Issue - meetings

(Member lead: Cllr K Wakefield, Author: Liz Hunter)

Resolved:

(i)    That WYCA re-affirms its commitment to thepriority areas set out in paragraph of the submitted report.

(ii)    That consent be given in principle to theSecretary of State making regulations under Section 102E of the Local Transport Act 2008 to establish Transport for the North as a Sub-National Transport Body (STB), and delegates authority to WYCA’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of WYCA and with WYCA’s representatives on the Transport for the North Partnership Board, to consent to the regulations once they have been finalised.

(iii)    That WYCA agrees in principle the transfer of Rail North Ltd to TfN, once TfN has been established as a STB, and authority be delegated to WYCA’s Managing Director to take any necessary steps on behalf of WYCA to effect this transfer.

(iv)    That approval be given to enter a new Rail Franchise Management Agreement with TfN, once it has been established as a STB, on terms consistent with the Rail North Ltd Members’ Agreement.

(v)    That approval be given to fund TfN to carry out functions to supporting rail franchise management which are currently carried out by Rail North Ltd, on the existing basis, once TfN is established as a STB, and has assumed those functions.

The Authority considered a report of the Director of Policy, Strategy & Communications which sought:

·         To re-affirm WYCA’s commitment to agreed TfN priority areas.

·         Consent in principle to the making of regulations by the Secretary of State for Transport to establish Transport for the North (TfN) as a Sub-National Transport Body (STB) under Section 102E of the Local Transport Act 2008.

·         Subject to TfN being established as a STB, to agree the transfer of Rail North Limited to TfN, to enter into a new Rail Franchise Management Agreement with TfN and to make payments in respect of functions currently carried out by Rail North Ltd, to TfN.

Members confirmed WYCA’s priorities for TfN and noted the implications for TfN becoming a statutory body which were detailed in the submitted report.

The Authority expressed concern regarding the Secretary of State for Transport’s recent comments in respect of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) as it was essential to have rail links across the North to drive forward economic growth.  The TRU was a vital part of a phased approach to investment in the North as well as HS2 and members noted the importance of working with TfN to continue to press the case for such projects.

It was reported that a summit had been arranged for 23 August 2017 to discuss and consider the current position, concerns and opportunities for lobbying across the North. 

Resolved:

(i)         That WYCA re-affirms its commitment to the priority areas set out in paragraph 2 of the submitted report.

(ii)        That WYCA consents in principle to the Secretary of State making regulations under Section 102E of the Local Transport Act 2008 to establish Transport for the North as a Sub-National Transport Body (STB), and delegates authority to WYCA’s Managing Director, in consultation with the Chair of WYCA and with WYCA’s representatives on the Transport for the North Partnership Board, to consent to the regulations once they have been finalised.

(iii)       That WYCA agrees in principle the transfer of Rail North Ltd to TfN, once TfN has been established as a STB, and delegates authority to WYCA’s Managing Director to take any necessary steps on behalf of WYCA to effect this transfer.

(iv)       That WYCA agrees to enter a new Rail Franchise Management Agreement with TfN, once it has been established as a STB, on terms consistent with the Rail North Ltd Members’ Agreement.

(v)        That WYCA agrees to fund TfN to carry out functions to supporting rail franchise management which are currently carried out by Rail North Ltd, on the existing basis, once TfN is established as a STB, and has assumed those functions.