Issue - meetings

(Member lead: Cllr J Blake, Author: Rob Norreys)

Resolved:  That a Leeds City Region HS2 Connectivity Strategy be developed and that oversight of this development be delegated to the Transport Committee.

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Policy, Strategy and Communications on the development of a Leeds City Region HS2 Connectivity Strategy and the proposal that oversight of its development be delegated to the Transport Committee with a view to its adoption as a daughter document to the Strategic Economic Plan.

It was intended that the Strategy would support and complement the Phase 2 Hybrid Bill and, to enable this, it was proposed that an initial submission be made to Government in Autumn 2017, followed by more detailed strategy development during 2018.  It was agreed that oversight of the strategy be delegated to the Transport Committee but the final version would be brought back to a future meeting for adoption.

Members discussed the economic impact, connectivity and employment opportunities HS2 would bring to the region and also the challenges in respect of disruption during its development. It was noted details of the Government’s potential scheme would not be known until later in the year but Councillor Wakefield advised members that discussions were being held at the HS2 Regional Programme Board with Network Rail and the DfT and they had been made aware of both the region’s ambitions and the points raised by members in respect of disruption. 

Resolved:  That a Leeds City Region HS2 Connectivity Strategy be developed and that oversight of this development be delegated to the Transport Committee.