delete Transport functions to be exercised by the Mayor
This Order amends governance arrangements for the Greater Manchester Combined Authority (GMCA), transferring transport functions from Transport for Greater Manchester to GMCA, conferring general functions on the Mayor, establishing joint transport committees with political balance requirements, and setting out cost apportionment mechanisms (capped at £86.7m p.a.) among ten constituent councils. It also modifies voting thresholds for certain transport expenditure and concession scheme questions.
This Order concentrates transport decision-making in a mayoral combined authority with politically-appointed members, imposes a £86.7m spending cap requiring unanimous approval to change, and creates franchising schemes that restrict operator competition. The joint transport committee structure with weighted voting requirements and population-based cost apportionment codifies regional economic planning into law. While public transport may serve legitimate infrastructure purposes, this specific governance framework institutionalises bureaucratic coordination over market competition, limits council autonomy through unanimity requirements, and uses statutory mechanisms that predetermine transport market outcomes rather than allowing competitive provision of services.