Transport review finds delays and funding gaps

A review of transport projects in the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) area has highlighted a series of “delays, funding gaps, and shortcomings”.

Among the issues highlighted in the review, ordered by West Midlands mayor Richard Parker in July, was that plans for a new station in Aldridge, projected to cost £30m, had so far only attracted £3.6m in funding.

The report also said there was risk - albeit classified as low - to two other high-profile projects, the reopening of stations on the Camp Hill Line in Birmingham and the Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro extension.

It added a "lack of skilled staff and insufficient resources" had left authorities across the region struggling to deliver projects on budget and on time.

In a letter seen by the BBC, the mayor told leaders of the seven councils making up WMCA that blame for delays rested with his predecessor, Conservative Andy Street.

"Unrealistic commitments, that were often made without securing the necessary funding or undertaking essential preparatory work, have undermined progress and placed undue pressure on the system", Mr Parker said.

Arup carried out the assessment of all Transport for West Midlands projects.

It focused on the £69m Camp Hill Line, Birmingham, project; phases one (£388m) and two (£248.5m) of Wednesbury to Brierley Hill Metro Extension; and the £30m station for Aldridge, Walsall.

When the review was announced, Conservative Aldridge-Brownhills MP Wendy Morton said the money for Aldridge station, which was due to open in 2027, had been secured.

Andy Street said he was "saddened" to see party politics deployed over the issue, and that billions of pounds in funding had been secured, with key projects due to be completed on time when he left office.

Arup said recruitment and retention of staff was a challenge for authorities, adding local politicians were asked to lead huge capital projects “far beyond their usual scope of expertise” and needed more support.

The findings in a first phase of the review have resulted in eight recommendations being put forward which include calls for more accountability, different leadership approaches, cutting bureaucracy and a deep-dive review of "concerning projects" where “delivery to time and budget lacks credibility”.

WMCA has been told to:

• Introduce outcomes-focused leadership to achieve cross-organisational alignment and a clear line of sight to – and accountability for – outcomes for the region
• Implement a new approach to governance with integrated expert support to facilitate effective decision-making that unlocks delivery
• Embed a standard for information and reporting requirements across the portfolio
• Undertake a project reset assurance review to identify the greatest risks to delivery
• Establish a programme management approach at an authority level and explore the feasibility of implementing a pan-region programme management approach
• Streamline processes to cut unnecessary bureaucracy, introducing a smarter, scalable framework that is proportionate to risk
• Champion a region-wide people and skills strategy
• Advocate for long-term funding

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