Issue - meetings

To consider the Agreement for approval by the Board

Lead: Director Rail and Road

6.1          Members received the report from the Head of Strategic Rail who highlighted the key points within the report.

6.2          Mr. Nick Bisson confirmed that Ministers are happy to meet regularly with the Chair of the Board and a small delegation of Members to there is a mechanism for the Board and Ministers to maintain an on-going dialogue as the programme moves forward: it was noted that this would address a concern raised by the Board in its previous consideration of the Sponsorship Agreement. Mr Bisson stated that the Department was also keen to address concerns raised by TfN in relation to information sharing with its constituent authorities.  He further stated that the Department is keen to continue working with TfN to ensure that the co-sponsorship model evolves in the light of experience in order to ensure it delivers for both sides. 

Mr Bisson provided a more general update on the current position on NPR.  He thanked the TAME team for the on-going work they have done in supporting the DfT develop the business case.  He informed the Board that internal assessment of the business case was taking place within Government and he anticipated a wider conversation with stakeholders later in the autumn.

6.3          Mayor Coppard raised the issue of the loss of connections between Sheffield and Manchester, and more specifically connectivity to/from Manchester Airport. He restated the urgency for the Leeds Study Terms of Reference to be published explaining that the wait has been over a year and that the delay in being able to move forward is impacting on development, growth and investment.

The Chief Executive suggested that Members might consider asking the Chair to write to the Secretary of State, emphasising the impact that the delay is having.  He also suggested that this would give the opportunity to flag the importance of other related matters such as electrification of the Midland Main Line.

6.4          Cllr Hughes enquired whether progress had been made in identifying corridors outside of those included in the Integrated Rail Plan.

The Head of Strategic Rail explained that a lot of work was done as part of the NPR full business case, and whilst some of it needs updating, there have been some new opportunities that have presented themselves.  This work is being formulated and will be presented to the Officer Group in July. 

6.5          The Chief Executive advised the Board that as a consequence of what was before the meeting he considered the concerns raised at the last Board meeting had been resolved.

Resolved:

1)   That the Board endorses the NPR co-sponsorship Memorandum of Understanding.

2)   That the Chair write to the Secretary of State pressing for the publication of the Leeds Study Terms of Reference and stressing the importance of Midland Main Line electrification.

To provide an update on the governance arrangements associated with Northern Powerhouse Rail and to seek endorsement from Board on the NPR co-sponsorship Memorandum of Understanding.

Lead: David Hoggarth

7.1          Members received the report of the Head of Strategic Rail who  then highlighted the key points within the report.

7.2          Mayor Brabin highlighted that when TfN were a co-client, officers in constituent authorities were engaged with well, which she hoped will continue. She also requested that the strategic business case be shared privately with constituent authorities when available.

7.3          Mayor Burnham opposed the recommendations as he believes that Transport for the North is being sidelined.  He stated that Transport for the North has a different view of NPR to that of the Government, with constituent Members seeing it as being critical to the ambitions of the North for at least a century and this is bound up in the final version of NPR.  He stated that by being silent, future generations would be let down.   

7.4          Mayor Rotheram added his concern on this highlighting that the Government’s view as to what is best for the area differs to that of the area itself.  He commented that this is a mechanism to water down the limited powers that areas have had.

7.5          Mr Rob Mcintosh stated that this is not first time the Department has used co-sponsorship arrangements highlighting that Cross Rail had a similar arrangement. He suggested that learning could be taken from this project.

7.6          The Chair suggested that more work and consultation needs to be done between now and the next meeting in order to allay the Board’s fears.

7.7          Mayor Burnham stated that the co-sponsorship role must be a meaningful role and allow for the ”brakes to be applied” when required and for visibility of decisions. 

7.8          Board as a whole was supportive of the Chair’s recommendations, with Mayor Brabin stating that the ambition of NPR can’t be forgotten.

7.9          The Head of Strategic Rail stated he will go back and understand what good would look like in terms of co-sponsorship.

Resolved:

That the matter be deferred and brought back to the next meeting of the Board.

To provide an update on Northern Powerhouse Rail, specifically the development of the NPR co-sponsorship Memorandum of Understanding.

Lead: David Hoggarth

7.1             Members received the report of the Strategic Rail Lead.  The Head of Strategic Rail highlighted the key areas of the report.

7.2          Cllr Davison is pleased that the organisation continues to promote the importance of delivering HS2 in full; however he was critical that the project had been sold on speed rather than capacity, and explained that without capacity it is difficult remove freight from the roads;  getting connectivity for passengers can only be done with HS2.  

7.3          Addressing the issue of the Eastern leg, the Head of Strategic Rail expressed the importance of the Leeds Area Study which is part of the co-sponsorship work, with the brief still awaited.  He explained that the previous Eastern leg HS2 proposal is one of the ways of connecting Leeds into the network and will be pushing this as part of the work looking at a variety of options. 

He highlighted the importance of starting this work and stated that Transport for the North haves a strong input into this work using its evidence base.  He explained that there are two aspects to the co-sponsorship, being the local detail and the network.    

Resolved:

That the Committee notes that the Board will be asked to endorse the Northern Powerhouse Rail Sponsorship Agreement at the Board meeting on 23 March 2023.