Agenda item

This Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

 

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving and to encourage greater growth and productivity a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

In light of this announcement made during the election campaign, this Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans as to how a new mass transit scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme would deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds.

 

It was moved by Councillor Andrew Carter, seconded by Councillor Buckley that this Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

 

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving and to encourage greater growth and productivity a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

In light of this announcement made during the election campaign, this Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans as to how a new mass transit scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme would deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds

 

 

An amendment was moved by Councillor D Blackburn, seconded by Councillor Forsaith

 

In the second paragraph, delete all between “… get the city moving” and “a new approach…”

 

Insert the following new paragraph between paragraphs five and six:  (“…transport infrastructure plan” and “In the light of…”)

 

“Council further believes that, where appropriate in the initial stages, priority should be given to the use of redundant former rail infrastructure.”

 

The motion would then read:

 

This Council is concerned by recent and repeated examples of gridlock and heavy congestion in the City Centre, leading to significant disruption to commuters as they travel in and out of Leeds.

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

Council further believes that, where appropriate in the initial stages, priority should be given to the use of redundant former rail infrastructure.

 

In light of this announcement made during the election campaign, this Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans as to how a new mass transit scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme would deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds

 

A second amendment was moved by Councillor Bentley, seconded by Councillor Golton

 

 In the first paragraph delete all after “concerned” and replace with:

 

“about the traffic congestion throughout Leeds leading to significant health risks from the resultant pollution.”

 

In the second paragraph, after “productivity” insert:

 

“and to meet the challenges of climate change”

 

Insert a new sixth paragraph as follows:

 

“However, Council recognises that large infrastructure projects have very long lead times so in order to meet the imminent challenges of climate change Council commits to plan for the introduction of a range of other measures deliverable in the short term such as more Park and Ride sites and a possible Workplace Parking Levy in the city centre.”

 

Remove the final paragraph and replace with:

 

“Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans for long term and short term measures which can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include an analysis of the potential benefits such schemes could deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds.”

 

The amended White Paper will then read:

 

“This Council is concerned about the traffic congestion throughout Leeds leading to significant health risks from the resultant pollution.

 

Council notes the investment being made through Connecting Leeds, including the £173.5m granted by Government, but believes that to get the city moving and to encourage greater growth and productivity and to meet the challenges of climate change a new approach to public transport, not wholly reliant on the bus, is required.

 

This Council therefore welcomes the Government commitment to spend £4.2bn on public transport projects outside of London and notes that some of this funding is planned for the Leeds district.

 

Council believes this offers a new opportunity to deliver a mass transit scheme for the city which will deliver obvious economic benefits as well as significantly reducing the city’s carbon emissions in line with the declared Climate Emergency.

 

Council further believes that all areas of the city should be considered for mass transit infrastructure and is concerned that existing WYCA proposals seem to omit North Leeds, and the potential links to Harrogate, York and Wetherby, from any new transport infrastructure plans.

 

However, Council recognises that large infrastructure projects have very long lead times so in order to meet the imminent challenges of climate change Council commits to plan for the introduction of a range of other measures deliverable in the short term such as more Park and Ride sites and a possible Workplace Parking Levy in the city centre.

 

Council calls for a report to be brought to the March Executive Board meeting setting out detailed plans for long term and short term measures which can be delivered to all communities in the city and to include an analysis of the potential benefits such schemes could deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds.”

 

A third amendment in the name of Councillor Blake was moved, seconded by Councillor Mulherin

 

Delete all and replace with:

 

“This Council notes comments made by the Secretary of State for Transport on his recent visit to Leeds in relation to providing a Mass Transit System. 

 

Council notes the Secretary of State’s comments follow representations made to him by the Leader of Council following his appointment after the General Election and Council remains committed to working with the Government to deliver the transport system Leeds needs and deserves.

 

Council welcomes the ongoing work of West Yorkshire Combined Authority towards our Mass Transit ambition including considering the network and engaging with industry experts and key partners to understand the latest technologies available for a 21^st Century Mass Transit System.

 

Council supports the request from West Yorkshire Leaders to the Prime Minister for £20m of development funding for a Mass Transit System and calls on the Prime Minister to demonstrate his Government’s clear commitment to Mass Transit by using his March budget to provide funding and a timeframe to put in place the public transport system Leeds desperately needs to become a net zero carbon city by 2030.

 

Council calls for a report to Executive Board setting out detailed plans on how a new Mass Transit Scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city, and including an analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme will deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds, once the Government has provided the financial commitment and timeframe the city needs.”

 

 

The amendments in the name of Councillor D Blackburn and Councillor Bentley were declared lost, the amendment in the name of Councillor Blake was carried and upon being put to the vote it was

 

RESOLVED – That this Council notes comments made by the Secretary of State for Transport on his recent visit to Leeds in relation to providing a Mass Transit System. 

 

Council notes the Secretary of State’s comments follow representations made to him by the Leader of Council following his appointment after the General Election and Council remains committed to working with the Government to deliver the transport system Leeds needs and deserves.

 

Council welcomes the ongoing work of West Yorkshire Combined Authority towards our Mass Transit ambition including considering the network and engaging with industry experts and key partners to understand the latest technologies available for a 21^st Century Mass Transit System.

 

Council supports the request from West Yorkshire Leaders to the Prime Minister for £20m of development funding for a Mass Transit System and calls on the Prime Minister to demonstrate his Government’s clear commitment to Mass Transit by using his March budget to provide funding and a timeframe to put in place the public transport system Leeds desperately needs to become a net zero carbon city by 2030.

 

Council calls for a report to Executive Board setting out detailed plans on how a new Mass Transit Scheme can be delivered to all communities in the city, and including an analysis of the potential benefits such a scheme will deliver in terms of reducing the carbon footprint in Leeds, once the Government has provided the financial commitment and timeframe the city needs.”