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Local Transport Board Meeting Note

10.30-12.30 Friday 23

February 2018

Cranworth Room, County Hall, Martineau Lane, Norwich, NR1 2DH.

Board Attendance:

David Cumming

Norfolk County Council

Cllr Martin Wilby

Norfolk County Council

Tracy Jessop

Norfolk County Council

Tom Stead

Network Rail

Paul Horne

Suffolk County Council

Graeme Mateer

Suffolk County Council

Cllr Jane Storey

Suffolk County Council

Paul Davey

Felixstowe Port

Simon Amor

Highways England

Phil Langley

Norwich Airport

Ali Clabburn

Liftshare

Nova Fairbank

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

Jonathan Denby

Greater Anglia

Richard Perkins

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Steve Wickers

First Bus

Ollie Starbuck

East Midlands Trains

Amin Ahmadnia

DfT

Jonathan Rudd

New Anglia LEP

Doug Field (Chairperson)

New Anglia LEP

Ellen Goodwin

New Anglia LEP

Hannah Grimes

Norfolk County Council

Apologies:

Chris Starkie

New Anglia LEP

Chris Soule

Country Land Owners and Business

Associations

Jamie Burles

Greater Anglia

John Dugmore

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Larry Heyman

GT Railway

Nick Burfield

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Richard Pace

Norwich Airport

Sarah Turner

East Midlands Trains

Sue Roper

Suffolk County Council

Emily Manser

New Anglia LEP

Richard Taylor

Network Rail

1. Welcome and introductions

Apologies listed above.

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2. Minutes and matters arising Tuesday 28

November

The Board minutes from Tuesday 28

November were agreed. The LEP

informed the Board that there is a skills sector plan workshop on ports and

logistics next Wednesday (28

February).

3. Updates

Chambers of Commerce

Nova Fairbank explained that Norfolk Chamber, Norfolk County Council and

Archant are working together to campaign for the dualling of the A47. The

Chamber is also showing its support for the Norwich Western Link and is

holding an event in Great Yarmouth covering congestion and the road

network.

Richard Perkins informed the Board that the Suffolk Chamber are still pushing

the A14 no more delays campaign and are providing comments and support

for including the A140 in the Strategic Road Network (the trunk road network).

Highways England

Covered later.

DfT

Covered later.

Norwich Airport

Phil Langley introduced himself to the Board and explained he was attending

on behalf of Richard Pace.

Stansted Airport

No update.

Network Rail

Tom Stead updated the Board, he explained that Haughley Junction had

some funding up to Grip 3 (a stage in the assessment of rail projects that

looks at option selection). Network Rail are planning for East West Rail and

are looking at growth and demand using Local Plan data. Network Rail are

also looking at the Great Eastern Main Line and identifying a priority list of

what should be done and when.

Greater Anglia

Jonathan Denby updated the Board. The new trains are still on programme,

with the first body shells built, they should be in service from May 2019.

Looking at potentially moving the proposed Brantham depot due to some

issues at the current location. Continuing work on progressing improvements

on the existing fleet. Adding capacity and improving service with 24-hour

operation including unstaffed stations which should lead to higher customer

satisfaction. The Integrated Transport Strategy and Sub-National Transport

Body should consider Trowse Bridge and Haughley Junction for the next

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spending period 2019-2024.

East Midlands

Ollie Starbuck explained that the franchise runs to August 2019 there is an

invitation to tender in April 2018. There are still discussions around the future

of the Norwich to Liverpool line which the franchise feels should be

maintained. The franchise are overhauling the fleet on the Norwich route.

David Cumming asked if the LTB should write a letter to the Rail Minister to

support Trowse and Haughley to help ascertain funding and introduce other

priorities.

ACTION: Ellen Goodwin to write letter to the Rail Minister from the Local

Transport Board.

East West Rail

No update.

Great Yarmouth Port

No update.

Port of Felixstowe

Paul Davey explained that the Port is still expanding with the capability to

handle the biggest ships. Increasing remote cranes. Looking to increase the

volume of traffic by rail but the current capacity on the network is getting tight.

Engaged in lots of discussions with Government about Brexit and how to keep

the borders working.

First buses

Steve Wickers stated that First are investing in replacing all ticket machines to

provide more advanced ticketing which should be complete by June. First are

also looking to replace all of the fleet across Norfolk and Suffolk. First have an

air quality commitment and are working with partners to retro fit 15 Norfolk

and 20 Suffolk buses. Ten of the current vehicles are the latest euro

standards.

Ipswich buses

No update.

Liftshare

Ali Clabburn informed the Board that Liftshare have just hit half a billion miles

saved since its launch with a billion miles expected in 2020. There has been a

surge in corporate schemes. Working to promote Norwich as an air quality

demonstration city. Liftshare are trying to reduce the age restriction to 16

which is challenging but the idea is to get college students sharing. Demand

for transport is changing, London mapper are using eight seater taxis which

are very successful.

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Sustrans

No update.

LEP Board

Doug Field updated the Board. There was a LEP Board meeting on

Wednesday 21

February covering Brexit, workforce, skills, regulation, focus

on delivery, value infrastructure and a delivery board for regional economic

strategy.

4. Integrated Transport Strategy

Ellen Goodwin updated the Board on progress with the Integrated Transport

Strategy which is nearing completion. Ellen asked for the Board’s views on

the latest version which is shorter, similar to the Economic Strategy and is

focused on delivery.

Nova Fairbank said there needed to be more about Great Yarmouth Port.

Jonathan Denby stated that the ITS was valuable when you influence people

as the rail infrastructure funding is controlled by DfT.

Richard Perkins explained that the Suffolk Chamber had fed back to Ellen.

Ellen Goodwin stated she had received comments from Sustrans around

active travel and that the ITS is planned to go to the 23

May LEP Board.

Ali Clabburn stated that the ITS should not just be about infrastructure but

also sustainable measures and quick wins.

5. Strategic Road Network

Simon Amor introduced himself and explained that he worked for Highways

England and covered the east, which covers anything north of the M25 and

east of Milton Keynes. It is anticipated that a decision on the Roads

Investment Strategy 2, the improvements programme from 2020 to 2025, will

be in 2019. Simon Amor presented to the Board about the Strategic Road

Network.

ACTION: HG to circulate the presentation.

Cllr Storey asked Simon if the A14 was going to be a smart motorway as the

lorry parks along the A14 really need to be focused on for providing facilities

for moving the freight.

Simon Amor explained that DfT are having a national look at lorry parks.

Ali Clabburn asked if Simon was happy with the quality of the A11 as it is the

remit of Highways England to manage the road. Ali also asked if HE are

looking at behavioural changes and how to improve the use of the current

roads to identify how to make them work better and integrate with other

modes.

Simon Amor explained that the current challenges are around capacity, as

dedicated bus lanes reduce capacity on the Strategic Road Network.

Nova Fairbank pointed out that there is an issue around the condition of the

A11 around Snetterton and Wymondham.

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Simon Amor stated that the road could cost around £50m to improve the

surface.

Cllr Wilby stated that the A47 Alliance want all of the A47 dualled from the

east coast to the midlands.

Richard Perkins stated there were different views around the inclusion of the

A140 between Norwich and Ipswich in the Strategic Road Network.

ACTION: EG to arrange meeting between LEP, NCC, SCC and Suffolk

Chamber to discuss the A140.

6. Major Road Network

Amin Ahmadnia introduced himself and informed the Board that he had

replaced Karl Murphy. Amin presented to the Board about the Major Road

Network. The Major Road Network is looking at local roads identified in the

Rees Jeffreys Report which proposed a middle tier of roads to help to deliver

a better quality road network. The A12 is now proposed to be included (a

change from the Rees Jeffreys report), the consultation deadline is Monday

March. The MRN is high on Ministers’ agendas and each scheme could

receive between £20-100m which is a substantial amount of money. DfT will

publish guidance in autumn 2018, the funding will come from the VED which

is anticipated to be around £6 billion.

Norfolk County Council, Suffolk County Council and the LEP will all be putting

in a response. Suffolk County Council have included the A12, A140, A1307

and A143.

DfT have offered to meet officers from Transport East.

ACTION: HG to circulate the presentation.

7. Sub national Transport Body

Graeme Mateer updated the Board. It was agreed in December to form

Transport East. Highways authorities, district representatives and LEPs are

invited with Cllr Storey, Cllr Wilby and Dominic Keen from New Anglia LEP

attending. The first meeting is Tuesday 13

March which will involve the

election of a Chairperson. The Forum is considering a MRN response. Moving

forward the Forum is identifying the scale and functions and there needs to be

a clear vision for the east and wider area. There are synergies with the

England’s Economic Heartland. Transport East potentially includes

Hertfordshire and Cambridgeshire.

Tracy Jessop explained that although the Forum is non-statutory it is still

recognised by government.

Amin Ahmadnia agreed explaining that the SoS is not interested in them

having statutory status and it does not hinder proceedings.

There needs to be collective agreement on priorities.

Paul Davey stated that where there are STBs they have access to pots of

money, share the cost and can develop schemes. The funding they get is

important and useful.

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The Economic Heartland received a lot of investment and is not statutory and

Government supports the east west rail brain arc.

8. Any other business

Ali Clabburn was asked to discuss behavioural changes at the next Local

Transport Board meeting.

The Roads Minister Jesse Norman is coming to an A47 Alliance event on

Monday 19

March.

There is a National Infrastructure Commission work stream on freight.

It was suggested that the Board go to the Transport Catapult in Milton Keynes

to see future transport changes.

ACTION: Ellen Goodwin to contact Catapult about a potential visit.

Date of next meeting- Tuesday 19

June in Ipswich.