CABINET
Meeting date:
From:
26 March 2015
Corporate Director – Resources
TRANSPORT FOR THE NORTH - COUNTY COUNCIL
ENGAGEMENT
1.0
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
1.1
Transport for the North (TfN) is a new body that brings together the
core city regions across the North of England to develop a coherent
strategic transport plan for the area, seeking to transform the North’s
economic infrastructure and help maximise the region’s growth
potential.
1.2
It is led by the city regions that made up One North: Greater
Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Sheffield and Newcastle, together with
Hull and the Humber, working in collaboration with the Department for
Transport, Highways Agency, Network Rail, and HS2 Ltd. These
organisations form the TfN Partnership Board.
1.3
Cumbria County Council has been invited to join the TfN Regional
Reference Group which consists of those Local Authorities outside of
the Partnership Board.
The Regional Reference Group will be the
primary method for engaging with all transport authorities across the
North.
1.4
The Partnership Board are charged with developing an Interim Report
by March 2015 that will set out a robust case for investment in
transport infrastructure as well as an agreed appraisal framework for
agreeing a prioritised list of projects.
1.5
The Interim Report is also expected to set out proposals around the
concept of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’ that will outline the way in which
the North can collaborate around Connectivity, Science & Research,
Culture and City Governance. It is important that Cumbria has a role in
shaping these discussions to ensure that the benefits that the county
can bring to both the regional and national economy are fully realised.
2.0
STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS
2.1
Transport infrastructure plays a critical role in Cumbria, connecting
people and places as well as promoting economic growth. It is
essential that connectivity both within Cumbria as well as outside the
county is improved in order to drive forward the aims and objectives in
the Council’s Economic Ambition Plan as well as the Local Enterprise
Partnership’s Strategic Economic Plan.
2.2
A well-connected local transport network contributes towards a
number of Council Plan priorities, including;

To enable communities to live safely and shape services locally

To promote health and wellbeing, and tackle poverty

To protect and enhance Cumbria’s world class environment

To provide safe and well maintained roads and an effective
transport network

To promote sustainable economic growth, and create jobs
3.0
RECOMMENDATION
3.1
That Cabinet nominate the Cabinet Member Highways and
Transportation to sit on the Transport for the North Regional Reference
Group.
ADVICE OF CORPORATE DIRECTOR – RESOURCES
4.0
BACKGROUND
4.1
In July 2014 the Chairman of HS2 Ltd Sir David Higgins, published his ‘HS2
Plus’ report. In it, he argued that poor connectivity both to and within the
North, acts as a considerable barrier to economic growth. He highlighted
that lower per capita infrastructure investment in the region compared to
London and the South East prevented the North, and in particular it’s Core
Cities, from realising their economic potential.
4.2
In response, the Core Cities of Manchester, Liverpool, Leeds, Newcastle
and Sheffield published the ‘One North’ document which outlined their
intentions to work together to develop a coherent regional transport plan.
This document outlines an intention to better realise the economic potential
of the northern cities through increased connectivity into and within the
region.
4.3
In November 2014, Sir David released a final report ‘Rebalancing Britain;
From HS2 Towards a National Transport Strategy’ with recommendations
that included building on the ‘One North’ document through aligning the
Local Authorities from the five key cities together under a single body –
Transport for the North.
4.4
On 12th January 2015, the Transport for the North Partnership Board met for
the first time with its membership including;









Greater Manchester
Liverpool City Region
Sheffield City Region
Leeds City Region
Hull and Humber
Department for Transport
HS2 Ltd
Network Rail
Highways Agency
4.5
The Partnership Board is tasked with producing an Interim Report by March
2015 that will set out the case for transport investment to support economic
growth in the North, underpinned by robust economic analysis. The report is
expected by 18th March. This report will inform the development of the
2019/20 Road Investment Strategy as well as containing broad options for a
proposed HS3. The report will outline a shared appraisal framework and
approach for agreeing a comprehensive transport plan based on potential
economic impact.
4.6
In addition to the Partnership Board, a Transport for the North Regional
Reference Group has also been established.
This group includes
representatives from the Board as well as leaders from the remaining
transport authorities in the north. The suggestion is that membership of the
group is at Council Leader level and the Council has been invited to sit on
this group accordingly. Membership will be reviewed on an annual basis
and there is an expectation that Regional Reference Groups will be
established at varying levels including strategic, operational and technical.
The interim Terms of Reference for the Partnership Board is attached as
Appendix 1.
4.7
Whilst the current proposals are focussed on improving connectivity into and
between the primary northern cities, representatives from other Local
Authorities have been keen to stress the need for Transport for the North to
serve the whole of the region and have highlighted the dependence of rural
economies on highways. The current position is that locally-specific issues
should continue to be addressed through the Local Transport Plan process,
whilst Transport for the North should focus on regionally relevant schemes.
4.8
Procedures to formally establish Transport for the North and its working
arrangements will continue during the preparation of the March 2015 Interim
Report. A dedicated Governance and Devolution workstream group is
charged with completing this. At this time, there is little information on how
this is progressing, and details regarding the governance arrangements
have yet to emerge. Terms of reference and clear governance arrangements
are likely to emerge in the Autumn. The IPPR report published on 5th March
2015 (entitled Transport for the North – a blueprint for devolving and
integrating transport powers in England) offers some further insight into
potential governance arrangements and timescales for the development of
Transport for the North as a constituted body.
4.9
It is also not yet clear what the Interim Report will request in terms of funding
and powers. It is conceivable that in line with the devolved powers being
sought through the Rail North Proposal as well as those that the Greater
Manchester Combined Authority will receive, the Transport for the North
Partnership Board will request a much greater say the way in which major
transport scheme funding is prioritised and allocated in the area. The recent
IPPR report refers to devolved budgets and powers.
4.10
It is proposed that the Transport for the North proposals are aligned with and
complement the Rail North developments that are currently further
advanced. Cabinet agreed at its meeting in February to become a member
of Rail North Ltd and the Association of Rail North Partner Authorities.
4.11
Transport for the North, through the production of the Interim Report has
also been tasked with considering the creation of a ‘Northern Powerhouse’.
This concept was first introduced by the Chancellor George Osborne in July
2014. The Chancellor’s original speech highlighted the need for the North to
collaborate and raise its offer around four primary areas; Connectivity,
Science and Research, Culture and City Government. The Chancellor
pointed out that through improving connectivity between the Core Cities, a
single viable jobs market could be created, significantly increasing the pool
of skilled labour and consequently productivity.
4.12
Given the breadth and potential strategic importance of the Northern
Powerhouse concept, it will be important that the views and aspirations of
Cumbria are fully integrated into discussions. It will be important that the
County is able to ensure that any proposals generated through Transport for
the North and a Northern Powerhouse do not divert investment aimed at
enhancing and protecting these assets to other parts of the region.
4.13
It is also important that the need to improve connectivity both within and to
those areas more remote from the City Regions, such as Cumbria, is
promoted in order to ensure that they are able to maximise their contribution
to both regional and national economic growth. Through early engagement
in the Transport for the North Regional Reference Group, there is an
opportunity for the County Council to have a role in shaping the discussions
around the Northern Powerhouse.
5.0
OPTIONS
5.1
Cabinet could chose to agree to be a member of the Regional Reference
Group which would allow the Council to articulate its views on the emerging
Transport for the North proposals and ensure that we are fully engaged in
shaping the development of the Northern Powerhouse going forward.
5.2
Cabinet could elect not to engage in the Transport for the North Regional
Reference Group at this stage and await further clarity on the proposed
governance arrangements, its role and purpose, and the implications for
Cumbria.
6.0
RESOURCE AND VALUE FOR MONEY IMPLICATIONS
6.1
This paper recommends that the Council nominate the Cabinet Member
Highways and Transportation to sit on the Transport for the North Regional
Reference Group. By being a member, the County Council would be able to
have a role in the shaping of infrastructure investment in the North.
6.2
The financial implications of membership of the group, at this point, are
unclear, as its governance arrangements, etc are still to be agreed. The
travelling expenses of the Cabinet member attending any meeting in relation
to the Group would be met through the members allowances budget
7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
7.1
The decision to nominate a member to this group is a Cabinet decision.
8.0
CONCLUSION
8.1
Transport for the North provides an opportunity for all Local Authorities in
the north to come together to set out the infrastructure investments that are
required to enable greater connectivity between the Cities to promote
economic growth.
8.2
Although the proposals currently focus on developments around Core Cities,
there is a need to ensure that Cumbria is both in a position to benefit where
possible from investment elsewhere and safeguard much needed funding to
improve the county’s own strategic infrastructure.
8.3
The arrangements with regard to Transport for the North are emerging and
there is an opportunity for the County Council to engage in the Regional
Reference Group as the arrangements develop.
Dominic Donnini
Corporate Director - Resources
15/03/15
APPENDICES
Appendix 1 - Transport for the North Partnership Board Interim Terms of
Reference
Electoral Division(s):
All of Cumbria
* Please remove whichever option is not applicable
Executive Decision
Key Decision
Yes*
No*
If a Key Decision, is the proposal published in the current Forward Plan?
Is the decision exempt from call-in on grounds of urgency?
N/A*
No*
If exempt from call-in, has the agreement of the Chair of the relevant
Overview and Scrutiny Committee been sought or obtained?
Has this matter been considered by Overview and Scrutiny?
If so, give details below.
N/A*
No*
Has an environmental or sustainability impact assessment been
undertaken?
N/A*
Has an equality impact assessment been undertaken?
N/A*
N.B.
If an executive decision is made, then a decision cannot be implemented until the
expiry of the eighth working day after the date of the meeting – unless the decision is
urgent and exempt from call-in and the Corporate Director has obtained the
necessary approvals.
PREVIOUS RELEVANT COUNCIL OR EXECUTIVE DECISIONS
[including Local Committees]
No previous decisions
CONSIDERATION BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY
Not considered by Overview and Scrutiny.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
One North – A Proposition for and Interconnected North (July 2014)
Hs2 Plus – Sir David Higgins (July 2014)
RESPONSIBLE CABINET MEMBER
Cllr Keith Little - Cabinet Member Highways and Transportation
REPORT AUTHOR
Contact: Corinne Watson, 07970729968, [email protected]