Agenda item

This Council confirms its support for HS2 and welcomes the investment this will bring to Leeds, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East, and urges the Government to press ahead with the scheme, whilst keeping control of the costs and assessing the best possible route.

It was moved by Councillor A Carter, seconded by Councillor G Latty that this Council confirms its support for HS2 and welcomes the investment this will bring to Leeds, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East, and urges the Government to press ahead with the scheme, whilst keeping control of the costs and assessing the best possible route.”

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor J Bentley;

Insert at start of motion:

“This council recognises the importance of connectivity between cities to rebalancing the economy and welcomes the increased government investment in rail infrastructure in the region.”

Replace HS2 with “the principle of a new high speed rail line to Leeds”

Delete all after North East and insert:

“This Council calls on HS2 Ltd to confirm its commitment to a property bond for householders affected by the new line and for the Leader of Council to confirm his preference for a route following the existing M1/M621 corridor.”

The amended motion would read:

“This Council recognises the importance of connectivity between cities to rebalancing the economy and welcomes the increased government investment in rail infrastructure in the region.

“This Council confirms its support for the principle of a new high speed rail line to Leeds and welcomes the investment this will bring to Leeds, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East.

“This Council calls on HS2 Ltd to confirm its commitment to a property bond for householders affected by the new line and for the Leader of Council to confirm his preference for a route following the existing M1/M621 corridor.”

A second amendment was moved by Councillor R Lewis, seconded by Councillor Hardy;

This Council confirms its support for HS2 and welcomes the investment this will bring to Leeds, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East, and urges the Government to press ahead with the scheme, whilst keeping control of the costs,

Delete all that follows and replace with:

“assessing the best possible route, protecting existing communities threatened by the route and ensuring a fair and equitable compensation package is provided for Leeds residents.

Council further recognises that major future investment is equally required to increase the capacity of local rail services that are unacceptably and increasingly overcrowded at peak times.

Council notes that the example of East Coast, together with the success of Network Rail, demonstrates the powerful case for returning the rail network to public ownership.”

The amendment in the name of Councillor Golton was declared lost.

The second amendment in the name of Councillor R Lewis was carried, and upon being put as the substantive motion, it was

RESOLVED -   That this Council confirms its support for HS2 and welcomes the investment this will bring to Leeds, Yorkshire, the Humber and the North East, and urges the Government to press ahead with the scheme, whilst keeping control of the costs,

Assessing the best possible route, protecting existing communities threatened by the route and ensuring a fair and equitable compensation package is provided for Leeds residents.

Council further recognises that major future investment is equally required to increase the capacity of local rail services that are unacceptably and increasingly overcrowded at peak times.

Council notes that the example of East Coast, together with the success of Network Rail, demonstrates the powerful case for returning the rail network to public ownership.