New Anglia Transport Board

Minutes

9:00am-11:00am Tuesday 12

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

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

Write a letter to the Roads Minister regarding the delivery of A47

RIS1 schemes

Transport East recommendations to be brought to the next Transport

Board meeting for sign-off

Move the August Transport Board meeting to September.

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

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

-6

March.

The next meeting will be on the 21

May 2019 in Norfolk at Liftshare’s Offices, Norwich