Agenda and decisions

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Elaine Taylor, Paul Dennett, Hamid Khurram and David Meller.

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 Councillor Phil Burke, as an employee of Keolis Amy declared a prejudicial interest in item 5 – Bee Network Performance.

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the Committee appointment to the Vision Zero Advisory and Scrutiny Board be differed to the Annual General Meeting of the Bee Network Committee.

2.      That the considerable amount of work done by the Bee Network Committee during its initial year be noted.

3.      That the retirement of the Deputy Monitoring Officer, Gwynne Williams and the appointment of Melinda Edwards as the newly appointed Deputy Monitoring Officer be noted.

4.      That the retirement of the Chief Executive TfGM and GMCA, Eamonn Boylan OBE be noted.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 22 February 2024.

RESOLVED/-

That the minutes of the Bee Network Committee held on 22 February 2024 be approved as a correct record.

Report of Alex Cropper, Chief Network Officer, TfGM

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the performance of Greater Manchester’s Transport Network be noted.

2.      That the additional vehicles being introduced to strengthen and improve the performance of services in the Tranche 1 area be noted.

3.      That the improvements being made to the Bee Network App be noted.

4.      That the Metrolink maintenance and renewals works planned to take place over the next quarter be noted.

5.      That plans to introduce the TravelSafe Live Chat function through the Bee Network app, that would allow users to discreetly report a crime or antisocial behaviour and connect them with Greater Manchester Police in real time be noted.

6.      That the opening of Stockport Interchange – a state-of-the-art facility and community park that serves as a model of GM integration - with active travel links, Metrolink capacity and connections to the rail station be noted.

7.      That it be noted that the outline business case to DfT on the proposals for a new rail station at Golborne had been submitted. This follows a public consultation on proposals for the station, which received almost 3,000 responses, with 93% in support.

8.      That it be noted that the Committee were supportive of the motion agreed at TfN Board held on 20.03.2024 to issue statutory advice to the Secretary of State to cancel Avanti’s contract at the earliest possible opportunity, with the state-owned operator of last resort (OLR) taking on responsibility in the short term.

9.      That it be noted that the Rapid Transit Strategy would be brought to a future meeting.

Report of Martin Lax, Transport Strategy Director, TfGM

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the current position in relation to the HS2 and NPR programme in Greater Manchester including the future areas of development and current Government timeframes be noted.

2.      That the update in relation to the emerging recommendations of the Private Consortium led by Sir David Higgins be noted for the Consortium has confirmed that, based on work done to date, the best option for improving rail links between the Midlands and the North was a new line between Handsacre Junction and Manchester Airport, using the same route as HS2 but with different specification to make it more affordable be noted.

Report of Martin Lax, Transport Strategy Director, TfGM and Stephen Rhodes, Director of Bus, TfGM

RESOLVED/-

1.      That the development of a pilot of 24-hour bus services in Greater Manchester be noted.

2.      That the process followed to develop the pilot proposals be noted.

3.      That the recommended routes (V1 and 36) to be taken forward as part of the pilot be endorsed.

4.      That the next steps to be taken by TfGM in development of the proposed pilot be noted.

5.      That it be noted that following endorsement of the outlined approach, TfGM would engage with Go North West (who operate both the V1 and 36) to establish the operational requirements, costs and timing of the pilot, and would continue to engage with the trade unions. The final proposal and timing for the pilot would be brought to the Bee Network Committee prior to mobilisation.

6.      That it be noted that a financial overview would be provided to members during the next municipal year to allow a better understanding of costs involved for running of services.

7.      That it be agreed that a progress update on the development of the pilot be brought to the Committee in the summer of 2024.   

Report of Chris Barnes, Infrastructure Pipeline Programme Director, TfGM

RESOLVED/-

1.         That the current position in relation to CRSTS1 and CRSTS2 be noted.

2.         That the drawdown and reallocation of CRSTS funding and associated scheme for progression be approved as follows:

• Access for All: £4.71m CRSTS funding;

• Rapid Transit Integration Programme:

Stop Improvements and New Stops Package. £1.28m CRSTS funding;

• Future Rapid Transit Programme:

Extensions Package. £3.3m CRSTS funding;

• Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure (EVCI): £1.09m CRSTS funding;

• Manchester: Ancoats Streets for All. Full Business Case approval and £1.36m CRSTS funding;

• Manchester: Transforming Deansgate: £2.15m CRSTS funding;

• Stockport: Queens Road Bridge (Strategic Maintenance). Reallocation of £0.5m and drawdown of a further £2.6m CRSTS funding;

• Zero Emission Bus (ZEB) Programme: Depot Electrification: total of £37.8m CRSTS funding £25.3m and match funding £12.5m;

• ZEB Programme: Reallocation of £1.57m of ZEB Programme Tranche 1 funding;

• Improving Journeys – Orbital Bus Routes (QBT) – Traffic Signal Upgrades.

Full Business Case approval and £0.21m CRSTS funding; and

• Core Highways, Strategic Highways and Local Safety & Minor Works

Maintenance funding for 2024/25, totalling £57.85m.

3.       That the drawdown of and variations to Active Travel funding be approved as follows:

• £1.025m of MCF funding for Tameside’s Active Neighbourhoods, Phase 2;

• £3.59m of MCF funding for Manchester’s Levenshulme Active Neighbourhood;

• £1.8m of Active Travel Fund Round 4 (ATF4) funding for Salford Chapel Street East, Phase 1; and

• Agree formal MCF scheme budget variations for Manchester City Council as set out in paragraph 3.12.

4.        That the release of £0.994m from previously approved funding to facilitate the replacement of the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) with a digital solution be noted.

5.             That it be noted that a decision in relation to Access for All funding was expected early May. However, should no decision on next round of funding be forthcoming in the near future it was agreed that a letter be issued to Government on behalf of the Bee Network Committee requesting an update on progress.