Agenda and decisions

1.    That apologies be noted and received from Bob Morris, TfGM and Chris Jackson, Northern.

2.    That it be noted that Councillor Peter Robinson (Tameside) was unable to join the meeting due to technical difficulties.

There were no Chair’s announcements or items of urgent business.

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 at the start of the meeting.

That there were no declarations of interest.

To consider the approval of the minutes of the meeting held on 18 September 2020

That the minutes of the meeting held 18 September 2020 be approved.

Report of Caroline Whittam, Head of Rail Franchising, TfGM

1.          That the report be noted.

2.          That as a result of the imminent roll out of the Covid-19 vaccine, contingency planning, taking into account government advice, be undertaken in advance of any planned reliable service uplift and detailed in future reports to the Committee.

3.          That emphasis on safe contingency planning and any planned service uplifts be reassuringly communicated to the public to encourage confidence in the use of public transport.

4.          That an updated presentation on forthcoming timetable changes (non-GM services removed) be shared with the Committee.

5.          That the business case for the restoration of Sunday service from Moses Gate, Farnworth and Kearsley be reviewed and considered in future timetable changes.

Report of Daniel Vaughan, Head of Metrolink, TfGM

1.      That the report be noted.

2.      That it be noted that services over Christmas had been finalised but remain under review as the country emerges from lockdown.

3.      That it be noted that significant maintenance and renewal works are planned for 2021 as per the annual programme and would be detailed for presentation to the Committee once the full scope and customer impact is known.

4.      That further detail on the decision-making process regarding the continued suspension of wi-fi access on Metrolink be provided to Councillor Howard Sykes (Oldham).

5.      That a report on the rationale on the suspension of provision of wi-fi access on Metrolink be presented at the next meeting of the Committee.

6.      That further detail regarding the number of enforcement actions taken for non-compliance of face coverings on the Metrolink be obtained from the Travel Safe Partnership and provided to Councillor Richard Gold (Bury).

7.      That compliance of face covering data be provided by line and time in future reports to inform more targeted enforcement action and ultimately encourage public confidence to return to the network.

8.      That support and appreciation of the Committee for the recent Travel Safe Partnership enforcement programme be noted.

9.      That it be noted that safety measures to deter tram surfing, including proposals to introduce infra-red technology and a publicity campaign were being investigated.

10.  That the presentation provided by Guillaume Chanussot, Managing Director, KeolisAmey Metrolink be circulated to Members of the Committee.

11.  That work undertaken to ensure the safety of passengers and staff across Metrolink to further encourage patronage be acknowledged. 

12.  That frequency, demand and capacity planning to ensure social distancing can be adhered to on the tram network be further addressed during recovery, further supported by the deployment of twenty-seven new trams.

13.  That it be noted that safety of passengers was the priority and frequent speciality cleaning of trams takes place.

Report of Gwynne Williams, Deputy Monitoring Officer, GMCA.

1.      That the Work Programme be noted.

2.      That a report on the rationale on the suspension of provision of wi-fi access on Metrolink be added to the work programme and presented at the next meeting of the Committee in January 2021.

Friday 22 January 2021

Friday 19 March 2021