City Regions. The contract would be let by the Merseyside Passenger Transport Executive (MPTE).

He presented also a report agreed by the Transport Working Group as the reporting arrangements for the review and indicated that all current best estimates suggested a period of two years from start to the implementation of the recommendations of the review. The Director reported also upon a number of important issues that were clarified at a special joint meeting with DfT, held on 27 January 2009.

Resolved –

(1) That the proposed Governance Review of the Merseyside ITA in accordance with the requirements of the new Local Transport Act be noted.

(2) That the proposed Study Brief and Reporting/Management Arrangements for the Review, outlined in the report now submitted, be endorsed.