Connecting the East, Accessing the World

Meeting Note

Board attendance:

Paul Ager

Karen Chapman

Helen Corina

David Cumming

Paul Davey

Jonathan Denby

Nova Fairbank

Doug Field

Ellen Goodwin

Paul Horne

Graeme Mateer

Richard Perkins

Jonathan Rudd

Cllr Barry Stone

Steve Thulborn

Andy Walker

Apologies:

Simon Amor

Philip Broadbent-Yale

Jamie Burles

Jonathan Cage

Andrew Harston

Martin Fellowes

Paul Martin

Andrew Mower

Richard Pace

Cllr Graham Plant

Cllr Andrew Reid

Sue Roper

Rajinder Sharma

Chris Soule

Cllr Phil Smart

Associated British Ports

Suffolk Growth Programme Board

Norfolk County Council

Hutchison Ports

Greater Anglia

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

New Anglia LEP

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

New Anglia LEP

Norfolk County Council

Highways England

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Highways England

Sustrans

Greater Anglia

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

Associated British Ports

Highways England

First Buses

Federation of Small Businesses

Norwich Airport

Norfolk district representative

Suffolk County Council

Connected Places Catapult

CLA

Suffolk district representative

1. Minutes and matters arising

The previous minutes were accepted as a true record.

2. The importance of port connectivity

PD presented Hutchison Port’s view on the importance of port connectivity.

New Anglia Transport Board

9.30am – 11.30am, Tuesday 19

November 2019

lman Room, County Hall, Norwic

h, N

1 2UA

Key points raised:

 The Port of Felixstowe is Britain’s largest container port with more than 40% of all containers coming in and out of

Britain passing through the port.

 The port handles 4million TEUs a year, twice that of any other port. 70% of containers coming through

Felixstowe are delivered to the ‘golden triangle’ including the midlands and the north.

 2.6million TEUs are transported by road, 1million by rail and 0.5million by sea. Rail modal share has increased

significantly since 2004 with pent up demand for rail being constrained by infrastructure. Rail emissions

compared to road are 76% lower.

 The port is well located with respect to the world’s shipping lanes and has a good offer in terms of national

strategic connectivity.

KC asked the group whether they thought more significant private sector investment in infrastructure was likely in the

future.

3. Maritime cluster update

EG updated the Board on the initial discussions regarding establishing a Norfolk and Suffolk Maritime Cluster.

PD noted confusion between Maritime Clusters and Port Economic Partnerships.

ACTION – Ellen to contact DfT to establish similarities and differences.

PD also noted that short sea economics are challenging compared to both road and rail.

Norwich Airport update

Doug Field presented a short update from Norwich Airport on behalf of Richard Pace.

NF commented that it was challenging to garner business buy-in to new routes before they were introduced.

5. BREXIT update

 The LEP submits a weekly report to government on a range of factors. Information is obtained through a number

of sources.

 The LEP and Growth Hub advisers have signposted businesses to government’s dedicated webpage

https://www.gov.uk/brexit and encouraged businesses to enhance their overall resilience.

 The LEP is looking to ensure that where EU funding is not yet allocated then local projects come forward to

maximise take up for the region and benefit from any opportunities this creates.

 The LEP is also engaged in the dialogue with government on the development of the Shared Prosperity Fund – a

“successor fund” for when the UK leaves the EU.

 The LEP is also looking, with government, at how to adapt existing programmes of support, both nationally and

locally, to make interventions that help deal with economic shocks or a possible “no deal”.

 The Growth Hub has received funding from BEIS to the end of March 2020 for additional staffing resource to

support business preparations on Brexit, with two advisers holding county-wide roles.

 The LEP Executive has appointed Metro Dynamics to update the report published in 2017 on the potential

impacts of Brexit for Norfolk and Suffolk. This piece of work will be completed in early January 2020.

Questions for the group:

 Are there any businesses that have pulled together a Brexit plan / business resilience plan?

 Have businesses assessed the impacts of Brexit? If so, opportunities or negative impacts?

 As a sector, what are the key opportunities or main challenges arising from Brexit?

 Are there any interventions that you feel are needed as a result of Brexit in the business support landscape?

ACTION – all to feedback relevant intelligence

6. Making the Integrated Transport Strategy happen

Growth Deal

JR presented a paper on the Growth Deal programme. He highlighted concerns regarding the Ely area scheme and

the timelines for business case delivery.

RP queried why timescales had changed so much. JR stated a number of reasons for this including integrating an

appropriate road solution and the number of level crossings in the area.

JD updated the Board on the Rail Network Enhancements Pipeline (RNEP) process and stated that the Secretary of

State had queried what could practically be achieved before 2024. JD suggested that this could include established

franchise commitments and some additional freight capacity, but Network Rail need to do their assessment in support

of DfT’s request in order to determine costs and deliverability.

The Board noted that while quick wins were desirable it was important to continue to push the case for the delivery of

the full programme. The Board agreed that a political strategy needed to be defined in order to promote the strategic

case with MPs.

ACTION – update from Network Rail at next meeting

ACTION – LEP Board and Ely Taskforce to consider political strategy next steps

ACTION – DF to write to the new Secretary of State outlining the LEP’s transport priorities

RIS 2 and MRN update

A RIS2 announcement is not now expected until the New Year. Copdock junction has received some early funding to

help advance the feasibility stage of progressing a free flowing A12/A14 slip.

Transport East submitted its priorities for the Major Road Network at the end of July. Both the Barnby Bends and

Long Stratton Bypass schemes have progressed to the next stage with other projects requiring some additional

clarification before a final decision is made.

Rail

GEML: new rolling stock to be introduced soon, Norwich in 90/Ipswich in 60 now in service, work ongoing to identify

infrastructure requirements needed on the line, Giles Watling MP the new Taskforce Chair.

Haughley: local commitment has helped to advance the scheme significantly.

Trowse: not needed for GEML until the 2040s but cumulative impact of GEML and east-west connectivity means

improvements are likely to be needed sooner. Initial thinking has begun between interested partners.

Greater Anglia

Good recent performance statistics, new trains continue to be brought into service, new timetable to be introduced in

December, Wherry Line re-signalling expected early 2020

ACTION – develop case study for Norfolk and Suffolk Unlimited regarding challenging perceptions once full

roll out complete

ABP

Significant recent investment across eastern ports.

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Written to all MP candidates outlining infrastructure priorities.

Highways England

A14 improvements to open soon. NCC said they had recently met with HE to outline their A47 delivery concerns.

ACTION

–

provide

A47

update

Suffolk County Council

Ipswich Northern Route SOBC announcement expected shortly.

Norfolk County Council

Opening of Hempnall roundabout despite drainage challenges.

Connected Places Catapult

 Bluetech – forthcoming meeting with Paul Davey from Hutchison Ports. Also, in continued dialogue with Suffolk

County Council, East Suffolk Council and Tech East.

 Connections Café – next meeting to coincide with an East of England Connections Café – tbc

 Future Mobility Zones, Norwich – currently awaiting announcement from government now delayed after election

due to purdah

 Cambridge-Norwich Tech Corridor – currently in discussions with Linn Clabburn on a feasibility study on transport

innovation on the corridor

7. Transport East update

The new tentative date for the postponed Transport East summit is 26 February 2020.

Transport East are holding a Carbon Inquiry over three sessions, the first of which is scheduled for 2 December.

Board comments included:

 Clean maritime plan and supporting air quality strategies

 Rail electrification, quick wins and franchise renewal opportunities

 Environmental funding expected through RIS2

Any other business

No new items for future business were discussed

Date of next meeting – 9.30am, 25 February 2020 – Ipswich