Agenda and minutes

Also In Attendance

County Councillor Michael Green, Lancashire County Council

Richard Kenny, Interim Director of Economic Development and Planning

Joanne Ainsworth, Finance Manager, LEP, Lancashire County Council

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor - Transportation, Lancashire County Council

David Gordon, Project Officer - Strategic Development, LCDL, Lancashire County Council

Jeremy Walker, Transport Policy Manager, Blackpool Council

Phillip Wilson, Project Manager, City Deal Delivery Team, Lancashire County Council

Cath Rawcliffe, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council

County Councillor Geoff Driver CBE welcomed all to the meeting.

It was noted that apologies had been received from Khalid Saifullah (Director), Richard Perry (Department for Transport), Mike Cliffe (Blackburn with Darwen Council), Mike Sinnott (Highways England) and Heather Pritchard (Network Rail).

Graham Cowley declared an interest in item 5 as the Chair of the Growth Deal Management Board.

The Committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 16 January 2019 be confirmed and signed by the Chair

That the Minutes of the last meeting held on the 16 January 2019 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

Dave Colbert, the county council's Specialist Advisor, Transportation, presented an update on items 6 and 7 of the Minutes in respect of the Local Transport Plan and the Major Roads Network.

The Committee was informed that a further report on the draft joint local transport plan for Lancashire would be presented to the next meeting of the Committee on 29 October 2019 and that an update on the Major Roads Network would also be the subject of a future report to the Committee

Resolved: That the update be noted.

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor Transportation at Lancashire County Council, accompanied by Neil Stockley from the consultants Atkins, presented a report on the independent assurance of the Full Business Case for the Preston Western Distributor funding application.

The scheme comprised of a new 4.3km dual carriageway road connecting a new Junction 2 on the M55 near Bartle with the A583 Preston to Blackpool road at Lea.  The scheme supports delivery of the North West Preston Strategic Housing Location, which is expected to accommodate over 5,000 new homes, will improve travel between the Strategic Road Network and the Enterprise Zone at Warton, and facilitate provision of a new 'parkway' station at Cottam on the recently electrified Preston to Blackpool North line.

It was reported that the scheme is predicted to deliver high value for money with an adjusted benefit to cost ratio of 2.6.  A further £54.7m of benefits is expected to accrue from dependent development and it is estimated that the scheme would generate a GVA benefit of £108m as a result of new job creation.

Having undertaken independent assurance of the Strategic Outline Business Case on behalf of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership, Atkins advised that they were satisfied thatthe project has been developed to the expected standard in most areas and recommended that funding approval be granted subject to final approval from the Secretary of State

It was noted that a further condition relating to the need to provide a finalised Monitoring and Evaluation Plan had now been discharged to Atkins' satisfaction

Resolved: That the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership be recommended to grant the scheme a maximum £58m Growth Deal funding, subject to final approval from the Secretary of State.

David Gordon, Project Officer, Strategic Development, LCDL, at Lancashire County Council, accompanied by Graeme Collinge from the consultants Genecon, presented an update on the Preston Rail Station HS2 Hub – Assessment of Wider Economic Benefits study.

The Committee was informed that the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership had commissioned the consultants, Genecon, to produce a report to analyse and identify the potential economic benefits that might arise from the transformation of Preston Station in order that it is 'HS2 ready' by 2026.

It was noted that as well as helping inform rail investment decision making nationally and locally, the Wider Economic Benefits study would provide an evidence base to help development of the Lancashire Local Industrial Strategy, a Greater Lancashire Plan and the next Lancashire Transport Plan.  

The report identified a number of key issues that would need to be addressed in order for Preston Station to become ‘HS2 ready' by 2026. These included access issues around station's entrances and exits, the station's main concourse, platform access, retail space and facilities and HS2 train/platform compatibility. The report also identified a number of other challenges in relation to Preston city centre that would need to be addressed, including peak hour congestion and the disjointed layout between public transport nodes.

The study concluded that an HS2 Hub would represent a once in a generation opportunity to deliver a major catalyst for change in the city's economic performance. It would have the potential to generate up to 7,140 net additional Full Time Equivalent jobs by 2050 within Lancashire linked to growth at the HS2 Hub and in and around 33 other stations locally, generating £10.3bn in additional GVA and wider business efficiencies (£5.5bn at present values). This could include major new commercial development and housing at sites in close proximity to the HS2 Hub and within Preston city centre. 

The committee welcomed the report and agreed that it was important for all three authorities to work together in a timely manner, to plan for the introduction of HS2.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The next meeting of the Transport for Lancashire Committee will be held on Tuesday 29 October 2019 at 2.30pm in Committee Room B – The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 29 October 2019 at 2pm in Cabinet Room 'B' - The Diamond Jubilee Room, County Hall, Preston.

It was reported that it was proposed to move into Part II to consider an item of urgent business relating to an update on the M55 to Heyhouses Link Road.

The Committee is asked to consider whether, under Section 100A(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, it considers that the public should be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following items of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: - That the press and members of the public be excluded from the meeting during consideration of the following item of business on the grounds that there would be a likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 3 of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information.

(Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972. It was considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interests in disclosing the information)

Graham Cowley, LEP Director, presented an oral update on the M55 to Heyhouses (St Annes) Link Road.

Resolved:- That the oral update be noted.