Agenda item

To receive the report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and consider the report of the Director of City Development, presented to Executive Board on the 25 July 2018 which provide information regarding the implementation of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme, and how this supports priorities in the Leeds Inclusive Growth Strategy.

The report of the Head of Governance and Scrutiny Support and the Head of Transportation provided the Board with an update on the progress and implementation of the Leeds Public Transport Investment Programme (LPTIP).

A copy of the progress report submitted to Executive Board in July 2018 was appended to the Agenda.

The following were in attendance for this item:

-  Gary Bartlett, Chief Officer, Highways and Transportation

-  Andrew Hall, Head of Transportation

-  Nigel Foster, Chair of the Leeds Transport Expert Advisory Panel

The following key issues were highlighted:

·  There was a connection with the Inclusive Growth Strategy particular with regards to connection people to employment and training.

·  Partnership working – input from the Transport Expert Advisory Panel (TEAP) and the cross party working group.

·  Consultation and engagement that had already taken place.

·  Work with West Yorkshire Combine Authority and bus operators.

·  Role of the Transport Expert Advisory Panel

o  To help secure funding and to deliver the programme within the challenging timescales.

·  Links to other issues such as Air Quality and the Inclusive Growth Strategy.

·  Future public transport provision.

In response to comments and questions from Members, the following was discussed:

·  Consultation – there was concern that this was done electronically and wasn’t available to all.  It was reported that there had been leaflets and fliers distributed and there had been drop in events.  Members of the public were also able to submit written responses.  It had been aimed to make the consultation as inclusive as possible.

·  A consultation report, which is being put together by Consultants will be shared with the Scrutiny Board once produced.

·  The need for joined up working with colleagues in Planning and Highways.

·  Representation on the Transport Expert Advisory Panel (TEAP) - it was suggested that there be more local business representation and union representation.  It was reported that the composition of the Panel was to be reviewed and there was a willingness to take advice from the Council and Scrutiny. 

·  Constraints that affected road improvements – these included physical barriers such as trees and walls as well as difficulty and high cost of re-routing underground utilities.

·  Co-ordination of schemes which impacted on highways and transport including HS2 and the city heating scheme.

·  Railway station provision – this was under the remit of the West Yorkshire Combined Authority and there were currently requests for over thirty new stations across West Yorkshire.  Members were informed of the difficulties for creating new stations including pressures on the rail network and potential changes to road networks.

·  Improving planning for transport to reduce inequalities in communities and to enable employment places can be reached – there were challenges to be addressed such as public transport accessibility for those who work unsocial hours.

·  Reference was made to consultation that had been held at Community Committee meetings.  It was planned to do further consultation at this local level to try and get a deeper knowledge of local transport requirements.

·  Difficulties to achieve objectives due to lack of control over bus services and bus operators.  The Board would receive an update in relation to the Inquiry into Bus Service Provision later in the year.

·  Creation of local hubs for bus interchanges.

·  The HS2 scheme would increase capacity for long distance journeys and may also release more local capacity on the rail network.

·  Work with bus operators and the need for more and improved services.

·  The TEAP was working with North Yorkshire to look at improving rail services on the Harrogate lane which may ease pressure on the road network.

·  Development of ticketing systems to provide a more integrated approach for using different transport systems.

RESOLVED –

(1)  That the information contained within the report and presented at the meeting be noted.

(2)  That the Consultant report relating to the 1A and 1B phase be shared with the Scrutiny Board once completed.