Agenda and minutes

Observers:

Richard Ellis Hobbs – Network Rail

Richard Perry, Department for Transport

Also In Attendance

Mike Cliffe, Strategic Transport Manager, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Jeremy Walker, Transport Policy Manager, Blackpool Council

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor - Transportation, Lancashire County Council

Cath Rawcliffe, Democratic Services, Lancashire County Council

County Councillor Keith Iddon welcomed all to the meeting. It was noted that County Councillor Geoff Driver CBE had submitted apologies with County Councillor Iddon nominated as his representative as Chair of the Committee.

Apologies were also noted from County Councillor Michael Green, Graham Cowley, Bruce Parker and Martin Kelly.

Khalid Saifullah was also welcomed to the Committee. This was Khalid's first meeting as the LEP Deputy Chair's Nominee.

Councillor Phil Riley declared an interest in Item 5 as a Member of Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.

The Committee are asked to agree that the Minutes of the last meeting held on 28 March 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

That the Minutes of the last meeting held on the 28 March 2018 be confirmed and signed by the Chair.

None. 

Dave Colbert, Specialist Advisor - Transportation, Lancashire County Council, accompanied by James Steer from the consultants Jacobs, presented a report on the independent assurance of the Strategic Outline Business Case for the Furthergate Link Road scheme funding application.

The scheme comprised a new link road and associated junction improvements in the A678 corridor linking Blackburn town centre with the M65 Junction 6 at Whitebirk.  

It was reported that the existing highway network in this corridor operates close to capacity, with high volumes of traffic resulting in congestion and unreliable journey times as well as creating environmental issues for local residents. It was noted that in addition to addressing these problems, the scheme would unlock new areas of land for potential development.

The scheme is predicted to deliver very high value for money with a benefit to cost ratio of 9.97, and has the potential to generate a further £630,000 (2010 prices discounted) of wider economic benefits on average per annum over the 60-year appraisal period arising from the development of employment sites that the scheme would unlock.  

The total cost for the scheme is expected to be £3.96m (2018 Quarter 1 prices), funded through a maximum £3.44m contribution from the Local Growth Fund through the Lancashire Growth Deal and a £520,000 contribution from Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council.  It was reported orally that Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council's S151 officer had provided a letter confirming the council's commitment to provide the local contribution to fund the balance between the allocated Growth Deal Funding and the scheme cost.

Having undertaken independent assurance of the Strategic Outline Business Case on behalf of the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership (LEP), Jacobs advised that they were satisfied thatthe project had been developed to the expected standard and recommended that funding approval be granted  to enable construction to begin in June 2018.

Resolved: That the Lancashire Enterprise Partnership Board be recommended to grant the scheme a maximum of £3.44m Growth Deal funding at its next meeting on 26^th June 2018.

Dave Colbert presented a progress report on the 'Transforming Cities' Fund bid.

It was reported that £840m would be available on a competitive basis, to city regions outside London that could demonstrate the strongest case for investment. Submissions were required to provide evidence of high workday as opposed to residential populations, with bids focused on public transport, cycling and walking and smart technology solutions.

The Committee was informed that following an initial sift of bids, the Government would select up to ten city regions to co-develop plans into packages of schemes. It would then competitively assess each package and award funding to those that could demonstrate the greatest improvements to productivity and offer best value for money. 

The report included details of a proposed bid from Lancashire County Council focused on Preston city centre and the development of inclusive growth corridors linking key employment and housing growth opportunities.  It was proposed that these opportunities would extend beyond Preston into adjacent local transport authority areas, including Blackpool and Blackburn with Darwen, via public transport interventions that would benefit the Blackpool Airport and Samlesbury Enterprise Zones.

Following discussion, it was agreed that letters of support from Blackpool Council, Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council and Network Rail would be included within the submission. It was noted that the deadline for submitting completed application forms was Friday 8^th June 2018. 

Resolved: That the report be noted.

None.

The next meeting of the Transport for Lancashire Committee will be held on Tuesday 16 October 2018 at 2pm in Committee Room D at County Hall, Preston.

It was noted that the next meeting would be held on Tuesday 16 October 2018 at 2pm in Committee Room 'D', County Hall, Preston

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 the appropriate paragraph of Part I of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972 as indicated against the heading to the item.

Resolved: - That the press and public 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 the appropriate  paragraph of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act, 1972, indicated against the heading to the item. It was considered that in all the circumstances the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighed the public interest in disclosing the information

Verbal update and PowerPoint presentation.

(Not for Publication - Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A to the Local Government Act 1972. It is considered that in all the circumstances of the case the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.)

Exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act, 1972. The report contains information relating to the financial or business affairs of any particular person (including the authority holding that information). It is considered that in all circumstances of the case the public interest in maintain this exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

Dave Colbert presented an oral update on Transport for the North's Strategic Development Corridor Studies.

The Committee was reminded that Transport for the North's strategic connectivity priorities within the region included:

·  Connecting the energy coasts – Improving connectivity between the UK's important non-carbon energy, advanced manufacturing research assets and economic centres in Cumbria, Lancashire, North Yorkshire, the North East and the Tees Valley. 

·  Central Pennines area - Improving east-west connectivity to and through some the most important economic centres and assets in an area stretching from Blackpool to Scarborough.

·  North West to Sheffield city region – Strengthening rail links between the advanced manufacturing assets in Cumbria, Lancashire and Greater Manchester and the Sheffield City Region. 

The Committee was informed that Transport for the North had commissioned consultants to undertake studies of the connectivity requirements in each of these Strategic Development Corridors to inform development of the Strategic Transport Plan. Details of potential interventions were likely to be published in the autumn.

Resolved: That the report be noted.