To set out the changes to the Collaboration Agreement between West Midlands Rail Ltd (WMRL) and the Department for Transport (DfT) and seek cabinet member approval to support these changes.

That the Cabinet member:

(a)       Approve that the Council supports WMRL entering into a new Collaboration Agreement with the Department for Transport (included as Appendix A);

(b)       On behalf of the Council votes in favour of new Collaboration Agreement at a Special Resolution meeting of the WMRL Board of Directors planned to take place in September 2021.

1.    The cabinet member votes against the revised Collaboration Agreement between WMRL and DfT. This is not recommended as this could result in WMRL losing the contractual basis for its partnership working with DfT as well as the loss of WMR Ltd’s funding grant from DfT.