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Agenda item

Agenda item

Budget and Business Plan 2023/24

To consider the 2023/24 Business Plan and budget.

Lead: Martin Tugwell and Paul Kelly

Minutes:

4.1             Members received the presentation of the Finance Director.  The Chief Executive and Finance Director then highlighted the key points in their presentation.

 

4.2          Cllr Jones requested more information on the Centre of Excellence and its funding.

The Chief Executive explained that as well as the core funding Transport for the North has been granted an additional £700,000 for each of the next two years to develop its offer.  He commented that the organisation is already a centre of excellence which has good quality data that is evidence-led with clear policy development and a strategy that flows from it.  He added the additional funding is an evolution of the current role rather than something new and was pleased to see that additional funding.

4.3          Regarding Great British Railways Transitions (GBRT) Cllr Fenton requested further information on the Northern Proposition and  asked when there is likely to be an announcement on the location of the GBR Headquarters.

 

The Chief Executive replied that he has no information on when the announcement regarding the headquarters will be.

On the Northern Proposition he stated that across the North a degree of devolution is already in place through the Rail North Agreement provides a role for TfN alongside the DfT overseeing delivery of the Northern and TransPennine contracts as well as, allowing Transport for the North to establish sub–Regional Business Units. 

He explained that a number of activities have been identified by the Rail North Partnership as opportunities going forward including taking account of revenue as well as costs when undertaking business planning and building on the stations as a place initiative.  He then went on to state his belief that there are some aspects of rail reforms that can be moved forward in the North at pace due to the devolution that exists.

Addressing the specific issue of the proposition he explained that work is taking place through a sub group of Members to help develop a detailed proposition about utilising the opportunities created by GBR of having a single guiding mind for the rail industry and how Transport for the North would like this to work.

4.4          Cllr O’Hara asked about support for smaller areas if all the money is to be directed into the bigger locations.

 

The Chief Executive explained that the evidence base shows that there needs to continue to be investment in growing the railway if strategic outcomes are  to be delivered for the North as well as economic growth that is sustainable and provides people with access to opportunities and services.  He added that in order to do this it is important to continue to make the case for revenues to be considered as well as costs as the strength of the recovery means that there are revenues for services.

He stated that there needs to be continued pressure in support of maintaining the delivery of services that are needed now, as well as being supportive and helping to deliver the investment that is already in the pipeline.

4.5          Cllr Davison stated that this is a significant change and a “reboot” in the direction of travel for Transport for the North and enquired as to how much of the original plan has remained the same and how much is a new direction.

 

The Chief Executive explained that the role of the organisation remains unaltered as a statutory body with no change to its functions and roles.  He also explained that the ambition of wanting Northern Powerhouse Rail being built in full also remains unaltered. He highlighted commitments through the Integrated Rail Plan which is delivering improvements such as electrification on the TransPennine upgrade; however, some of the ports and the gateways need to be connected to them.

He informed the committee that there are some good foundations to built on and he wishes to be able to strengthen TfN’s arguments for further investment on the basis of successfully delivering on current projects.

Members were reassured that projects such as the reopening of the Leamside line, the electrification to Hull, the importance of looking at alternatives to the HS2 Eastern leg, are all projects where Transport for the North will be continuing to make the case for investment.

He explained that the ambition in the Strategic Transport Plan (STP) comes from the evidence base and is being fed into it

4.6          The Chair stated that he felt reassured that the evidence base is driving the decisions being made and that the ambition remains the same.  He added that the strategic leadership is an interesting development with TfN not having a specific connection to any one local authority. 

He believed that the two-year funding this will provide stability.  He encouraged Committee members to prompt their authorities in approaching Transport for the North to see if they can assist with  resources when developing their Local Transport Plans.

Resolved: 

That the presentation be noted.

Supporting documents: