Decision details

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor Transportation, Lancashire County Council, presented a report (circulated) that gave an update on the Transport for the North agenda and the Lancashire Strategic Prospectus.

It was reported that since the last Transport for Lancashire committee on 5^th June 2015, the Transport for the North agenda has developed significantly.  In the Summer Budget 2015 presented to the House of Commons by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on 8^th July, the Government announced its intention to establish Transport for the North (TfN) as a statutory body with statutory duties to set out its transport policies and investment priorities in a long term transport strategy for the North, underpinned by £30m of additional funding over three years to support TfN's running costs and enable TfN to take forward its work programme.

An update on the interim Northern Transport Strategy, published on 20^th March 2015, will be available by Budget 2016. 

A key issue to date with Transport for the North has been its focus on the North's five city regions (Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle and Sheffield) and Hull and connectivity between them, set within the context of the Northern Powerhouse. 

The TfN Partnership Board has agreed to extend its membership to include representatives from northern sub-regional partnerships not currently represented.  County Councillor Jennifer Mein, Leader of Lancashire County Council and the Chair of Transport for Lancashire, has been nominated to represent Lancashire and Cumbria on the TfN Partnership Board, alongside George Beveridge, Chair of the Cumbria Local Enterprise Partnership.

The Lancashire Strategic Transport Prospectus has also now been further revised.  It was reported that the current version, presented at Appendix 'A' for information, will ensure that Lancashire is better placed to influence the ongoing development of the Northern Transport Strategy.  Transport for the North and the ongoing development of the Northern Transport Strategy will continue to be a major focus and driver in the development of the Northern Powerhouse.  The Lancashire Strategic Transport Prospectus will therefore need to remain flexible and will continue to evolve to ensure the closest possible alignment and integration with the strategic Northern Powerhouse agenda with regular updates provided to the Transport for Lancashire Committee as required.

Resolved:  The Committee noted the contents of the report and endorsed the updated Lancashire Strategic Transport Prospectus attached at Appendix 'A' to the report for approval by the LEP Board on 6^th October 2015.