Agenda and minutes

Venue: Due to Covid-19, this meeting will be held remotely and will be livestreamed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCazjNSGpqZZT41Vibn2ZK9A/live (copy and paste the link in your browser)

Items
No. Item

19.

Open Forum

Open session for members of the public to ask a question, raise a concern or provide feedback.

Minutes:

A member of the public asked a question regarding the carbon impact assessment of corridor improvement schemes progressing through business case and whether they were to be included in the carbon audit. Officers from the Combined Authority would provide a written response.

 

A related question was asked about whether the Connectivity Strategy would be designed to contribute to the carbon reduction pathway. Officers in attendance noted that this would be addressed through the Connectivity Strategy presentation later on the agenda.

20.

Apologies for absence

Minutes:

An apology for absence was received from Councillor Caffrey.

21.

Declarations of Disclosable Pecuniary Interests

Transport Committee members only.

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest at the meeting.

22.

Exempt Information - Possible exclusion of the press and public

Minutes:

There were no items which required the exemption of the press and public.

23.

Minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2020 pdf icon PDF 143 KB

Minutes:

Resolved: That the minutes of the meeting held on 13 October 2020 be approved.

24.

Workshop Session - Connectivity Infrastructure Plan pdf icon PDF 222 KB

Minutes:

Members were provided with a presentation regarding the connectivity infrastructure plan.

 

Feedback was sought on all aspects of the plan and elected members of from across Calderdale had been invited to participate in the workshop as part of the public engagement process.

 

Members made the following comments:

 

·       That rail connectivity at Mytholmroyd and Sowerby Bridge should be improved. Members also emphasised that bus links to train stations, particularly at Sowerby Bridge, should be improved. 

·       The possibility to implement parking charges to discourage private vehicles, especially in town centres.

·       That it was vital to ensure that rural areas were incorporated into the connectivity plan and bus network.

·       That demand for commuter travel post covid could be gauged through targeted consultation with businesses in the Calder Valley and this intel should be fed into to the connectivity infrastructure plan.

·       The importance of delivering greater connectivity in North Halifax.

·       That key growth areas should be taken into account.

·       That, on the commercial side, it was vital for bus ticket to be transparent and affordable.

·       Transpennine services east west were vital, more so than north south links.

·       That electrification of the Calder Valley was vital and could provide a great benefit to Calderdale and the wider region.

·       That further work was ongoing to understand the carbon impact of the connectivity plans.

·       To learn from mass transit systems implemented in other cities across the UK and Europe.

·       To ensure the best technology was used in the mass transit system to ensure a high quality and accessible transport link.

·       That the infrastructure and vehicles in the bus network needed to be upgraded to ensure an attractive and comfortable user experience to increase patronage.

·       Low emission buses were vital for air quality and climate change targets.

·       That it was vital to understand commuter patterns from business within the Calder valley including those employees who commute from outside the region to understand what could be done to persuade them to make their journey on public transport.

·       That public transport links to the hospital from rural areas in Calderdale and also Kirklees who also use the hospital should be considered in the connectivity plan.

 

Resolved: That the presentation of the Connectivity Infrastructure plan and members’ comments be noted. 

25.

Information Report pdf icon PDF 132 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

Members considered an information report which provided an update on transport issues in Calderdale.

 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

26.

Operator Updates

Minutes:

Members were provided with verbal updates from several transport operators.

 

First

 

·       First stated that service levels had lowered follow dft guidance around social distancing. Passenger levels were at 45% of pre-covid levels.

 

Arriva

 

·       Arriva operated some tendered services on behalf of the local authorities and full service levels had been maintained across the district. Additional services had been run to allow socially distanced school bus travel.

 

Northern

 

·       Northern noted that they have had to introduce multiple timetables with the current one lasting until May when the Summer timetable would be introduced. Patronage was at around 15% of pre-covid passenger numbers.

 

Resolved: That the operator updates be noted.