Boards and groups

Partnership Forum

Purpose

The main function of the Partnership Forum is to collectively engage with Midlands Connect partners and act as one voice for the Midlands on all matters pertaining to transport.

Members

All elected leaders of local transport authorities and local highway authorities and the senior representative or Chair of existing LEPs (or business representatives) and Chambers of Commerce;  

The following are ex-officio members:

Chief Executives (or equivalent) of Network Rail, National Highways, Birmingham Airport, East Midlands Airport, HS2 Ltd, and DfT are automatically members of the Partnership Forum.  

Strategic Board

Purpose

The Strategic Board provides the highest level of accountability and decision making for the partnership and will approve significant documents prior to submission to Government, such as the Strategic Transport Plan (new or refreshed), Annual Business Plan, and business cases the Midlands Connect team wishes to submit to Government for review.

Members

Our Strategic Board includes local authority leaders, local enterprise partnership chairs and representatives from national delivery bodies, our Steering Group and the Department for Transport. Membership lists are live lists and will be reviewed regularly with partners.

• Sir John Peace, Chair, Midlands Connect
• Cllr Alan White, Leader, Staffordshire County Council
• Cllr Simon Geraghty, Leader, Worcestershire County Council
• Mayor Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands
• Sir Peter Soulsby, Leicester City Mayor
• Cllr Richard Davies, Leader, Lincolnshire County Council
• Alun Rogers, Chairman, Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire LEP
• Sonia Roberts, Chair, Marches LEP
• Elizabeth Fagan, Chair, D2N2 LEP
• John Hall, Department for Transport Director, Regions and Cities
• Nick Abell, Vice Chair and Chair of Midlands Connect Steering Group
• Tim Smart, Managing Director for Phase Two, HS2 Ltd
• Denise Wetton, Central Route Director, Network Rail
• Nick Harris, Chief Executive, National Highways
• Maria Machancoses, CEO, Midlands Connect
• Linda Horne, Finance Director, West Midlands Combined Authority

Audit and Governance Committee 

Purpose

The Audit and Governance Committee advises the Strategic Board on all matters relating to audit and governance of Midlands Connect make recommendations on matters such as: 

• The effectiveness of governance
• Risk management and internal controls
• Financial management and reporting
• Internal and external audit functions.

Members

Our Audit and Governance Committee includes representatives from local government, non-local government and the section 151 officer. Membership lists are live lists and will be reviewed regularly with partners.

• Cllr Simon Geraghty, Audit and Governance Committee Chair and leader of Worcestershire County Council
• Elizabeth Fagan, Audit and Governance Committee Vice Chair and chair of the D2N2 LEP
• Mark Ryder, Warwickshire County Council
• Richard Blackmore, East Midlands Chamber
• Linda Horne, Section 151 Officer, West Midlands Combined Authority 

Steering Group 

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Steering Group is to provide advice and expertise to the Midlands Connect team and make recommendations to the Midlands Connect Strategic Board.  The Steering Group helps shape the Annual Business Plan and ensure the programme is delivered in accordance with the Midlands Connect Strategic Transport Plan and Annual Business Plan.

Members will provide information on the collective/regional support they need to improve transport connectivity across the Midlands in terms of research, projects, data and other support which will inform Annual Business Plan and future Strategic Transport Plan.  

Meetings will provide an effective platform for the exchange of views and information between partners in the region and national delivery bodies and the government.

Members

Our Steering Group includes representatives from local transport authorities, local enterprise partnerships/business representation, chambers of commerce, airports and national delivery bodies and the Department for Transport. Membership lists are live lists and will be reviewed regularly with partners.

• Nick Abell, Steering Group Chair and Chair, Coventry & Warwickshire LEP
• Andy Gutherson, Steering Group Vice Chair and Executive Director of Place, Lincolnshire Country Council
• Andrew Smith, Director of Planning, Development and Transportation, Leicester City Council
• Stuart Everton, Black Country Director of Transport, City of Wolverhampton Council
• Mark Ryder, Strategic Director for Communities, Warwickshire County Council
• Will Morlidge, CEO, D2N2 LEP
• Dan Taylor, Regional Partnerships and Delivery, Department for Transport
• Simon Richards, Chief Finance and Engineering Officer, Birmingham Airport
• Jon Bottomley, Planning Manager, East Midlands Airport
• Richard Blackmore, Director of Policy and Insight, East Midlands Chamber
• Henrietta Brealey, CEO, Greater Birmingham Chambers of Commerce
• Richard Leonard, Head of Road Safety, National Highways
• Tom Pooler, Project Sponsor, HS2 Ltd
• Gavin Dowland, Lead Strategic Planner, Network Rail North West & Central
• Mal Drury-Rose, Director of Rail for Transport for West Midlands (TfWM) and Executive Director of the West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE)
• Maria Machancoses, CEO, Midlands Connect 

Technical Advisory Group (TAG)

Purpose

The purpose of TAG is to share information and provide advice to the MC team and to take information back to their organisations.  The group provides local input to inform MC’s work programme.

Members 

Members include officers from all LTAs, delivery bodies, Chambers of Commerce, Airports and DfT. One person from each organisation will be the key contact for the Midlands Connect team and they are expected to distribute information to relevant colleagues in their own organisations, and provide a co-ordinated response to Midlands Connect requests for help and information or consultations.