Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Paul Prescott (Wigan), Dan Costello (Tameside), Phil Burke (Rochdale) and James Gartside (Rochdale).

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.

None received.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the Bee Network Committee supports a public inquiry into the handling of HS2, and subsequent decision to cancel the route between Birmingham and Manchester, with the view to understanding what lessons can be learnt about future infrastructure projects of this size and significance.

2.      That the Committee supports calls for the protection of land along routes 2 A & 2 B including the immediate stoppage of any sales in progress until a complete review takes places.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 28 September 2023.

RESOLVED/-

That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 28 September 2023 be approved as a correct record.

Report of Martin Lax, Transport Strategy Director, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.    That the preparation of a new Local Transport Plan (LTP) and the delays to government guidance be noted.

2.    That the proposed timetable for the LTP refresh, recognising that timescales may change when government guidance is released be endorsed.

3.    That GM’s freight and logistics strategic ambitions would be incorporated into the refresh of the LTP, rather than have a standalone sub-strategy be noted.

4.    That the need for TfGM and Local Authority collaboration and staff time required to prepare, engage and consult on the LTP refresh be noted.

5.    That the importance of the LTP to deliver the wider objectives of the GM Strategy and the intention to undertake an Equalities Impact Assessment (EIA) as part of a wider Integrated Assessment that will also include Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA), Health Impact Assessment (HIA) and Habitat Regulation Assessment (HRA) be noted.

Verbal update by Andy Burnham, Mayor of Greater Manchester.

RESOLVED/-

1.    That the update in relation to the performance of Tranche 1 services be noted.

2.    That it be noted that further improvements to the Bee Network application including the added functionality of journey planning, apple and google pay functionality and the addition of a Metrolink Zonal Map had been planned and would be included within future updates of the Bee Network application.

3.    That it be noted that starting in December, regular quarterly performance updates on the Bee Network would be received by the Bee Network Committee.

Report of Megan Black, Head of Logistics and Environment, TfGM.

RESOLVED/-

1.    That the recommendations to be considered by the GMCA at their meeting on 27 October 2024 be noted, as comprising of as below:

a)    Approve that a floor and a ceiling price cap of 30% above and below the current EV tariff (set out in paragraph 1.10 of the report) is introduced; and

b)    Delegate to the Chief Executive of the GMCA and TfGM approval of tariff changes within those limits.

2.    That a price comparison of the EV charging network be circulated to members following the meeting with the view to understanding the rates offered by each provider.

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

RESOLVED/-

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

2.    That the recent announcement from Government on CRSTS2 be noted.

3.    That the amendments to the CRSTS assurance process as set out in paragraph 3 of this report be agreed.

4.    That authority be delegated to approve draw-down from the total CRSTS fund of no more than £500,000 to the Chief Executive TfGM and GMCA.

5.    That the draw-down of CRSTS funding be approved as follows:

·         Trafford Bus Studies. £0.92m to develop the scheme to Outline Business Case;

·         Quality Bus Transit (Better Bus Routes). £0.09m CRSTS funding to deliver signal priority for late running buses across the QBT corridors; and

·         Zero Emission Bus (ZEB). £3.92m to enable DNO upgrades for Bus Franchising depots and to fund the continued development and delivery of the CRSTS ZEB Programme.

6.    That the draw-down of Active Travel funding be approved as follows:

·         £0.17m of additional MCF funding for Salford City Council to deliver their prioritised active travel programme; and 

·         That the formal MCF scheme budget variations for Salford City Council be agreed as set out in paragraph 4.6.

7.    That the draw-down of Growth Deal funding be approved as follows:

·         Salford Central. £1.62m Growth Deal funding to undertake detailed design work; and

·         Salford Bolton Network Improvements (SBNI) Programme. £2.06m Growth Deal funding to deliver the remaining two delivery packages.

8.    That the reallocation of Growth Deal funding be noted as follows:

Salford Bolton Network Improvements (SBNI) DP4 Pendleton Town Centre - re-allocation of previously drawn down Growth Deal funding of £1.0m.

9.    That it be noted that the Bee Network Committee would be kept informed of the schemes <£500,000 that would be approved by the Chief Executive TfGM and GMCA.

·         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

·         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