Decision details

Leeds City Council supports the strategic intent of TRU. Approval to make representation to the Network Rail Transport Works Act Order (TWAO) for the Leeds to Micklefield section of the Trans Pennine Route Upgrade was sought from Executive Board in June 2023. This report approved the use of the delegation scheme to allow the Director of City Development to respond to the TWAO.

Since then, the TWAO was published on 17th July 2023 by Network Rail, to which the Council submitted a holding objection to the Secretary of State for Transport on the 18th August 2023.

Executive Board are to note the response provided to the Secretary of State for Transport on 18th August 2023 and recommend to Full Council to approve the submission of the formal objection to specific elements of Network Rail's TWAO.

The Director of City Development submitted a report providing an overview of the development of the Transpennine Route Upgrade (TRU) and which set out the Council’s response to the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) submitted by Network Rail for the TRU east of Leeds. The report referenced the ‘holding objection’ that had been submitted to the Secretary of State in response to the draft TWAO and noted that whilst the Council recognised and supported in principle the benefits of TRU, it detailed the reasons for the submission of the ‘holding objection’. Further to this, the report also made a recommendation to Full Council to approve the submission of a formal objection to specific elements of the TWAO for the Leeds to Micklefield part of the TRU.

RESOLVED –

(a)  That the Council’s overall strategic support for the outcomes proposed from the Transpennine Route Upgrade, be noted;

(b)  That the contents of the submitted report, be noted; and that the ‘holding objection’ submitted by the Council to the Secretary of State in response to Network Rail's application for a Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) also be noted, together with the justifications for this;

(c)  That Full Council be recommended to approve the submission of the formal objection to specific elements of Network Rail's Transport and Works Act Order (TWAO) for the Leeds to Micklefield part of the Transpennine Route Upgrade, pursuant to s239 of the Local Government Act 1972;

(d)  That Full Council be recommended to delegate the necessary authority to the Director of City Development, to enable the Director to continue negotiations with relevant stakeholders in order to seek to agree the withdrawal of the objection should sufficient agreement on the issues raised be reached, in consultation with the Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure;

(e)  That approval be given for the resolutions above to be exempted from Call In pursuant to paragraph 5.1.3, Part 4 of the Council’s Constitution on grounds of urgency, as set out within paragraphs 35 - 38 of the submitted report.

(The Council’s Executive and Decision Making Procedure Rules state that a decision may be declared as being exempt from the Call In process by the decision taker if it is considered that the matter is urgent and any delay would seriously prejudice the Council’s, or the public’s interests. In line with this, the resolutions contained within this minute were exempted from the Call In process, as per resolution (e) above, and for the reasons as set out within sections 35 - 38 of the submitted report)

Briefings for the Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure and Ward Members where Wards are impacted by the proposals.

Briefings for the Executive Member for Sustainable Development and Infrastructure and Ward Members where Wards are impacted by the proposals.