Agenda, decisions and minutes

The Chair began the meeting by expressing condolences, on behalf of the Transport committee, for all those who had lost loved ones during the pandemic. Members also wished to thank all key workers and the transport operators for their essential role during the pandemic.

An apology for absence was received from Simon Pringle.

There were no declarations of pecuniary interests.

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

The Chair provided updates from the last meeting including a joint DCSC meeting to be held in July and that minute 65 that the super bus fund had been suspended due to the COVID-19.

Resolved: That the minutes from the Transport Committee held on 13 March be approved.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorse the principle of a new relationship with Northern based on openness, honesty and working in partnership, which recognises elected members’ role as passenger champion, and which secures delivery of strategic objectives for clean and inclusive growth, recognising the important role for rail in West Yorkshire in achieving these.

(ii)             That the Committee note the issues facing Northern as OLR takes over the operation from Arriva.

(iii)           That the Committee approve the principle that Combined Authority officers should work with Northern, TfN and others to identify potential interventions for the short-to-medium term period after the industry emerges from COVID 19 restrictions but while OLR continues.  These interventions should be directed towards the key principles of:

·       Improving reliability and punctuality

·       Providing train capacity where it is most needed

·       Improving staff morale and the image of the rail operator

·       Making small-scale but noticeable improvements to the passenger experience at trains and on stations, including better information

·       Setting the agenda for the longer-term investment that rail in our region requires

The broad types of intervention, to address the issues identified above and summarised below and form the basis of further discussion for Combined Authority officers with Northern and TfN, include:

Members considered a report which provided an update on the transition of the Northern operation from the Arriva Trains North franchise to the Operator of Last Resort.

Members discussed the opportunity to establish new working relations with the operator and discussed the accountability and democracy of the Rail North Committee. Members asked for more reporting from the rail north committee.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorse the principle of a new relationship with Northern based on openness, honesty and working in partnership, which recognises elected members’ role as passenger champion, and which secures delivery of strategic objectives for clean and inclusive growth, recognising the important role for rail in West Yorkshire in achieving these.

(ii)             That the Committee note the issues facing Northern as OLR takes over the operation from Arriva.

(iii)           That the Committee approve the principle that Combined Authority officers should work with Northern, TfN and others to identify potential interventions for the short-to-medium term period after the industry emerges from COVID 19 restrictions but while OLR continues.  These interventions should be directed towards the key principles of:

·       Improving reliability and punctuality

·       Providing train capacity where it is most needed

·       Improving staff morale and the image of the rail operator

·       Making small-scale but noticeable improvements to the passenger experience at trains and on stations, including better information

·       Setting the agenda for the longer-term investment that rail in our region requires

The broad types of intervention, to address the issues identified above and summarised below and form the basis of further discussion for Combined Authority officers with Northern and TfN, include:

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report.

(ii)             That the Committee endorses the approach to funding bus services during the March to June period as set out in paragraph 2.6

(iii)           That the Committee endorses the approach to Government to ensure that the Combined Authority co-ordinates public sector funding for bus services during the continuation of the COVID -19 emergency.

(iv)           That the delegated decision making arrangement approved by the Committee on 13 March be maintained for use on urgent matters relating to the COVID-19 emergency and reviewed at the next meeting.

The Transport Committee considered a report which provided an overview of the current status of the transport network for Bus and Rail during the period of the COVID 19 emergency.

Members noted that bus and train operators were increasing their services form June onwards, but capacity would be constrained by the social distancing guidance. Travel advice would be advertised throughout the network to promote guidance and social distancing.

Concessionary pass journeys had been relaxed to allow travel before 9:30, however from the beginning of June this would revert to the normal arrangements.

Members raised the following questions and comments:

·       Members queries how would social distancing would work on buses and its affect on the services. Further guidance was awaited from Government in respect of this.

·       That it would be difficult for the bus driver to police social distancing and manage passenger numbers. 

·       A members asked about compensation for annual pass holders. It was noted that the Combined Authoirty had offered to add on the card the equivalent months on the m card that have been lost while.

·       That additoinal cleaing in bus stations and on buses would be vital. Members noted that cleaning regimes had been stepped up in March especially on touchpoints.

·       Members asked how would the Combined Authority publicise the changes to the concessionary pass time change? It would be important to communicate the return to the 9:30 arrangement clearly but officers would speak to bus operators to take a flexible approach in the first instance to reinforce the message over the next 2 weeks.

·       Members discussed Grand Central and the need to write to the Department for Transport to make the cause for parity of funding.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report.

(ii)             That the Committee endorses the approach to funding bus services during the March to June period as set out in paragraph 2.6

(iii)           That the Committee endorses the approach to Government to ensure that the Combined Authority co-ordinates public sector funding for bus services during the continuation of the COVID -19 emergency.

(iv)           That the delegated decision making arrangement approved by the Committee on 13 March be maintained for use on urgent matters relating to the COVID-19 emergency and reviewed at the next meeting.

Resolved: That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report and endorses the next steps set out in paragraph 2.36.

Members considered a report which [provided an overview the implications of the COVID 19 emergency on Combined Authority transport policies.

Members made the follwing comments:

·       That the current lockdown offered an opportunity for walking and cycling and some temporary schemes were ready to be put into place.

·       Members discussed the need for and provision of facemasks on public transport.

·       The role of the Economic recovery board in the region’s response to the pandemic and the need for close working with Transport Committee

·       The importance of the provision of broadband for home working – rural areas need access to a high quality broadband.

·       That it was vital to link transport networks to skills hubs to ensure connectivity between education / skills network to residential areas.

·       The change in road usage due to home working and the extent to which this may continue.

·       Members discussed the air quality impact  with there being fewer cars on roads in total but more vans for home deliveries. Members noted that it would be useful to monitor the changes in air quality throughout the lockdown.

·       That it would be useful for the Combined Authoirty and the districts to share best practice between the districts on temporary arrangements for cycling and walking.

Resolved: That the Committee notes the updates provided in this report and endorses the next steps set out in paragraph 2.36.

Resolved:

(i)              That the update on progress of the Transforming Cities Programme is noted.

(ii)             That the approach to Governance of the programme is noted and the suggested reporting arrangements to Transport Committee and its sub-groups is endorsed.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the Transport Cities Programme. The programme was made up of 22 packages of schemes across West and North Yorkshire. Members noted the governance structure for the programme.

Members asked for further details regarding the cleakheatopn and Hemondwicke schemes and were told that projects were in their early stages but they related to bus hubs and placemaking respecively.

Members also discussed the importance of long term strategic vision around especially around cycling and walking.

The Chair requested quarterly briefings to ensure oversight and engagement for transport committee members and portfolio holders

Resolved:

(i)              That the update on progress of the Transforming Cities Programme is noted.

(ii)             That the approach to Governance of the programme is noted and the suggested reporting arrangements to Transport Committee and its sub-groups is endorsed.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorses the progress made on a Fare Deal and the revised timescales set out in this report.

(ii)             That a further report be presented to the July 2020 meeting of the Transport Committee recommending the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme.

(iii)           That, in the event that the Covid 19 situation necessitates a change in the programme set out in this report or in the meeting schedule for the Committee, that the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme be considered under the delegated arrangements approved by the 13 March Committee. 

Members considered a report which provided an update on the development on a ‘Fare Deal for Young People’ and the work underway to formulate a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme.

Members noted that due to the Covid-19 pandemic the work on the concessionary travel scheme had been delayed and an online consultation would be undertaken. A report with final recommendations for the concessionary travel scheme would be brough to a future meeting of the Transport Committee.

Resolved:

(i)              That the Committee endorses the progress made on a Fare Deal and the revised timescales set out in this report.

(ii)             That a further report be presented to the July 2020 meeting of the Transport Committee recommending the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme.

(iii)           That, in the event that the Covid 19 situation necessitates a change in the programme set out in this report or in the meeting schedule for the Committee, that the adoption a revised Concessionary Travel Scheme be considered under the delegated arrangements approved by the 13 March Committee. 

Members considered a report which provided an update on current transport issues in the Leeds City Region.

Members made the following comments:

·       Members raised the restoring railway fund and the possibility to reopen the Queensbury Tunnel and Leeds New line as sustainable transport routes. Members were informed that the connectivity strategy and rail strategy work would look at this issue. 

·       The possibility for a pilot for e-bikes in the form of a park and pedal. It could be trialled in Leeds. Officers suggested that they would feed the idea back to colleagues across the districts.

·       That a potential problem with the reinstatement of the Wortley Curve was the lack of capacity from Wakefield to Doncaster because of freight travel. IT was noted that a study to look at feasibility and deliverability would be underway.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The Committee considered a report which provided an update on the transport related West Yorkshire and York Investment Committee and Combined Authority meeting approvals from their meetings of 5 March 2020 and 16 April 2020, respectively.

Resolved: That the report be noted.