New Anglia Transport Board
Minutes
9:00am-11:00am Tuesday 12
th
February 2019
George Hines Room, Wherstead Park, Suffolk
Board Attendance:
Kerry Allen (KA), Suffolk County Council
Paul Ager, Associated British Ports
James Bradley (JB), Network Rail
Nick Burfield (NB), Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
David Cumming, (DC), Norfolk County Council
Jonathan Denby (JD), Greater Anglia
Cllr Mary Evans (CllrME), Suffolk County Council
Doug Field (DF), Chair, New Anglia LEP
Ellen Goodwin (EG), New Anglia LEP
Hannah Grimes, Norfolk County Council
Paul Horne, Suffolk County Council
Tom Lawman (TL), Highways England
Graeme Mateer (GM), Suffolk County Council
Richard Pace (RPace), Norwich Airport
Richard Perkins (RP), Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Alex Riley, New Anglia LEP
Rajinder Sharma, Transport Systems Catapult
Chris Soule, Country Landowners Association
Andy Walker, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Cllr Martin Wilby (CllrMW), Norfolk County Council
Apologies:
Simon Amor, Highways England
Ali Clabburn, Liftshare
Jonathan Cage, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce
Cllr Stuart Clancy, Norfolk County Council
Paul Davey, Hutchison Ports
John Dugmore, Suffolk Chamber of Commerce
Nova Fairbank, Norfolk Chamber of Commerce
Jonathan Rudd, New Anglia LEP
Oliver Starbuck, East Midlands Trains
Richard Taylor, Network Rail
Richard Tunnicliffe, CBI
Steve Wickers, First Group
Key Actions List
Action
Responsible
Update the Terms of Reference to better reflect the relationship with
Transport East
EG
Chamber and LEP to write to Roads Minister regarding A14 inclusion
in RIS2
NB/AW
The LEP to support the consultation response to the Aviation 2050
RPace
Prioritise delivery into lobbying and local activities and set up task
and finish groups as appropriate
EG
Write a letter to the Roads Minister regarding the delivery of A47
RIS1 schemes
EG
Transport East recommendations to be brought to the next Transport
Board meeting for sign-off
DC
Move the August Transport Board meeting to September.
EG
1. Welcome and introductions
DF welcomed attendees and the meeting commenced.
2. Minutes and matters arising
The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by the Board.
3. Terms of Reference and purpose
DF informed the Board that, following the LEP Governance Review the Terms of Reference
(ToR) have been amended. EG noted that they are largely the same, though the
amendments reflect the aims of the Integrated Transport Strategy.
RP suggested that the ToR reflect the relationship with Transport East.
The Board approved the amended Terms of Reference.
4. Suffolk Chamber of Commerce view
RP provided the Board with a presentation from the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce. With a
particular focus on the A14, A1307, Haughley and Ely Junction projects, Sizewell C and
other transport priorities (Upper Orwell Crossings, Orwell Bridge, Lake Lothing Third
Crossing, A47 enhancements, A11, and other road and rail enhancements).
The Board noted strong support for both the Ely and Haughley schemes but suggested that
potentially the Haughley scheme could be actioned first as the business cases are
separate, nothing would prevent one scheme starting ahead of the other.
In terms of other rail priorities, it was suggested to the Board that, there is an appetite for the
East Suffolk line to improve journey times.
DF informed the Board, that from a LEP perspective they would be happy to be a co-
signature for A14 improvements. In terms of the Haughley and Ely schemes, the LEP would
support any method that would ensure these schemes are delivered whether in
combination or not. Also, on Sizewell C the LEP will be liaising with the relevant councils and
the Suffolk Chamber of Commerce to align responses to the current consultation.
Special note was given to the fact that this would be Nick Burfield’s last Transport Board
meeting. The Board extended a personal thanks to Nick.
5. Brexit and the Local Industrial Strategy
Brexit
EG provided the Board with a general update on Brexit, drawing attention to the Brexit page
on the LEP website: https://newanglia.co.uk/tag/brexit/
DF noted that the planned UK’s Shared Prosperity Fund will likely be the replacement to EU
funding. NB suggested joint responses to any consultation to avoid duplication.
Local Industrial Strategy
EG provided the Board with a short presentation on the planned Local Industrial Strategy
(LIS) which will focus on productivity and earning power for people particularly in the
comparative strength areas of Agri-Food, ICT/Digital and Clean Energy.
The LIS is still in the evidence gathering stage, and work will follow with stakeholders to
enhance the qualitative and quantitative information. There will be a summit on March 5
th
to
test the current assumptions.
NB noted the importance of the Ports & Logistics sector and asked whether the current
comparative strength areas will be tested against national indicators to ensure they are the
correct choices. DF assured the Board that the LIS will not replace the Economic Strategy
developed earlier, which includes a list of key sectors, and that all assumptions in the LIS will
be tested.
DF asked if the Transport Catapult were focussing on any particular grand challenges. RS
responded that they are focussed particularly on the future of mobility as well as
decarbonisation.
It was announced that the Transport Systems Catapult will be uniting with the Future Cities
Catapult to form a new ‘Super-Catapult’ which will start work in April. There will be no
reduction in resources or funding as part of this merger.
6. Member Roundtable: how are you ‘Making the Strategy’ happen?
The Board discussed how to deliver the Integrated Transport Strategy.
RPace noted the challenges that the aviation sector faces. Aviation 2050 is currently in the
consultation stage and will be the best way of influencing growth in the sector. There will be
a focus on regional growth, place and intermodal connectivity in terms of Norwich Airport’s
response LEP support was requested.
JD noted that the LEP are prioritising the right projects, but there needs to be continued
momentum behind GEML, Haughley and Ely. There also needs to be lobbying support for
increasing the frequency of the Ipswich-Peterborough rail route.
CllrME agreed that lobbying is pivotal. Encouraging MPs and ensuring they cannot ignore
the major projects. There needs to be a single voice when lobbying.
The Board agreed with a ‘two-pronged approach’ of focussing on projects with our ability to
deliver, and items that are not in our hands. Noting the task and finish groups could be set
up to push through local delivery.
TL noted the commitment in terms of delivery on the A47. It is expected that there will be a
full RIS2 announcement towards the end of this year. CllrMW noted the lack of speed on
delivery in terms of RIS1. NB noted there was no investment in Suffolk in RIS1.
DC suggested prioritising two or three focus projects. DF noted that the LEP Board has
already suggested this and will be sending out template to seek information in due course.
7. Strategic Rail Update
KA provided the Board with a strategic rail update, focussing on East-West Rail.
KA pointed to the Eastern Section Evidence Base that was produced in 2017 which looked
at the economic value of enhancing services between Norfolk-Suffolk and Cambridge.
An East-West Rail Eastern Section Prospectus has also been produced which illustrates the
economic benefits of the project.
In terms of next steps, a Communications Plan is currently in development identifying the
stakeholders who need to be targeted to drive forward the prospectus. This is working
towards being in a position to develop an outline business case.
The Board noted that projects such as Ely would be complementary to East-West Rail and
suggested having the business case ready so when funding is available it can be levered.
In addition to this, the national importance of the East-West Rail link was noted, with the
danger being that the focus is primarily on the Cambridge-Oxford section. The evidence
illustrates the benefits of the wider project and this needs to be made clear to Government.
8. Transport East Update
DC updated the Board on Transport East, noting the outputs of the recent Transport East
Summit.
Transport East is currently working on a transport strategy, with a regional evidence base
needing to be submitted to DfT in the Summer. The ask within this is for Transport East to
make recommendations on Major Road Network schemes (10 to 12 across the area) and
Large Local Majors (2 to 3 across the area).
The recommendation for schemes will be brought to this Transport Board before sign-off
this will occur at the next Transport Board meeting.
9. Any other business
It was agreed that the proposed August meeting would be moved to September in the
Transport Board Forward Plan.
The next Transport Board meeting will focus on innovation and the ‘agile to change’ theme.
RS informed the Board that the Catapult has opened a regional office in Glasgow and will
open another in Leeds. They are looking to develop SME and academic engagement and
would welcome any local suggestions.
https://ts.catapult.org.uk/news-events-gallery/events/transport-cafe-support-and-networking-event-rail/
JD noted that new trains will be rolled out in the middle of the summer. To accommodate
this, the platform at Sheringham Station will be lengthened and widened.
GM informed that at the Tommy Flowers Institute, Adastral Park there will be an event on the
future of transport from the 5
th
-6
th
March.
The next meeting will be on the 21
st
May 2019 in Norfolk at Liftshare’s Offices, Norwich