Agenda item

To consider a report of the Director of City Development on the Leeds City Region Transport Strategy Vision.

The Director of City Development submitted a report on the Leeds City Region Transport Strategy.

Appended to the report was a copy of a document entitled ‘Leeds City Region Partners – Leeds City Region Transport Strategy – Executive Summary’ for the information/comment of the meeting.

The following officers were in attendance and responded to Members’ queries and comments:-

Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation, City Development

Dave Gilson, Head of Transport Policy, City Development

In summary, specific reference was made to the following issues:-

• clarification as to whether other city regions were working on the same timescales in relation to producing a Transport Strategy Vision

(The Head of Transport Policy responded and informed the meeting that, as far as he was aware, Leeds City Council was currently a little ahead of everyone else in this matter)

• clarification of the governance arrangements for the transport strategy and when they would become operative

(The Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation responded and outlined the current position. He referred to the inquiry being undertaken by the Scrutiny Board (City and Regional Partnerships) on  the Transport Governance Arrangements. He suggested that his report

on transport governance issues considered by Scrutiny Board (City & Regional Partnerships) on 8th October be circulated to all Members of  this Board for information)

• clarification of the split of funding that Leeds City Region receives compared to the contribution it made to the Region as a whole in GVA terms

(The Head of Transport Policy responded that he did not have this information at the meeting, but would circulate details on returning to the office. The Head of Transport Policy subsequently advised all Members of the Board that Leeds City Region contributed around 60% of the total GVA for the Yorkshire and Humber Region, but was only currently receiving around 40% in transport funding. Also, the latest Treasury figures showed that total transport spend per head in Yorkshire and the Humber was just £239 compared to £826 in London (that was less than 30% of the expenditure in London).  Yorkshire and the Humber also fared less well than other regions (the North West received £309 and the West Midlands £269 per head respectively)

• clarification of the current status in relation to road pricing

(The Head of Transport Policy responded and confirmed that this was being considered as part of the ongoing Transport for Leeds Study. The DfT had indicated that they were still in a position to consider bids against the TIF fund, provided the bid included a charging proposal as part of any future strategy)

• clarification if walking/cycling would be better addressed within the Transport Strategy Vision

(The Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation responded and confirmed that walking/cycling would be encouraged at all times and that he was keen to develop proposals in these areas within the document, subject to funding requirements and delivering the strategic themes)

• clarification if there would be more Park and Ride schemes in areas where there was a fundamental need and were suitable

(The Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation and the Head of Transport Policy responded and confirmed that there would be more Park and Ride schemes developing, but no timescales could be given at this present time)

• clarification of the latest position in respect of the new East Leeds Link

(Junction 45)

(The Head of Transport Policy responded and outlined the current business case needs)

• clarification of whether the current recession has had an impact on road usage

(The Head of Transport Policy responded and confirmed that there had been around a 2% drop in peak flows since last year)

RESOLVED –

a)  That the content of the report and appendices be noted.

b)  The Board’s Principal Scrutiny Adviser be requested to e mail Board Members with a copy of the report entitled ‘Session 1 Inquiry on the Integrated Transport Strategies for Leeds and the Wider Region – Transport Governance Discussion and Options Paper’‘ previously considered at the Scrutiny Board (City and Regional Partnerships) meeting held on 8^th October 2009, together with a copy of the Board’s resolution for their information/retention

(Councillor T Grayshon left the meeting at 12.05pm during discussions of the above item)