Agenda item

This Council believes the people of Leeds and their elected representatives are best placed to develop and shape local public transport networks.

Council is concerned that current arrangements, where decisions are made either by remote government departments and agencies or private sector operators, have resulted in under investment, inadequate services and rising costs for passengers.

Council believes that a lack of local planning and integration has created a public transport system that fails to meet the needs of the people of Leeds.

Council would like to see a fully integrated local transport system, including modern integrated ‘Oyster style’ ticketing, locally planned networks and investment in order to create growth in passenger numbers and help build a stronger economy for Leeds residents. 

Council resolves to proceed with the development of London style franchising through bus Quality Contracts and to continue discussions with the Department of Transport to devolve management of the forthcoming TransPennine and Northern Rail franchises.  Council further resolves to seek continued devolution from Westminster and Whitehall of the powers and resources to Leeds City Region to enable the creation of a publicly run and accountable integrated transport network and welcomes initiatives such as the proposed Transport for the North.

It was moved by Councillor J Lewis, seconded by Councillor Harper that this Council believes the people of Leeds and their elected representatives are best placed to develop and shape local public transport networks.

Council is concerned that current arrangements, where decisions are made either by remote government departments and agencies or private sector operators, have resulted in under investment, inadequate services and rising costs for passengers.

Council believes that a lack of local planning and integration has created a public transport system that fails to meet the needs of the people of Leeds.

Council would like to see a fully integrated local transport system, including modern integrated ‘Oyster style’ ticketing, locally planned networks and investment in order to create growth in passenger numbers and help build a stronger economy for Leeds residents. 

Council resolves to proceed with the development of London style franchising through bus Quality Contracts and to continue discussions with the Department of Transport to devolve management of the forthcoming TransPennine and Northern Rail franchises.  Council further resolves to seek continued devolution from Westminster and Whitehall of the powers and resources to Leeds City Region to enable the creation of a publicly run and accountable integrated transport network and welcomes initiatives such as the proposed Transport for the North.

An amendment was moved by Councillor Golton, seconded by Councillor Campbell;

at the end of paragraph 3 delete “Leeds” and replace with “the Leeds City Region” 

Insert new fourth paragraph prior to existing para 4 as follows :-

“Council also notes the public opposition to the NGT routes and believes this is due to the restrictions placed on developing a suitable transit system for the City by central Government over the last twenty years, and the inability of the scheme to react to developments in technology and rider expectations.  Council therefore calls on the Executive Board and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to return to central government in the light of recent announcements and request that the funding promised for NGT is transferred to the West Yorkshire transport fund, for local decision making on the most appropriate means of proceeding with a relevant and acceptable scheme.”

in original paragraph 5 add after “resolves to” the word “urgently” in the first sentence; and delete the word “and” and replace with “, noting that NEXUS has agreed to proceed with the introduction of Quality Bus Contracts at a more rapid pace than West Yorkshire has proceeded at over recent years.  Council further resolves “

add at end of the paragraph

“Council particularly welcomes calls by the Deputy Prime Minister for funding to be included in next month’s Autumn Statement for transport improvements in West Yorkshire at the Northern Futures Conference on the 6th November, and resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to include devolved funding in his proposals.”

Motion will then read;

This Council believes the people of Leeds and their elected representatives are best placed to develop and shape local public transport networks.

Council is concerned that current arrangements, where decisions are made either by remote government departments and agencies or private sector operators, have resulted in under investment, inadequate services and rising costs for passengers.

Council believes that a lack of local planning and integration has created a public transport system that fails to meet the needs of the people of the Leeds City Region.

Council also notes the public opposition to the NGT routes and believes this is due to the restrictions placed on developing a suitable transit system for the City by central Government over the last twenty years, and the inability of the scheme to react to developments in technology and rider expectations.  Council therefore calls on the Executive Board and the West Yorkshire Combined Authority to return to central government in the light of recent announcements and request that the funding promised for NGT is transferred to the West Yorkshire transport fund, for local decision making on the most appropriate means of proceeding with a relevant and acceptable scheme.

Council would like to see a fully integrated local transport system, including modern integrated ‘Oyster style’ ticketing, locally planned networks and investment in order to create growth in passenger numbers and help build a stronger economy for Leeds residents. 

Council resolves to urgently proceed with the development of London style franchising through bus Quality Contracts noting that NEXUS has agreed to proceed with the introduction of Quality Bus Contracts at a more rapid pace than West Yorkshire has proceeded at over recent years.  Council further resolves to continue discussions with the Department of Transport to devolve management of the forthcoming TransPennine and Northern Rail franchises.  Council further resolves to seek continued devolution from Westminster and Whitehall of the powers and resources to Leeds City Region to enable the creation of a publicly run and accountable integrated transport network and welcomes initiatives such as the proposed Transport for the North.

Council particularly welcomes calls by the Deputy Prime Minister for funding to be included in next month’s Autumn Statement for transport improvements in West Yorkshire at the Northern Futures Conference on the 6^th November, and resolves to write to the Chancellor of the Exchequer urging him to include devolved funding in his proposals.

The amendment in the name of Councillor Golton was declared lost and upon being put to the vote it was .

RESOLVED – That this Council believes the people of Leeds and their elected representatives are best placed to develop and shape local public transport networks.

Council is concerned that current arrangements, where decisions are made either by remote government departments and agencies or private sector operators, have resulted in under investment, inadequate services and rising costs for passengers.

Council believes that a lack of local planning and integration has created a public transport system that fails to meet the needs of the people of Leeds.

Council would like to see a fully integrated local transport system, including modern integrated ‘Oyster style’ ticketing, locally planned networks and investment in order to create growth in passenger numbers and help build a stronger economy for Leeds residents. 

Council resolves to proceed with the development of London style franchising through bus Quality Contracts and to continue discussions with the Department of Transport to devolve management of the forthcoming TransPennine and Northern Rail franchises.  Council further resolves to seek continued devolution from Westminster and Whitehall of the powers and resources to Leeds City Region to enable the creation of a publicly run and accountable integrated transport network and welcomes initiatives such as the proposed Transport for the North.

On the requisition of Councillor Campbell and Cleasby, the voting on the amendment was recorded as follows;

YES - 11

J Bentley, S Bentley , Campbell,  Cleasby, Chapman , Downes, Elliott, ,Golton, Lay ,Leadley and Varley,

NO - 56

Akhtar, Blake, Bruce, Charlwood, Coulson, Coupar, Cummins, Davey, Dawson, Dobson, Dowson, Dunn, Gabriel,  P Grahame, R Grahame, C Gruen, P Gruen, Groves, Hamilton, Hanley, Harington, Harland, Harper, A Hussain, G Hussain, G Hyde, Illingworth, Ingham, Jarosz, A Khan, J Lewis, R Lewis, Lowe, Lyons, Macniven, Maqsood, A McKenna, J McKenna, S McKenna, Mitchell, Morgan, Mulherin, Nagle, Ogilvie, Rafique, Renshaw, Ritchie, Selby, Smart, E Taylor, Towler, Truswell, Urry, Venner, Wakefield and Yeadon. 

ABSTAIN – 16

A Blackburn, D Blackburn, Buckley, J L Carter ,Castle, Cohen, Flynn, Harrand, Lamb, G Latty, P Latty, J Procter, Robinson, Wadsworth, Wilford and Wilkinson