Agenda item

The Transport Committee considered a report which provided an update on government consultations on highways related matters and sought the transport Committee’s endorsement of key themes to shape the Combined Authority’s response to the consultation on government proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network.

There have been a number of government consultations on highways related matters in recent months that are relevant to the Combined Authority as the Local Transport Authority, and to the five West Yorkshire District Councils as the local Highway Authorities and these were detailed in the submitted report.

In respect of key themes to shape the Combined Authority’s response to the consultation on government proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network, the Committee agreed the recommended key themes identified and noted the consistent response of the West Yorkshire District Councils.

Clarification was requested by Cllr Bolt and the potential of the A628 between junction 4 of the M67 and the M1 to become an Expressway, in line with the outcomes of the Transpennine Tunnel and the North of England Wider Transport Connectivity Strategy with regard to Kirklees Council boundaries.

Members expressed concern that TfN consultation events in Halifax were poorly attended and it was considered that the location and limited liaison with Calderdale were factors, although Members were appreciative of the additional session held in Huddersfield.  It was noted that the Combined Authority has a formal transport consultation mechanism involving meetings in each district which are held in public and comprise a mix of elected members and public representatives.  The next round of meetings are in April 2018.   In this respect Members asked that Transport for the North be invited to attend these meetings and provide a presentation with opportunities for a Question and Answer session.

The Committee asked that their thanks be passed to officers for their work on the consultation.

Dave Pearson, Director Transport Services for the Combined Authority was asked by the Committee to enquire whether Transport for the North would be able to arrange attendance at District Consultation Sub Committee meetings with the provision of a five to ten minute presentation and a Question and Answer session of a similar length.  The enquiry was made however TfN advised that they had already planned their consultation resources and were unable to attend given the relative short notice.

The Chair thanked Steve Heckley, Head of Transport Strategy Implementation for the Combined Authority for his work in supporting responses to these consultations.

Resolved:

(i)            That the update on government consultations on highways related matters be noted.

(ii)          That the Combined Authority’s response to the DfT consultation on Shaping the Future of England’s Strategic Roads (RIS2) be endorsed.

(iii)         That the recommended key themes identified in paragraph 2.12 of the submitted report forming the basis of the response of the Combined Authority to the DfT consultation on its proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network be agreed.

(iv)         That the consistent response of the West Yorkshire District Councils identified in paragraph 2.16 of the submitted report to the highway questions contained in the Ministry of Housing, Committees and Local Government consultation on its Fair Funding Review proposed to be included in individual West Yorkshire District responses be noted.