The Leader of the Council, Councillor George Finch, endorsed changes to the West Midlands Rail Collaboration Agreement, ensuring its continuation from February 1, 2026. This decision was made following a discussion where concerns were raised about the availability of West Midlands Rail Executive (WMRE) board minutes and attendance at meetings.

West Midlands Rail Collaboration Agreement

Councillor George Finch, Leader of the Council, endorsed the new West Midlands Rail Limited/Department for Transport Collaboration Agreement, which will be implemented from February 1, 2026. This agreement replaces the existing one that was set to expire on January 31, 2026, coinciding with the government's move to bring West Midlands rail operations into public ownership.

The decision was made to ensure that the Council, as a constituent member of WMRL (trading as the West Midlands Rail Executive or WMRE), continues to hold devolved powers. Without this agreement, WMRE would revert to being a stakeholder rather than a formal client of the new public sector operator, losing its ability to influence and hold the rail industry accountable. The new agreement will be coterminous with the Services Agreement between the Department for Transport (DfT) and the public sector operator, with its end date dependent on the establishment of Great British Railways, anticipated in early 2028.

Key terms and provisions carried forward in the new agreement include:

• A management structure between WMRE and DfT officials.
• Sharing of Service Agreement management responsibilities.
• A role for WMRE in specifying and negotiating the public sector operator's budget and outputs.
• The ability for WMRE to make changes and retain benefits for reinvestment in the local rail network, including powers to adjust regional rail fares.
• An annual funding grant of £500,000 from the DfT to WMRE.

The proposed changes to the agreement are minimal, primarily updating the names of the parties involved and aligning its duration with the new Services Agreement.

During the meeting, Councillor Richard Dickson raised concerns regarding the Elephant and Bear line, acknowledging its significance and investment. He also queried the availability of WMRE board meeting minutes on the website and whether any council representatives had attended board meetings since May 2025. Victoria Mumford, Principal Transport Planner, stated she would investigate the availability of the minutes and confirmed that Councillor Finch and Councillor Jennifer Warren, Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, had attended meetings. Councillor Finch echoed the importance of the Elephant and Bear line and confirmed his attendance at meetings.

The financial implications for the Council remain unchanged, with no additional financial risk. The £500,000 annual DfT funding commitment to WMRE is maintained, and the Council's contribution of £14,500 per year is also unchanged. Failure to enter into the agreement would pose a significant risk to the WMRE budget, potentially leading to budget reductions or increased contributions from member authorities. The Council's ongoing annual revenue contribution is expected to be funded from existing budgets for Transport Strategy and Road Safety. There are no direct environmental implications arising from this report.

Following the meeting, WMRE confirmed that the omission of board meeting minutes from their website in 2025 was an oversight and that their communications team had been instructed to rectify this. It was also confirmed that Councillor Warren had attended all Board meetings since taking on her Portfolio Holder role, with the exception of the WMRE Board meeting on June 10, 2025, as no Warwickshire County Council elected member had been appointed to the Board at that time.

The decision to endorse the new Collaboration Agreement was approved, ensuring the continuation of WMRE's devolved powers and its role in shaping local rail services. This aligns with the council's commitment to improving rail outcomes for residents in the West Midlands.

The full details of the West Midlands Rail Collaboration Agreement can be found in the Public reports pack Tuesday 13-Jan-2026 10.00 Portfolio Holder DecisionsLeader Decisions. The decision itself is documented in the Public minutes Tuesday 13-Jan-2026 10.00 Portfolio Holder DecisionsLeader Decisions and Signed Minutes.