Agenda and decisions

Apologies were received and noted from Mayor Andy Burnham, Cllr Hamid Khurram (Bolton), Cllr Sean Fielding (Bolton), Cllr Alan Quinn (Bury, substituted by Cllr Gareth Staples-Jones), Mayor Paul Dennett (Salford, substituted by Cllr Mike McCusker), Cllr Laura Boyle (Tameside, substituted by Cllr Andrew McLaren), Cllr Paul Prescott (Wigan, substituted by Cllr John Vickers) and Steve Warrener (TfGM).

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.

That Councillor Phil Burke noted an interest in relation to his employment at Metrolink.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 27 June 2024.

A report of Steve Warrener, Managing Director, TfGM.

1.    That the update on the delivery of the Bee Network be noted.

A report of Martin Lax, Transport Strategy Director, TfGM.

1. That the draft Greater Manchester Rapid Transit Strategy, be noted.

2.    That a further report be submitted to the Committee on how it can best influence parliamentary discussions on proposals around Northern Powerhouse rail.

A report of Fran Wilkinson, Customer and Growth Director, TfGM.

1. That the changes to Bee Network fares and ticketing products, as approved by GMCA, be noted.

2.    That the Concessions Review currently being worked up be submitted to the Committee once available.

A report of Chris Barnes, Network Director Infrastructure, TfGM.

1.      That the current position, recent progress and key milestones on the transport infrastructure pipeline be noted.

2.      That the submission of the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) Annual Report 2023-24 and updated Delivery Plan be approved.

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

·        Rochdale: Middleton Streets for All Phase 1: £0.7m;

·        Integrated Ticketing and Travel Information :Full Business Case and £7.3m;

·        Bus Franchising IS and Ticketing System Assets: £25.0m;

·        Improving Journeys -  Orbital Bus Routes: Initial phased delivery of Rochdale – Oldham – Ashton (Rochdale elements): £2.1m, subject to TfGM’s approval of the Outline Business Case in August 2024;

4.      That the drawdown of £0.5m of GM match contribution to Network Rail Control Period (CP) 7 funding for Access for All (AfA) be approved;.

5.      That the drawdown of funding from the Mayor’s Challenge Fund (MCF) be approved as follows:

·        Trafford Seymour Grove Phase 1: £4.99m (CRSTS funding through the MCF programme);

·        Wigan Leigh St Helens Road: £2.17m (CRSTS funding through the MCF programme);

·        Wigan Standish Western Route: £1.99m (CRSTS funding through the MCF programme);

6.      Wigan Whelley Loop Line: £1.31m (CRSTS funding through the MCF programme).

A report of Stephen Rhodes, Network Director Bus, TfGM.

1. That the updated programme of Network Reviews for the next 12 months, as detailed in Appendix 1, be approved.
2. That the pilot of 24-hour bus services, noting the proposed timescales, the enhanced TravelSafe provision; and the costs of and funding for the pilot be approved.
3. That the preparation of a refreshed Bus Service Improvement Plan 2024, reflecting the ambition set out in the GM Bus Strategy, for submission to Department for Transport be noted.
4. That the withdrawal of the Stepping Hill Local Link service be approved.
5. That the recent and forthcoming changes to commercial bus services in the non-franchised area be noted.

6.    That a change to the X50 subsidised service in the non-franchised area, as set out in Appendix 2, be approved.

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.

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.

A report of Stephen Rhodes, Network Director Bus, TfGM.

1. That the financial implications of the proposed changes to the bus network be noted.