Regional Connectivity and Our Priority Places

Meeting Note

Board attendance:

Carolyn Barnes (observer)

Neal Birkett

Philip Broadbent-Yale

Karen Chapman

David Cumming

Cllr Mary Evans

Nova Fairbank

Doug Field

Ellen Goodwin

Simon Hamilton (observer)

Graeme Mateer

Paul Martin

Richard Pace

Jonathan Rudd

Rajinder Sharma

Cllr Phil Smart

Chris Soule

Alan Todd

Jeremy Wiggin

Apologies:

Paul Ager

James Bradley

Jonathan Cage

Ali Clabburn

Cllr Stuart Clancy

Paul Davey

Jonathan Denby

John Dugmore

Laura Etheridge

Andrew Harston

Patrick Ladbury

Richard Perkins

Sue Roper

Andy Walker

Cllr Martin Wilby

East Suffolk Council

Associated British Ports

Sustrans

Suffolk Growth Programme Board

Norfolk County Council

Suffolk County Council

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

New Anglia LEP

Sport England

Suffolk County Council

First Buses

Norwich Airport

New Anglia LEP

Connected Places Catapult

On behalf of Suffolk districts

CLA

Federation of Small Businesses

Norfolk County Council

ABP

Network Rail

Norfolk Chamber of Commerce

Liftshare

Norfolk County Council

Hutchison

Greater Anglia

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

East Midlands Trains

ABP

GT Railways

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Suffolk County Council

Suffolk Chamber of Commerce

Norfolk County Council

New Anglia Transport Board

2pm – 4pm, Tuesday 4

September 2019

George Hines Room, Wher

stead Park, IP9

2BJ

1. Minutes and matters arising:

Doug welcomed Cllr Phil Smart and Karen Chapman as new members representing Suffolk districts and

boroughs.

Actions from last meeting:

 Offer has been made to DfT regarding its Rural Mobility Strategy

 Norfolk and Suffolk place branding launch on 25 September – link circulated separately

The previous minutes were accepted as a true record.

2. Transforming Cities: Norwich and Greater Norwich

Jeremy Wiggin (Norfolk County Council) presented Norwich’s Transforming Cities and Future Mobility Zone

bids. Public consultation showed that public transport investment was the number one priority with air

quality featuring highly compared to previous consultations.

He explained that a £100m allocation from the TCF and a £25m allocation from the FMZ fund would be a

significant success but that a scalable proposition needed to be presented to DfT in order to maximise

delivery opportunities. He also stated that a 10% reduction in single occupancy would likely be a significant

success but targets were currently being developed, using evidence, as part of the process.

Comments from the Board included:

 Data sharing a big ask but already started on a smaller scale

 Park and ride not always as flexible as would be liked but NCC currently reviewing evidence and a

breadth of customer views in light of ongoing budget discussions

 Need to think about deliveries and last mile opportunities as well as public transport

It was noted that there had not been as much time as usual to develop projects but this had resulted in a

swift programme development process which would have a positive legacy regardless of the level of

success.

3. The potential for integrated ticketing

Paul Martin (First Buses) updated the Board on the first meeting of operators discussing integrated

ticketing. He said there were already a number of schemes in place across Norfolk and Suffolk that could

be built upon in order to achieve greater outcomes. He stated that the operators present (Greater Anglia,

First and Ipswich Buses) were keen to progress but legislative challenges would need to be overcome in

order to fully progress.

Comments from the Board included:

 Need to offer better value as ticketing becomes easier to access i.e. contactless

 Mobile ticketing could be a good way to progress but need to consider who we are targeting. For

example, young people may need to use more traditional smart cards

A further meeting is scheduled for November.

4. The importance of active travel

Philip Broadbent Yale (Sustrans) presented on the importance of active travel.

He stated that Government ambition was to double cycling between 2014 and 2025. He also noted that

Norwich had a good track record for cycling investment, but that other areas could benefit from further

focus. Philip went on to say that cycling investment generally provided good value for money and

highlighted the important link between cycling and tourism, particularly in Norfolk and Suffolk.

Comments from the Board included:

 Further opportunities for disused railways as new cycling routes

 Difficult to attribute health benefits to business cases but recognition that collaboration was critical

 Importance of integrated networks and modes moving forward

 Opportunities for further rural investment in cycling and in potential economic diversification

5. Making the Integrated Transport Strategy Happen – Member Roundtable

Broadland Northway and Norwich Western Link

The Broadland Northway opened in April 2018 and allowed for more reliable and quicker journey times as

well as additional sustainable transport options in and around Norwich. Norfolk County Council are

currently evaluating the scheme.

Norfolk County Council agreed the preferred route for the Norwich Western Link and submitted the

Strategic Outline Business Case to DfT in July 2019. An Outline Business Case is expected in January

2020 with the view of appointing a contractor in October 2020. A further public consultation will follow in

early 2021 with the road currently scheduled to open in 2025.

Ipswich Northern Route

The current consultation regarding route options closes on 13 September. Suffolk County Council has

received 2,500 responses to date. A Strategic Outline Business Case decision is expected later in 2019

but decisions regarding affordability need to be taken by Suffolk Leaders as a significant local contribution

will be required.

A47

The Norfolk Chamber updated on the eloquent Westminster business reception which was held earlier in

the year. Further discussions will take place with the new Minister moving forward.

A14

The Suffolk Chamber’s campaign has also recently included a well-attended Westminster business

reception. Conversations with the new Roads Minister are to be taken forward.

A1307

The current campaign is working with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority to explore

cross border opportunities.

GEML

Network Rail has published its GEML Study and the wider evidence refresh is ongoing. Jacobs have

delivered a first draft of the Strategic Outline Business Case and Lichfields are looking at the wider

economic benefits of an improved GEML. A second conference was held in July to update on the evidence

refresh and garner further business support. The Rt. Hon Priti Patel MP has stood down as Chair since her

promotion to Home Secretary, a new Chair will be announced once appointed.

Ely

Work on the Strategic Outline Business Case continues alongside a programme review to consider how the

project may be delivered in a phased approach. A final funding decision is expected for the programme as

a whole, with early delivery expected by 2024. It was noted that collectively we need to continue to

emphasise the national significance of the scheme.

Haughley

Suffolk Growth Programme Board have agreed to co-fund improvements to Haughley junction.

Norwich Airport

 Announcement of new £7m hangar

 Additional flights to Aberdeen

 KLM hub service has seen double digit growth this year

Connected Places Catapult

 Working with Cambridge Norwich Tech Corridor initiative

 Blue tech case study with Port of Felixstowe, BT, University of Suffolk and others

 Working with BT on Adastral Park ambitions

Sport England

“We Are Undefeatable” campaign

ABP

Good harvest this year has meant Ipswich Port is taking a flexible approach to manage demand

6. Transport East update

The paper was accepted by the Board

7. Any other business

No new items for future business were discussed

Date of next meeting – 9.30am, 19 November