Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received and noted from Andy Burnham (GM Mayor) and Councillors Howard Sykes (Oldham), Paul Prescott (Wigan), Paul Dennett (Salford), Elaine Taylor (Oldham) and Dan Costello (Tameside).

To receive declarations of interest in any item for discussion at the meeting. A blank form for declaring interests has been circulated with the agenda; please ensure that this is returned to the Governance & Scrutiny Officer 48 hours in advance of the meeting.

RESOLVED/-

That it be noted that as an employee of Keolis Amey Metrolink (KAM), Councillor Phil Burke declared a personal interest in item 6 - Tackling Fare Evasion. 

RESOLVED/-

That the start of bus franchising and the significant work to get to that point be noted.

That in relation to HS2, it be noted that without clarity on Government’s position a discussion at this stage would be premature and that GM remained committed to making the case for HS2 and Northern Powerhouse Rail to be delivered in Greater Manchester.

That it be noted that a report on the acquisition of bus depots was due to be received by the GMCA with the recommendation to endorse the simplification of the process relating to the acquisition of depots. This would allow TfGM to buy depots directly, rather than by the GMCA who would then need to lease to TfGM who in turn would need to lease to operators.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 27 July 2023.

RESOLVED/-

1.    That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 27 July 2023 be approved as a correct record.

2.    That officers develop a set of guidelines for districts considering the establishment of local Bee Network forums.

Report of Peter Boulton, Head of Highways, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the change to GM’s Road network and the impact this can have on congestion be noted.

2.      That the commencement of franchised bus operations and the negative impact that congestion can have on bus network performance be noted.

3.      That the proposed improvements to Greater Manchester Road Activity Permit Scheme (GMRAPS) and other short-term measures being implemented to improve GM’s highway network be endorsed.

4.      That the development of a Red Route Network on key corridors in conjunction with Local Highway Authorities be endorsed.

5.      That the development of a proposal for the introduction of Lane Rental in GM be endorsed.

6.      That it be noted that officers would work with each Local Highway Authority to understand the requirement of each area and to ensure a consistent approach across the network.

7.      In noting that the success of any scheme would require buy-in from all 10 Local Authorities, it was felt appropriate that on completion both the GMRAPS and Lane Rental Scheme should be endorsed by leaders at a future GMCA meeting.

8.      That process details relating to emergency works that would need to be carried out when Lane Rental Schemes would be in operation be included within future iterations of the report.

Report of Danny Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the support of members to the strategy and ongoing plans to tackle fare evasion on Metrolink be noted.

2.      That it be noted that the Bee Network Committee would receive regular updates on progress on the implementation of different phases of the Fare Evasion Strategy.

Report of Chris Barnes, Infrastructure Pipeline Programme Director, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the current position on the capital programme and recent progress be noted.

2.      That the draw-down of CRSTS funding be agreed as follows:

·         Ashton – Stockport Quality Bus Transit (QBT). £0.57m to develop the scheme to Outline Business Case;

·         Golborne Station. A further £2.0m to develop the Outline Design, including further management of key risks and issues;

·         Salford: Peel Green Active Travel Scheme City of Salford Community Stadium scheme (Cos Cos). £0.65m to develop the scheme to Full Business Case;

·         Oldham: Beal Valley & Broadbent Moss - Greenway Corridor. £0.86m to develop the scheme to Full Business Case; and

·         Integrated Ticketing and Information Measures (Customer Contact Centre).

£1.56m to develop and deliver Bee Network Customer Contact Centre Improvements.

3.      That the draw-down of Active Travel funding be agreed as follows:

·         £0.38m of additional Mayor’s Challenge Fund development funding for Trafford MBC to progress their prioritised programme to delivery; and

·         That formal development cost budget variations for Trafford MBC, as set out in section 2.9 of the report be agreed.

Report of Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the range of issues and actions relating to non-franchised bus services as

set out in the report be noted.

2.      That the changes to the commercial network as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

3.      That it be agreed that no action was taken in respect of changes or de-registered commercial services as noted in Appendix 1 of the report.

4.      That the proposed changes to subsidised services as set out in Appendix 1 of the report be approved.

5.      That the Bee Network Committee would receive early notification of any future changes to non-franchised/franchised bus services.

·         26 October; 2 – 4 PM

·         23 November; 2 – 4 PM

·         14 December; 2 – 4 PM

·         25 January; 2 – 4 PM

·         22 February; 2 – 4 PM

·         21 March; 2 – 4 PM

RESOLVED/-

That the dates for the rest of the municipal year be noted as below:

·         26 October; 2 – 4 PM

·         23 November; 2 – 4 PM

·         14 December; 2 – 4 PM

·         25 January; 2 – 4 PM

·         22 February; 2 – 4 PM

·         21 March; 2 – 4 PM

That, under section 100 (A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 the press and public should be excluded from the meeting for the following items on business on the grounds that this involved the likely disclosure of exempt information, as set out in the relevant paragraphs of Part 1, Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 and that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

Report of Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

That the contents of the report be noted.

Clerk’s Note: This item was considered in support of the report considered in Part A of the agenda (Item 9 above refers).