Agenda, decisions and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillor Peter Dew, Councillor Taj Salam, Councillor Daniel Sutherland and Ian Cherry.

There were no disclosable pecuniary interests declared by Members at the meeting.

1.    To highlight Appendix 2 to Agenda item 12 which officers have identified as containing exempt information within the meaning of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, and where officers consider the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information, for reasons outlined in the report.

2.    To consider whether or not to accept the officers’ recommendation in respect of the above information as set out in paragraph 4.2 of Agenda item 12.

3.    If the recommendation is accepted, to formally pass the following resolution:-

RESOLVED – That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendix 2 to Agenda item 12 on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Resolved: That in accordance with paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of Appendix 2 to Agenda item 12 on the grounds that it is likely, in view of the nature of the business to be transacted or the nature of the proceedings, that if members of the press and public were present there would be disclosure to them of exempt information and for the reasons set out in the report that in all the circumstances of the case, the public interest in maintaining the exception outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Further to minute 69 to include there had been a lack of involvement with the District Consultation Sub Committees on the rail changes and a request that Committees were kept better informed in future.

Further to minute 71 to include meeting with the Secretaries of State for Transport / Communities and Local Government to seek re-assurances around their commitment to developing to funding the implementation of the Leeds City Region HS2 Growth Strategy.

Further to minute 70 to include that Network Rail also had a part to play in the disruption caused by the services changes through late delivery of infrastructure projects.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Transport Committee held on 25 May 2018 be approved and signed by the Chair.

Councillor Kim Groves the new Chair of Transport Committee opened the meeting by thanking Councillor Keith Wakefield whose role as Chair of the Transport Committee came to an end at the Combined Authority’s Annual General Meeting on 28 June 2018.

Councillor Groves welcomed new members Councillor Peter Box, Councillor Kayleigh Brooks, Councillor Michael Ellis and Councillor Ian Greenwood.

The Transport Committee was presented with an update on the governance arrangements of the Committee.

The Committee’s terms of reference which had been approved by the West Yorkshire Combined Authority at its Annual Meeting on 28 June, were appended to the report for information and details of the appointments made to the positions of Chair, Deputy Chair and Leader of the Opposition were detailed in the report.

The report set out proposals for the consideration of the Committee in respect of the appointment of the five advisory District Consultation Sub-Committees and the membership and chairing arrangements for those committees.

The report also asked the Committee to consider the establishment of a Local Bus Working Group and the delegation of specified functions to the Managing Director.

Councillor Bolt queried the number of District Consultation Sub-Committee meetings which had been scheduled for the 2018/19 municipal year and suggested that it may be helpful for chairs to be given discretion to call additional meetings if required.

Resolved:

(a)       That the terms of reference for the Transport Committee, attached as Appendix 1 to the submitted report, be noted.

(b)       That the following appointments made by the Combined Authority be noted:

·         Councillor Groves as Chair of Transport Committee,

·         Councillor Eric Firth as Deputy Chair of Transport Committee,

·         Councillor Martyn Bolt as Leader of the Opposition on Transport Committee.

(c)        That a District Consultation Sub-Committee, for the municipal year 2018/19, be established for each constituent council area with the terms of reference set out in Appendix 2 of the submitted report.

(d)       That each Transport Committee member co-opted from a constituent council be appointed as a voting member of the District Consultation Sub-Committee.

(e)       That the appointment of chairs of each of the District Consultation Sub-Committees be made as follows:

(i)            Councillor Taj Salam – Chair of Bradford District Consultation Sub Committee

(ii)          Councillor Daniel Sutherland – Chair of Calderdale District Consultation Sub-Committee.

(iii)         Councillor Manisha Kaushik – Chair of Kirklees District Consultation Sub-Committee.

(iv)         Councillor Michael Lyons – Chair of Leeds District Consultation Sub-Committee.

(v)          Councillor Kevin Swift – Chair of Wakefield District Consultation Sub-Committee.

(f)       That the calendar of meeting dates for each District Consultation Sub-Committee, as set out in Appendix 3 to the submitted report, be approved.

(g)      That each District Consultation Committee chair be given the discretion to call additional meetings as required.

(h)      That the Local Bus Services Working Group be re-established for the municipal year 2018/19, with terms of reference and arrangements as set out in Appendix 4 of the submitted report.

(i)       That the authority be delegated to the Managing Director to dispose of leasehold interests in land under Section 10(1) Transport Act 1968, provided that any disposal:

·         is on normal commercial terms to tenants occupying properties owned by the Combined Authority for uses appropriate to the business of the Combined Authority, or of benefit to the travelling public, and

·         is not on terms equivalent to a capital disposal nor in circumstances where the disposal could impede  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The Transport Committee was presented with a report that introduced a presentation from David Hoggarth, Strategic Rail Director Transport for the North.

The Northern and Trans Pennine rail franchise which commenced in April 2016 are managed in the North by a partnership between Department for Transport and Transport for the North.

At its meeting on 25 May, the Committee discussed the changes to services and timetables which were introduced on 20 May and the performance Issues which had arisen following the introduction of the timetable and the consequential impact on passengers across the North.

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David Hoggarth, Strategic Rail Director, Transport for the North was invited to give a presentation to inform members of the Partnership and provide an update on recent events and next steps.

The slides covered the Strategic Transport Plan, the Rail North Partnership, Franchise Transformation, Rail Service Improvements, May 2018 Timetable, Immediate Actions, Current Performance, TfN Short Term Priorities, Long Term Rail Strategy and Service Development.

The presentation was followed by a question and answer session as the Committee was keen to discuss the impact of the recent timetable changes and voiced their concerns about events leading up to May 18 which included:

·         The failure of Network Rail to complete electrification projects in the North West.

·         Not enough diesel trains available for other lines.

·         Responsibility for the May 2018 changes and that this was ultimately at the national level.

·         Insufficient time to train drivers on other trains/routes.

·         Issues with management of new timetable at Leeds station causing regional disruption

·         Compensation for passengers affected.

Members said that the public should be at the centre of any plans and resolutions as they were being asked on a daily basis for answers and assurances that this situation would not happen again. Members asked questions on the series of events leading up to the failure of the timetable changes and why this was allowed to happen, on driver numbers and training, compensation and the lack of communication to passengers as to why trains were cancelled.  A question was asked about the freight market and how this would be affected.  As well as the issues in delivering the timetables, questions were also raised about the timetable itself and whether it provided the right services in the first place.

David Hoggarth said that the immediate actions were to implement an interim timetable for Northern from 4 June and that 165 services in the North West were to be cancelled each day on a planned basis, accelerated driver training on routes and trains to be completed by 29 July and TfN were working with Network Rail to resolve the issues at Leeds.  There will be close monitoring by the Rail North Partnership Team and information will be shared with TfN members.

A question was also asked about the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade.  David Hoggarth said that Government was reviewing a number of different options.  TfN will provide input into the decision making process in September.  The ultimate decision is with the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

Resolved:

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)          That the revised Policy Guidelines and programme for review in respect of its activities to support mobility be adopted.

(iii)         That a plan for supporting mobility in respect of each local authority area in close co-operation with elected members and officers of the respective councils be developed.

(iv)         That a further report setting out the plans and programmes for supporting mobility in each local authority area together with an implementation plan be presented to the Committee.

The Transport Committee considered a report on how the Combined Authority uses its powers to procure bus services, to recommend revised Policy Guidelines and a programme for district by district a review to ensure funds deployed to support mobility are effective in meeting the Combined Authority’s objectives for inclusive growth.

The emerging local inclusive industrial strategy (LIS) sets out four grand challenges for West Yorkshire, including tackling stubborn deprivation and tackling the City Region’s productivity gap (with national and international peers) which is too large and continues to grow.  The supported bus network currently plays a crucial role in providing access to jobs, healthcare and other key services for some of the most deprived areas of West Yorkshire, ensuring that people living in these areas do not suffer from transport poverty caused by lack of access to transport services.

Questions were asked about the relationship between these reviews and the ones already undertaken for Bradford and Wakefield.  Assurances were given that a consistent approach would be taken and that those places already reviewed would not be treated differently.

Resolved:

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)       That the revised Policy Guidelines and programme for review in respect of its activities to support mobility be adopted.

(c)        That a plan be developed for supporting mobility in respect of each local authority area in close co-operation with elected members and officers of the respective councils be developed.

(d)       That a further report setting out the plans and programmes for supporting mobility in each local authority area together with an implementation plan be presented to the Committee before adoption.

Resolved: 

(i)            That the proposed principles set out in the report be endorsed.

(ii)          That the proposed approach and timetable set out in the report be endorsed.

The Transport Committee was presented with a report to seek endorsement of proposed principles, approach and timetable for the development of detailed programmes for years three to five (2019-2022).

The Transport Committee was asked to endorse the proposed principles set out in paragraph 2.9, for development of the detailed programmes for years three, four and five (2019 to 2022) and to endorse the proposed approach and timetable set out in paragraph 2.9.

Resolved: 

(a)       That the proposed principles set out in the report be endorsed.

(b)       That the proposed approach and timetable set out in the report be endorsed.

Resolved: 

(i)            That the contents of the report be noted.

(ii)          That the approach to securing developer contributions be endorsed.

The Transport Committee considered a report to update on the Combined Authority’s approach to strategic and development planning matters.

The Strategic Economic Plan (SEP), sets out the overarching policy priorities relating to the Combined Authority’s input into the planning process.  Planning is a cross cutting policy area that has an impact on a number of the SEP priorities but particularly is focused on delivering policy area 4 (Infrastructure and Growth).

The Transport Committee was asked to note the information in the report and endorse the approach to securing developer contributions in paragraph 2.17 and 2.18 of the report.

Resolved: 

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)       That the approach to securing developer contributions be endorsed.

The Transport Committee considered a report to provide an update on the following current issues:

·         Bus 18 Update – My Day Ticket for Under 19s

·         Bus Hotspots Programme Revision

·         Ultra-low Emission Bus Scheme

·         New Ultra Low Emission Buses for Leeds Park and Ride

·         Department for Transport (DfT) Cycle City Ambition – Cycle Safety Funding 2018/19 – Calder Valley Cycle Route.

·         Transforming Cities Fund

·         DEFRA Clean Air Strategy Consultation

·         Leeds Clean Air Zone Consultation

·         High Speed Rail Industry Leaders Conference

The Transport Committee was asked to note the updates provided in the report and endorse the revision to the Bus Hotspots Programmes as set out in paragraph 2.4 of the report.

Resolved:

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)       That the revision to the Bus Hotspots Programme be endorsed.

The Transport Committee considered a report to update on the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP), the scheme and package development during 2017/18 and the first quarter of 2018/19 and the next steps for delivery.  The Committee was asked to note the progress made in moving the schemes within the LPTIP programme forward.

Resolved:

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)       That the progress made in moving the schemes within the LPTIP programme forward be noted.

The Transport Committee considered a report to inform of the transport related West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee recommendations from its meeting of 5 June 2018.

Appendix 2 of this report contained exempt information.

Resolved: 

(a)       That the contents of the report be noted.

(b)       That the contents of Exempt Appendix 2 be noted.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Leeds District sub-committee held on Monday 9 April be approved.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Calderdale District sub-committee held on Tuesday 10 April be approved.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Bradford District sub-committee held on Monday 16 April be approved.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Wakefield District sub-committee held on Thursday 26 April be approved.

Resolved:  That the minutes of the Kirklees District sub-committee held on Tuesday 17 April be approved.