Transport Committee - Friday 26 May 2023, 10:00am - West Yorkshire Combined Authority Webcasting

Transport Committee
Friday, 26th May 2023 at 10:00am 

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  1. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  1. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  1. Rachel Jones
  2. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  3. Cllr Matthew McLoughlin
  4. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  5. Rachel Jones
  6. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  8. Cllr Martyn Bolt
  9. Rachel Jones
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  11. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  12. Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council)
  13. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  14. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  15. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  16. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  17. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  18. Rachel Jones
  19. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  20. Rachel Jones
  21. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  22. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  23. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  24. Cllr Manisha Roma Kaushik (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  25. Cllr Peter Clarke
  26. Rachel Jones
  27. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  28. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  29. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  2. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  3. Cllr Martyn Bolt
  4. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  5. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  6. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  7. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  8. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  9. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  11. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  12. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  3. Cllr Neil Buckley
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  5. Rachel Jones
  6. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  7. Cllr Martyn Bolt
  8. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  9. Cllr Neil Buckley
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  11. Rachel Jones
  12. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  13. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  14. Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council)
  15. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  16. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  17. Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council)
  18. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  19. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  20. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  21. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
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  2. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  3. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  4. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  5. Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council)
  6. Cllr Neil Buckley
  7. Cllr Peter Caffrey (Calderdale Council)
  8. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  9. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  10. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  11. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  12. Cllr Neil Buckley
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  1. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  2. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  3. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  4. Cllr Peter Clarke
  5. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  6. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  7. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  8. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  9. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  11. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  12. Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council)
  13. Cllr Eleanor Thomson (Leeds City Council)
  14. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  15. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  16. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  17. Cllr Matthew McLoughlin
  18. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  19. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  20. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  21. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  22. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  23. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  24. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  1. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  3. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  4. Cllr Peter Clarke
  5. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  6. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  7. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  8. Cllr Peter Clarke
  9. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  10. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  11. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  12. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  13. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
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  1. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  2. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  3. WYCA Officer
  4. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  5. WYCA Officer
  6. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  7. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  8. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  9. WYCA Officer
  10. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  11. WYCA Officer
  12. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  13. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  14. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  15. Cllr Martyn Bolt
  16. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  17. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  18. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  19. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  20. Cllr Neil Buckley
  21. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  22. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  23. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  24. Cllr Neil Buckley
  25. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  26. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  27. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  28. Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council)
  29. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  30. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  31. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  32. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  33. WYCA Officer
  34. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  35. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  36. Cllr Peter Carlill (Deputy Chair) Transport Committee
  37. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  38. WYCA Officer
  39. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  40. WYCA Officer
  41. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  42. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  43. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  44. WYCA Officer
  45. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  46. Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council)
  47. Cllr Martyn Bolt
  48. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  49. WYCA Officer
  50. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  51. WYCA Officer
  52. Dave Haskins, Interim Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  53. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  54. WYCA Officer
  55. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  56. WYCA Officer
  57. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  58. Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council)
  59. Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority)
  60. Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair)
  61. Webcast Finished

Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:00:00
I will act now.
lovely, thank you very much. Everybody welcome to the transport committee meeting
on this sunny day of Friday, 26th of May, any apologies for absence. This is one of those meetings where it's a bit of crossover between last transport committee and next with a few observers in the audience, are going to be joining us. I think he's at the next meeting. Is it to the next meeting? Sorry, yes, also once you've been through the Combined Authority or GM
so welcome to observers who will be joining us and this will be good induction for you,
thank you very much for coming today,
so apologies for absence, as a noted
loss at our, I have apologies from Councillor, but from Councillor Hutchinson, Councillor Jones, Councillor Ross, Shah Councillor Scullion Councillor Wilson and Ameer Hussain lovely
thank you very much.
declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests.

1 Apologies for absence

2 Declarations of disclosable pecuniary interests

obviously, if you
think of any as we go through the agenda, please do immediately and make yourself known.
yes, I
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:01:16
know, I'm sorry, I know of others.
the third is at the beginning of the meeting, I didn't work for the school of sorts,
but it's in your yeah, your registry of interests or just for
expansion, thank you.

3 Exempt information - possible exclusion of the press and public

4 Minutes of the meeting of the Transport Committee held on 10 March 2023

any exempt information I don't think I've seen any today, yeah minutes of the meeting of Transport Committee held on 10th of March 2023 since age ago,
consider any
it was yes, you had seen was that it was
absolutely say any comments or amendments in its make to the minutes.

5 Rail Strategy Consultation

no, in that case, our proposal as a correct record, can I see all those in favour. Thank you very much. Thank you very much
and then first item on the agenda is Rail Strategy consultation, which is a big piece of work that has been ongoing for some time and we're about to go from a consultation, I believe, Rachel Johnson put on this paper. Thank you.
Thank you very much Chair, yes,
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:02:21
so the purpose of this report is to seek the seek your approval to commence with public consultation on the emerging draft strategy over the coming summer.
so
just a quick recap, you know the role of the railway, we know the railway plays an important and varied role in in West Yorkshire and we also know that their own that were currently faces many challenges as well going forwards
and crucially you know investment in new and existing rail infrastructure is gonna be vital
in achieving the ambitions of our economy as well as
achieving net carbon 0 economy by 2038.
so, back in 2021, a draft rail vision was developed as part of the connectivity infrastructure plan.
and that's set out you know,
the the sought the ambition for the way forward in the way the railway needs to go and how it needs to become,
the future for the future, it puts the re on that work at the core of a fully integrated rail transport plan which is accessible to everybody. since then, we have considered all the feedback from that we've also carried out extensive and comprehensive engagement with members, district partners and and a range of stakeholders, this has led to risk developing in a draft rail strategy which you've had in the associated appendix to this agenda item and as part of developing that strategy we carried out two workshops in the last municipal year or the current municipal year I should say back in May and then November. it was the most recent one at the end of last year, so a few months ago now,
obviously this will form a key document of the new mayor's West Yorkshire Local Transport Plan that's currently in development.
we had planned to carry out consultation of the draft rail strategy document alongside Local Transport Plan consultation, but because of the delays in getting guidance on what our LTP should look like from government,
we have come to the conclusion that we wanted to carry out the consultation now over the summer and also to make sure we sought fitting with other consultation that's planned as part of budget reform and then indeed LTP and to next year.
in doing so, obviously, we will use the content of the strategy and the feedback,
and it'll very much feed into the all t on P to provide that context for development of Northern powerhouse, Rail and, obviously, into the integrated rail plan studies as well will also be used as an opportunity to start to develop and deliver some of the improvements that stations that are needed going forwards.
so the purpose of the rail strategies around funding and around the line in policies.
to set the context for the future for achieving the region's economic catches. It is,
it will provide a regional evidence base, and it will also provide a vision for rail for West Yorkshire. Up to 2050 going forwards that we can use will can outwit will ultimately address urgent issues such as frequency capacity and passenger experience, which, subject to another reports as well, at this committee this morning as far key priorities as set out in the report at 2.00.10. So the next steps
under 2.11 is that we're looking to start a consultation next month in June and the form the consultation will be primarily aimed at the government, Mr. Statutory consultees and district partners, obviously also the rail industry, and then other groups such as rail user groups, who represent the interests of avail, user communities and whether anybody will be able to have their say on the strategy. It'll be available on the Avice platform
it's a technical document
and from that will flow a pipeline, of interventions and schemes which we will obviously consult on separately going forwards as and when those interventions come forward, we're planning on having online webinar for anybody to join, and that will be publicised across the region, for people to join, and if people are members of the public do want to give feedback
on the ongoing soft rail. operation and, and you know any concerns there will be signposting far for these people, but it's not the focus of this consultation, so the recommendation under 10.1 Chair is that
this committee approves, and agrees to the consultation of the emerging draft rail strategy over the summer of this year, thank you.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:06:54
thank you, Rachel first of all, can I say it's nice to see it all written down as an.
so I don't think we've needed this piece of work for quite some time and it really helps us in working with partners like Network, Rail and government solutions on our to do list, please can you support us in delivering some of these short term aims as well as obviously the long-term ambitions we've got around HS2 and NPR
so if any questions comments,
and seeing Matthew and then Martin, Councillor McLoughlin and Councillor Bolt.
Cllr Matthew McLoughlin - 0:07:31
thank you, Chair yeah, or just a couple of quick questions I enjoyed reading the report, he's not to see all written down and see an awful lot of work come together and finally start to look like an actual plan.
just a small question, that was something that I noticed wasn't in the report. Obviously, when a lot of this big infrastructure happens in these, this investment happens and is vitally needed, especially if you're going to tackle the climate crisis, I'm just wondering if these projects are subject to biodiversity, net neutral net gain rules like lots of other big developments and plans are because obviously it's unavoidable that some things are going to get cut down and some greenery is going to be lost, and I was wondering if it was within the plan to make sure that that wasn't a net loss to the overall environment. and also
on the I'm glad to hear that representative groups of real users will be consulted, and I won't be forgiven by my ward residents, if I didn't say, would smart, slow and multinational real transport be included on that list. thank you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:08:27
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:08:30
and say I want to pick up the second point, if that's OK, yeah, I assume I mean, obviously, as the report says, it will anybody will be able to look at the strategy and comment on it, and specifically you know rail user groups if you know they will be the targeted, we've got a long list, I can double check, I'm fairly sure if it's an established group, it will definitely be on the list contract, so thank you
I pick up on the first point on the net biodiversity own claim. It's my area of expertise, but what I do know is
Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:08:56
when we work with rail industry, where they are, they are looked at in biodiversity as part of their projects and also within our appraisal processes. Obviously we're working towards towards Net Zero carbon, which plays one part of that, but the biodiversity is a wider area and that does come under our appraisal processes, so it is a consideration within what we're doing in our individual projects. I think the wider question is to ensure that as a strategy it all comes together. Some of those things will be directly within our control and some things won't be, but I think we could. We could paint a picture on that and I think that's probably something we should. We should seek to draw out through consultation as well
thank you,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:09:29
Councillor Ball,
no thanks Chair
on the
2.1 1, next steps
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Kirklees Council) - 0:09:39
again, I think we're very shortly before about inclusivity,
they offer some engineering, certainly the report about webinars
in the report we have who were consulting on what we're consulting about, I do think we've got enough about how we consulting with inclusivity, we've got to remember that a number, quite a lot of passenger users may not have access
to IT and things like that
can we
actually have some real consultation in libraries such as Mirfield Library and other places where we have big rail user groups and station friends of stations so that those people who use the railways who don't have the IT can be included?
yeah, thank you, and I'll definitely take that back. Councillor Paul,
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:10:21
I mean, I think, as its setting in 2.1 3 9, I understand what you say in.
With this being a technical document, I think the idea is that it will be made, perhaps
something that's focused more on the rail industry and specific rail user groups. I think you know also says in that paragraph that you know interventions in schemes that come out of that strategy, which you know something deliverable on the ground. Ultimately, at the end of the day, they will be separate to their own individual separate consultation processes, which would be sought more of our general public consultation, particularly within that locality, where that intervention was an intended. However, it's having said that, I will feed that. Thank you
of letting your questions comments.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:11:05
the Councillor for
thank you very much Mapou
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 0:11:14
I'm just like thank our officers and the the team that's responsible for pulling all this together, because it's a huge
I'm able to work, and a lot of a lot of it is going to be busy because this is no tomorrow
we talked about a decade.
for lots of these projects and even longer, so I think we're setting out stall out now,
but let's get people involved as much as possible, as Martin says,
we've also going to District Committees, which is another
Avenue.
we will be having to.
Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council) - 0:11:51
in the forthcoming year, and that is, I assure you, that
it is right, if quite right.
but but there's lots of opportunity to talk to the public, and I said thank you once again for a trial for this piece of work.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:12:05
from Councillor A
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 0:12:08
M, I thank you Chair and and I welcome it as well, I'm just one comment on freight and whose cause that I think that's hugely
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 0:12:16
important of getting. in
Kent, goods transported on the roads of our roads and onto them trains, so I'm just wondering who will be the consultees. in regards affray, thank you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:12:29
as exactly right, I mean it is a it's a one thing that is easily forgotten by Councillors who are residents or regulars, but actually from a business point of view it's vital we sort that and there is a mention in here but the problem needs to be a little bit more focus on it.
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 0:12:43
Yeah thank thank you very much. Yes, there is a mention you write and I mean we're also developing a separate faith strategy which will be
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:12:50
one of the another dots, a document of the Local Transport Plan that is in development at the moment, that will obviously look at all forms of and freight transport. You know, obviously may well be a big element of that, but there's obviously lots of other, and we're wanting to look at more innovative forms of and transport for voters well going forwards through this strategy, but yeah, I've a certain sort of feed that that and you know obviously that strategy will be subject to consultation as well. Councillor Hayden say yeah, thank you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:13:18
what's the timeline for the delivery of that strategy, is it one in line with this,
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:13:25
no, it's a little bit further behind Councillor Hinchcliffe, but it will be developed over the coming year in terms of the timescales for development of the Local Transport Plan because, along with a number of the strategies you know they will find this a key underpinning dot strategies to the local development. so the Local Transport Plan and the first round of consultation for that is due early in the new year, so it will be produced over the rest of this calendar year.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:13:49
I think it is certainly worth as bring that the appropriate time to this committee, because it is something we are all quite interested in Councillor slam,
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 0:13:57
yet thank you I think, listening around the room at.
I just wanted to actually make sure
we can have the best do not net work, we can have the best trains, we can have whatever lobbying is is needed, but if we do have people travelling on them, it's gonna be a problem and I think to give that confidence to people we've got to actually make sure that we value the the input but, like Martin says in like you know, it Kean says
we've got to show that we're willing to go out that and consult those people, because that is very, very crucial at this moment of time is the confidence builder if we're gonna get people out of cars and onto public transport, whether it is buses, whether it is train, we've got to have you not mean them haven't confidence that their views are actually seriously taken on board because not everybody has got
access to internet, not everybody is good with the with with writing a document or a comment, but when they are speaking is is is totally different, so we've got to give them every opportunity. We don't want to be criticised for not having that opportunity for people to actually give that input into it, so we've got to make sure that
he cast a caution.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:15:10
Cllr Manisha Roma Kaushik (Kirklees Council) - 0:15:14
yes, I do agree and are in if you can just look the last minutes and we do pressure and youngsters can easily access on the new technology is, we need to concentrate on the elderly, those who are not have got no idea how the IT is ongoing, so if we can do something for them as well thank you.
castle clock,
I think, just
Cllr Peter Clarke (Bradford Council) - 0:15:40
for quick points on the dock and I think is incredibly well detailed and very real bit, and I think officers should be commended on that, but I would
say obviously the detail are when you do it in consultation could obviously hinder
interaction with the public, so I'd ask that officers consider it may be more concise to move more focused.
documentation when engaging with more general public and other and other stakeholders, I think that'd be very useful or just touching on some of the implications for Bradford, nothing has a lot to commend in their Unicef's the
from an organisation not keeping Worth Valley Railway mentioned, and looking at extending services to OXILP would be interesting to know what conversations have been had been organisations like that
and how that's habits, looking and also how realistic, must have timescales the
more general improvements some signalling an increased capacity and trains are in the Bradford area.
thank you, Chair
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:16:37
yeah, I mean, thank you very much, I'll definitely feed that back to the rail policy team you know and like to say there are some books in there,
I know there's been a number of conversations and you know, obviously all of the areas that are in the reports I'll definitely feed that back and yes, your point is well noted an uploader or a note of that around. the sort of format of the information that goes out to public consultation, so thank you.
and we're pushing to find out what's in Network Rail's plan for
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:17:07
capital projects and sort of signalling go forwards, we don't have that at the moment and that's something we're pressing for, but you write that kind of
dull calibre investment, it's actually stuff that really makes the way work better and it might not be a new line but making people be able to go quicker from day-to-day more reliable services is very much dependent on that capital infrastructure that Network Rail are able to fund so we're still pressing to find out what's in that for the next period.
good yeah, Councillor Firth, which come back in just
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 0:17:36
on what you might be made clear, I hope that going forward. network Rail recognised that the appendix and line really does want some attention. Ms Booth, if you're looking for purpose and that coming on well, I know what it takes forever to get from Huddersfield to Sheffield and that going forward in this this century or
it will be, it will be done.
as it is known for any new rolling stock, if it's on a track as
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:18:02
erratic as he can't actually go any faster than 30 miles an hour in Bradford, so
right, okay, I so with that within that are a good going over, I think
and there is a a schedule I have ref consultation of the all the comments about accessibility are very well meant and and sincerely need to see those happen.
there's a recommendation, obviously, that we agree and let the emerging rail strategy be consulted on in June, are we all happy with that, please show?
lovely thank you very much, that is carried
lovely,

6 Local Transport Forum Arrangements 2023/24

so next is
Local Transport Forum
arrangements, and we actually did refer to this in previous item slightly, and that in some places, sort of fell between two stools of organisation last year to combine throughout the district and it's their responsibility. There's this time I think we're clearer now out with that. Combined authorities can organise them,
but in consultation with districts and have districts there. So the paper is clear about how that works. Rachel George speak to this
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:19:05
as thank you very much Chair yet so, as as you said,
very much like the purpose of this short report is. just to re-establish the arrangements for the local transport forums for the coming municipal year,
I mean you'll be aware that around a year ago now the the role of transport engagement Lead was created with one per council area and the in the appendix that goes with the report as a role profile of what the role would be of that transport engagement lead in each area and the idea is that they lead on local transport matters in each council area. and sort of work alongside the the respect of tram transport related portfolio holder as well
help facilitate the sort of joint working between the Combined Authority and and the council partners.
Very importantly, to point to transport engagement lies will also assist the Deputy chairs and chair of the transport committee to maintain a good working knowledge of local transport matters and issues and costs in West Yorkshire
so central to the role of the transport engagement Leeds is having.
open local transport forums in their respective areas,
and these obviously a public session provide the opportunity for updates in person engagement and an opportunity for the public and locals to raise
specific transport related matters the aim is for two per municipal year.
but there's no expectation that obviously that's the only forum that would be used to discuss Combined Authority Transport agenda, this office, so lots of other forums and ways in in doing that as well.
in part, to note out that they're not formally constituted and apart from being led by the transport engagement, lead no formal membership, but transport committee Deputy chairs will be invited,
alongside the relevant transport related portfolio holder local members and also the transport and infrastructure and Scrutiny Committee.
to each of those meetings
as Councillor Hinchcliffe said, you know the it didn't work as well as we'd hoped in that in this, our current municipal year, and I think that was for a variety of reasons, around ownership, and so what we want to do is bring in his papers establish those more definite arrangements for this coming year and that's set out in the bullet points in 2.6,
and I think the next step really is and bullet point 1 where it says that you know each transport engagement lead will be allocated. A senior transport officer at the Combined Authority think what the next step there is. Once those transport engagement leads, have been confirmed for each area. If they could inform myself and Dave Haskins, we will look at then sort of taking it forward in terms of allocating a senior transport officer from the Combined Authority to each of those with a view to then taking it forward with them, with officers from the respective local council as well.
Looking to hold to, as I say to one suggested one between September and November and then another early into 2024, them, and a combined of this sorry Combined Authority officer, will summarise the key points in each of these of committee meetings going forward. There won't be sort of formal minute taking provided, for example, by the Combined Authority's governance services to there isn't a set agenda. It's obviously up to the one transport engagement lead to to lead on what what they want to cover, but there is a suggested format for what meetings might look like,
but obviously that's subject to if there's particular topic or something that needs to be discuss.
So the recommendation in section 10 10.1, is that the arrangements for the local transport forums for 23 24 approved as set out in the short report. Thank you, Chair
thank you for the opportunity to get on with it, don't I really have
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:22:58
suggested Councillor Bolt
yeah, thanks for
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Kirklees Council) - 0:23:02
a couple of comments were made there and it's referred to in the
2.6 bullet point to
where it says
two meetings I refer colleagues to Appendix 1 and something that we discussed a while ago. which the key duties and responsibilities bullet point 3 is to a minimum of two,
and I think we should maintain that they're flexibility if issues arise, tap more that it's been quite Deputy or what it says to local transport, etc I'd like to see a minimum in there to maintain as it says in Appendix 1 that if the need arises like we had in, in Mirfield, north Cork lead to issues with buses that we could have had more meetings if we wanted.
the suggested agenda. We're not the passenger Transport Authority anymore so again, item foreign suggested an agenda talks about bus and rail operator update I'd like to see us also including active travel where the the Combined Authority is a key partner, active and integrated transport, and it's been mentioned before about climate emergency is essential if we're gonna be moving towards this and we are funding, or for these schemes and at that local consultation level we need to hear from the user groups about how the delivery is actually taking place because they may not be any other mechanisms in the local authorities. Not all local authorities have got elected member cycling champions like we are were charging in Bradford so yeah. We need to maintain that dialogue back to so integrated, active travel should feature and part of our agendas.
I mean am
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:24:38
this is a private matter to travel, says a big part, a big part of our agenda these days, but I do not want noise, that is for buses to be sidelined in those meetings that in most people other to hear about the bus service and what their bus service working better. So I mean obviously willing to support. Councillor Campbell is area and I'm happy for it to be a minimum, but I think it ends an over that needs to be in conjunction with the portfolio holder, because obviously what we could get and I'm not suggested anybody here, would do that, but somebody wanting one once a week, for example, and we can't we can't have that, so portfolio holders are in charge of resources, I think probably anything over two needs to be re agreed with the portfolio holder for the for the area
Councillor Coulson and Councillor Salam.
texture. You are just going to clarify the recently mentioned bus and
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 0:25:23
rail operator update. There is because at these meetings is a really valuable place for the operators to come and put forward what they're doing and answer questions on performance in theirs in terms of active travel. Obviously, that's something that the Combined Authority or the council officers would be the the operator of, shall we say, and in most cases, but that's what the really valuable but is there because we get representatives from all the bus operators that operate in that area and all the rail operators and members of the public can come and have those conversations which is really valuable? So I think that's why that's just on that 2 point, and that's one of the most important bits of that meeting, actually, because then you can get to more specifics and we can hear around district level,
engagement with operators and what is happening in your areas, which is really valuable.
as account, what's your view about putting out to travel in there as well?
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:26:11
it is always been discussed and in fact the chairs have had different
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 0:26:15
topics and though.
there have been some meetings that were
entirely focused on active travel, and that'd be the main thing that active travel has always been something Combined Authority officers have brought in their transport update.
one thing that the engagement,
the changing it to that forum level was supposed to do was provided better connection with officers from the separate districts, because there are always a bit of a disconnect before good. Obviously we see
the projects in their review stage as they're going through, but the detail on the ground is often with district officers who weren't always expected to be at those meetings, but this puts that expectation that there will be officers from the councils to discuss the specific projects. When somebody says what is happening on this particular cycle lane, rather than
the detail that comes from the Combined Authority, might just be what is passed business case stage, whatever it may be, but the officers from the district will be able to go into that see it, or all methods of transport have always been included in those. It's just that on that specific, that's for bus and rail operators to come and essentially put their case to and answer questions from residents.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:27:21
Thank you, Councillor Carole, Councillor Stanley,
just carry on cutting on from there
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 0:27:26
just just to try to assure the people I mean it in Bradford, we've always had an active travel on the agenda
and I've made sure that the bespoke meetings that we have the officer that attends that leading of his attendance at the district, the consultation committees, what used to be called now a forum, the only question that I need to the FA need to be sure about it, in 2.3 it says that the local transport forums will be opened public sessions.
and is that just an item on the agenda that we do not, I could actually open up the meeting just in Europe, I used to do is open up the meeting and say Right, this is good, the next 10 minutes is going to be open public session, anybody's got anything to surf and then we follow the agenda, but we're just going to have this as an open public session then we're going to have a problem because following the G agenda because
some day
we could have anybody and everybody, because we've got to accommodate so before we used to have in a committee room, because that's where we had the membership
now we will have to have in a bigger room because anybody can turn up to these meetings we can't divide anybody so we know I that something is gonna be in the small detail, that we need to actually make sure
that when we are arranging these meetings, they are in a in a in a place which can accommodate
people that gonna turn up because we don't want to turn people away, saying, sorry, you know this is what accommodates 20 people and we can't have anything anything more than 20.
OK, Councillor Khan
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:28:56
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 0:28:59
yeah, I was going to come back at it because I think I think a lot of this was taking it from what it was which when we had that fixed membership is fair to say that wasn't a very representative membership, was it of our districts, and that was the real point wanted to move away from. Certainly in the discussions I've been involved in around the meeting with Romney's this year, it was around the engagement leads in that suggesting
organisations, user groups, anyone, they knew that should be specifically invited, suggesting who should be round the table, would be, so to speak, so that they could ask those questions, but also DEV members of the public able to come in as they so wish. That does mean more complicated to find those those rooms and such, but I think it really valuable when operators are giving their update on what they're doing, and when we given our update that it is open to the public to view, we will just have to look into
or an area separate for that, I don't think, to be honest, the issue was never before that we had too many people out, there was probably that not enough people knew about it, so hopefully if we get into the to the point where we've got too many people to fit in the room, I'll be very happy that we've met the success, but at least it's getting that real engagement, so
hopefully we won't get to that point but but we'll see where we get to.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:30:13
let any more questions comments on this.
it's obviously needs to happen,
I think, care, I would keep it at 2.00 meetings, but then just say, if an ad in the policy, if there is a need to do more meetings, those can be arranged in conjunction with the portfolio holder and the bus engagement need but obviously subject to resource and no venue etc it's we live in times where we restrained on resource, I'm afraid, Councillor Bolton, we have to respect that in terms of getting things done.
right OK with that, then, are we happy with the recommendations?
yeah
always hopefully show.

7 Transport Policy Update

thank you very much, as is carried right, so next item on the agenda is transport policy update, and between meetings, lots of things happen that they really.
and therefore there's quite a lot in here, actually in the subsequent papers as well, so.
Rachel would you like to start with?
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:31:19
thank you, Chair yeah, so this is a report that comes periodically to yourselves at these committee meetings, to give you an update on relevant transport policy developments that are obviously not covered elsewhere on the agenda,
so set out in section 2 that updates on a few different areas so there's some updates regarding Transport for the North.
one board last met in March just before the pre-election period as it set out 2.1 there was a number of one substantive items covered at that agenda at that meeting, the one I wanted to just draw out in particular was the strategic transport plan
where there was a decision and it was confirmed that members of the board were happy for that plan to go out to public consultation in its draft format beyond the elections in actual facts. the draft just went public yesterday, it was a few days late and the original plan to publish it on the 22nd. I think they're hoping to do the consultation over the summer and have a final version in place by the end of the year, they have got a big
consultation engagement plan
in place, there's gonna be virtual sessions there, they're going to come to talk to some of the
officer groups and they are holding in the Queens Hotel on the 5th of July. They are holding
a session for people to turn up,
to listen, to what are the plans out and a chance to have their say and get their feedback on that, so obviously that's not in newspapers, because that's been announced since these papers were written, there was also a discussion about Northern powerhouse Rail, members called for a more local engagement on the NPR project going forward, rail committee, sorry, the Rail North committee also met back in February and can see there in 2.3 the agenda items that were covered,
discussions around, in particular the the sort of
ongoing frustrations around TransPennine Express and that's subject to an agenda item later in this meeting the also discussed Manchester task force and East Coast Main Line and in particular looking to address Leeds to Sheffield connectivity.
and then the Strategic Rail PA, strategic rail reports, apologies for the whole of the north, which is helped deliver the ambitions set out in the strategic transport plan, and it'll be consulted on later in the year, and there's another meeting coming up actually with Rail North Committee on the 7th of June so we're awaiting the papers so we can prepare for that.
in terms of
electric vehicle infrastructure, so following. the UK EV infrastructure strategy being published just a little over a year ago,
government announced a local electric vehicle infrastructure fund or levy
beyond that, which is a 450 million pound fund to accelerate accelerate commercialisation of local close to home charging. And I think you know it's important to point that this fund levy is targeted at residential areas without access to off-street parking.
So as set out in 2.7 and 2.8, we've had a couple of fun well. We've had a funding award for West Yorkshire back in February as set out there and then following that the following month we then got an additional allocation which is actually subject to government approval
of a suitable proposal being submitted.
So altogether, at the moment, we're looking at potentially capital funding of over 17 million pounds between between capital and then associated capability funds, which is around increasing capacity and capability at the local level to be able to plan and deliver EV infrastructure going forward. It's important to note that, obviously, as well as this capital money and this is not public money,
the project will be required to lever in private sector investment as well. So you know, gonna be looking at a total value. Adults are expected in excess of 20 million, that's yet to be sort of identified and confirmed as yet so there's been work underway to develop a West Yorkshire Evie Stratton charge points strategy
and combined authority officers have been working very closely with districts and partners in order to do that.
and the proposal for a levy fund will be developed based on the emerging strategic principles set out in the draft strategy and are set out in 2.10.
if the reports
we will be submitting a expression of interest today
this afternoon, that is the deadline for that, and the form of that expression of interest is that for the capital funding,
we are required to provide a high level approach to how we intend to use that capital money and what we will need to do beyond the expression of interest submission is over the summer we need to work. as I say,
On site allocation. Looking at where we're going to invest the money and will obviously need to bring something back to yourselves later in the year when we've done that piece of work for approval, but it's expected we'll need submitted as a full business case for that capital money towards the end of the year in November. In terms of the capability funding in the expression of interest. Today we have been asked to
x set out what we want to use that funding for in terms of Resource
across the partnership. So there's been a lot of work done with officers to to get to that stage. and we've got a submission that will be going in, and we should hear if that is approved
by government in the next month or two
so then, the final thing written in the report is just a quick update on the public particular information improvement projects of PIP as it's commonly become referred to as so West Yorkshire.
defra announced that West Yorkshire has an air quality scheme proposal was one of 44 projects to be awarded
air quality grants over the next couple of years, and the whole point of this the whole purpose, is to improve the understanding and awareness of particulate matter in West Yorkshire.
so there's been a lot of work done with an engagement with the West Yorkshire Low emission Strategy delivery group which includes air quality representatives from the partner councils and public health professionals and we're also engaging with some of the university establishments as well on this. The projects primarily would be looking at for packages around enhancing the particulate matter, monitoring network and establishing a particular dashboard and a regional air quality public information page and also some research projects that are gonna be undertaken by the the university partners in the partnership as well as the real aim is to improve the knowledge and understanding of particulate matter
and so looking at where in proving that knowledge, gaps surrounding the sort of regional particulate matter data and it's hoped it'll give us a better understanding of which sources have the greatest impacts on our communities and really helpful in the development of a new air quality strategy for West Yorkshire.
I was also going to mention Chef. It's OK at this point, so that obviously not in the papers in front of us but had a verbal update on active travel fun for if that's OK as well at this point, so we had intended to have a written update in this report for you this morning, but unfortunately we weren't able to include it because the embargo had not been lifted, so you may recall back in February there was a paper brought to this committee
about the active travel fund for submission and we made that submission at a West Yorkshire level back in February this year
we were actually notified that the outcome
towards the end of March but it was embargoed until after the pre-election period and the elections had taken place, and so that was lifted on the 19th that embargo, so
the feedback is you know, in terms of the bid from West Yorkshire, the good news was is that we receive one of the highest allocations nationally in the country
we were successful in being given around 17 and a half million.
towards schemes that look at
delivering new cycle way in walkways and improvements towpaths as well
the bid was assessed by at travel England,
and obviously this leads on from previous rounds of active travel funding, we've been successful and previously in previous years, as this was the fourth bid that would made.
our bid was
satellite set using all T and 1 20 compliance round, design, quality standards and obviously looked at value for money as well, and, in particular, looking at safe routes and options for women and girls in, in particular.
there was also an award made, based on a change request for a scheme in Leeds, which was actually a scheme that was awarded active travel funding through the previous round of active travel funding, so there was an additional 5 point on at 5.00.7000000 provided for that scheme too as part of this announcement bringing the total scheme announcement to just over 21 million.
I should point out, alongside that as well, that we were and also received 2.5 3 million pounds back in January to support.
the delivery of these capital schemes across West Yorkshire three were a capability and ambition fund which provides that employment revenue and support for scheme development and, obviously, officer training to support in delivery and development going forwards.
So the recommendation set out in section 7 of the report is that the committee notes the updates provided in this report. Thank you, Chair,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:41:29
thank you. Rachel squatter quite a lot in there. So first of all I'm on the transfer next Brett, if we can leave and discussion on that until the item, I think is item 9 is net that we're going to, and passenger experience of Noel will talk about that nurse if we can and spent comments on that until then, obviously you mentioned at travel England there, which has been a particular frustration for us in in Bradford,
and when I saw that announcement, I immediately asked for a meeting with chief executive of active travel England who have now had that meeting with just to point out that there actually don't know the region as well as they should do.
We all get to get together as Transport Committee members to decide what priorities should be informed by our district officers.
we put those in and actually they decided that they knew better than us, and for me as somebody who is a real champion of devolution, I find that particularly frustrating, because actually what should happen to this money is, it is devolved to the region and then we decide what the priorities are,
so I've made my views very, very clear to actually travel England
and I do believe again to visitors in the near future so they can understand a little bit more about the region and what we need to make active travel work for everyone. and be inclusive here, so am any comments or questions Councillor Buckley.
thank you Chair.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 0:42:54
Grade 1 3 3 2 8
mentioned that are 14.326 million pounds of capital funding to deliver EV charge points
can we be told
approximately how many points that will actually deliver,
there's lots of talk here about one and a half million for pilot funding and 236,000 for capability funding, but how many charge points will not deliver and secondly underneath that item?
there's an item of a million pounds for additional capability funding and only if the officer could just explain to me what that means please.
OK Rachel,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:43:46
yes, thank you very much, yes, thank you for that. and so the first
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:43:50
point about how much we're looking to deliver for the capital funding I mean at this point we need to undertake the more detail work that we haven't been required to do as yet, but we're expecting to deliver at least 500 and hopefully between 500 and a thousand.
charge points were within that sort of capital envelope
probably important to point out we are looking at focusing, as it says, in the report, 2.6 focusing at residential areas without access to off street parking and rosette predominate, looking at
slow on lower speed charge points, because the anticipation is that a lot of vehicles will be charged overnight and we've delivered a rapid charging
programme through a previous pilots funding that we received. This is around s of slower speed, charging overnight, targeted at residential properties without off street parking, so between 500 and a thousand is what we're aiming for their subject to this offer the work we need to do in terms of the capability funding, so in 2.7 the 230, while 237 almost thousand pounds that is supporting two full-time project managers which will be employed within the Combined Authority. to work with partners,
the district partners, to deliver some of the this capital funding that's coming forward.
the 1 million the well just over 1 million additional capability funding that we've been given
her has led to us working closely in partnership through the task group to set out the resources, because obviously you know 1.5 million of capital funding compared to 14 over 40 million, as quite a different ask in terms of resources needed to deliver quantum of money like that, so the additional money will be used to support additional posts subject to confirmation by government,
which had been there's been a lot of work done to identify what those extra posts would need to be within our partner councils. That will be going into the submission to government today and hopefully we'll find out in the next month or two if that is supported. Thank you.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:46:03
Thank you, Councillor Buckley. There's quite a lot for us to learn, isn't there an EV charging points etc and we can all think of areas in our own districts where there's no densely populated areas where you can avail to put the facility to do this, and I think we could probably do the separate session on it at some point, perhaps as a workshop I don't know at which is I just looking at Councillor Kershaw can catch up Canal, is it you
are excellent, so Councillor Carlo will organise that
Councillor Ball
expert, they're just on the issue, EV charging,
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Kirklees Council) - 0:46:36
some of the schemes that this Authority has already been rolling out, I think in
is a engine in partnership with,
then you get to bays sometimes in car parks that are not probably the most prominent areas.
one of those bays is a mocked-up says taxes on.
when there is no taxi rank anything in the vicinity,
the other problem with that scheme and what we can learn going forward, it is that there's no tomorrow in place, unlike some of the other electric charging schemes, local authorities are rolled out where it's illegal to parking if you're not in a electric vehicle and you get a ticket, the energy scheme isn't covered by them so non electric vehicles can parking and therefore negate the idea and I'm told by civil enforcement officers that a lot of these energy tight ones because they come with a challenging lead on them.
you're lucky if the charging lead stays very long, because obviously the the scrap value of that means that sometimes sadly Feige inciting, whereas the other tax schemes they the vehicle use as their own lead and plugs in, so I hope we can look at that going forward to make them more accessible to all users, yet it seems strange to restrict 50% of the bears when he, for taxis, when there's nothing in that area.
and I agree fully with your idea that devolution should be passed down to the lowest level and I look forward to more money being sent to Mirfield so we can decide as local councils how to spend it.
and as if by magic and talking about the 80 an interaction
there is coming up, there is.
the annual all-party parliamentary cycle ride in Westminster where government ministers 80 in practitioners
how a bike ride they have, then a small conference using the Dutch embassy and things
I'm going down to it, and I would hope that I, local authorities or this authority would also make sure that others can go down in that way you can get to meet those people in a less formal situation.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:48:41
that is a bit of a red flag to bully rarely by Councillor Bolt, because you ask me to go to London to talk about money that should be spent in West Yorkshire and
I just in there those people who are making decisions about West Yorkshire need to understand the terrain we're working within West Yorkshire adaption needs go to Westminster to have that conversation so I do find that a bit of a frustrating argument, Councillor Buckley.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 0:49:10
just going back to this 502,000 charging porch. Why is why are we so vague on this? We must have a more definite answer. Surely one isn't the a way of saying we need 948 or something like that?
It's a more
precision needed.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:49:32
Does it depend on how we, what we use, whether it's a car park or for a charging point on a street or something yeah,
Rachel Jones, Officer (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:49:38
that thank you very much. I thank you at this stage. At this early stage. We don't know because, while a without know
how much private sector funding we're gonna be able to lever into through this agreement and obviously the more we can lever in the March odd points we were going to be able to deliver
and at the point in time now, in terms of the expression of interest, we have not done that work that you are, I think, prescribing. That was what we need to do over the summer in terms of identifying
what the solutions are where we're going to be able to deliver, and therefore you know how many, when we're gonna, be able to cover for the money that we're going to have available, so I think that's all the work that needs to be done over the summer with a view to putting in a detailed application
towards the end of the year so yeah, we've sort of said between 500 and a thousand Barça. This is an emerging area Forest as well, you know, and so it's an area that we we need to
developed now over the coming months going forwards
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:50:39
Love, thank you, I feel a workshop going on Councillor Carla.
yeah, I think that would be really useful McGuckin, I think what was
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 0:50:45
interesting about this one. Is it's tackling the problem that hasn't been tackled really yet of those people who have electric cars but living in a terraced street with no opportunity of doing, and that's why some of the the the amounts are about vaguely, what this funding will be, because until we choose what area you know we may, this is going to the most rural village in West Yorkshire, and the cost per charge point will then be massively increased, because obviously you've got to provide the connection to the judge point as well, which is one of the most expensive bits, so I think it'll be all around where we pick to spend that money, how many are able to get? I think that was really positive about this. It is trying to solve that problem that we probably all get in our inbox, with many times of how can I switch to electric car when there's nowhere really for me to charge at home. It is very easy, if you've got drive to have one installed yourself, and most of that is done by private funds, but obviously when it's outside your house or on public highway, that's something that we, we have to look at and help with, so I think that's the problem that it will be a completely different cost if you put in one in the middle of Leeds city centre where there's so much infrastructure already too if you put in one in in a rural area outside of Mirfield, for instance, and that's what we need to look at and this one way where should we learn the most and tackle that and hopefully then will we learn from this project to be able to get more funding coming in and keep deliver and rolling them across?
OK, Councillor Thomas.
Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council) - 0:52:08
thank you, Chair, just to reinforce the frustration around active
travel England that we were told
effectively were a trusted partner as an authority.
and the decision seems to counter that completely.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:52:21
thank you, it is very frustrating indeed, and I have obviously expressed my frustration to actually travel England and, hopefully with with their visit, the region do understand better what we're tackling here.
Councillor Firth.
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 0:52:36
thank you to a couple of points, a movie, I've just got given a head round, you've got a long run, telesales was, and we're gonna
put some challenging points.
the Dalai, first under the vermin.
Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council) - 0:52:52
and I can't see anybody having 120,000 phone
no electric back to the telesales where we melt ginger, because I will look into the cost of the top of the roads on the other day in the Daily Mirror, by the way, 120,000 pounds.
I live in an electric car, the hanger 120,000 pounds of funding for 2000 view, my
ways.
on the active travel.
you may be a lot more once about 25 do
actually travel.
although it.
Susan knows my views on what happening on the last occasion when I do welcome is that the two and a half million pounds that the smaller authorities cut, obviously the biggest authorities don't need it. we go to us.
Wakefield of colour, to work up some some screws that will fit the criteria for acumen.
thank you Chair,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:53:56
I think you'll find on this committee, we're all one West, Yorkshire, really Councillor Firth,
so all of whom were yet to come to what you travel, and I know the percentage of active travel monies that came to Leeds 58% of the pot and then we subsequently scandal as well.
so I think Leeds would also support us in making sure that more investment comes from all parts of West Yorkshire is that obviously none of us can be successful without all of us being successful in terms of authorities. also anyway, Councillor, for thank you very much, so I think I think the outer ring Councillor Hayden in for right of response, however, and I do think you know where the the electric vehicle charging point has put before we've all got issues in our own wards about how important it is. We've all got residents writing to us saying how do I trailer a lead across the pavement because actually it's cheaper electricity? I understand from home that it is one of these kapok things as well, so it's about inclusivity as well. We need to. We need to all understand that I think from Ward Councillor point of view, as well as strategic transport leads. So and obviously we Tasking Councillor Carl was organising that workshop. We have a more detailed discussion on source elements, but before we close this item I will bring in Councillor Hayden just a to speak.
thank you on the EV charging,
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 0:55:13
yeah yeah, absolutely. the some very dangerous or activity going on in terms of cables, either coming from
a windows above or have two doors and across the pavements and things like that, so we do need to get it
as quickly as possible,
I mean, it will have to be in kind of,
Australia
kind of near people's houses, you can get electric cars much less than 120,000 pounds, otherwise my brothers are both hiding money that I didn't know they had
so.
it's
and I bought on the active travel.
it is, but can I have a plea that we want a levelling up, so we all get you know that the the money we deserve from from government rather than?
Leeds being criticised for having more than others, I don't want me to have more than others, I want us all to have our fair share in West Yorkshire and we are one West Yorkshire.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 0:56:20
hear hear and I'm afraid, when is scarce resources? This is what the government makers do, isn't it a fight with each other for scarce resources, as you rightly say, we all need the right investment to make our economies and our society work better. So with that, then a recommendation, as we note the update, which is quite useful. Thank you very much and move on now to bus service improvement plan updates, and there's quite a lot in here as well, so this is going to be, Dave I think, to start with
it is I'm getting regular break after having lost three items as well

8 Bus Service Improvement Plan Update

Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 0:56:53
there's quite a lot in this report, I'll I'll talk it through, probably come comes in about three parts really I suppose, firstly, there's the updates on stated local bus network and delivering the the B CYP as it's known as network improvements and mayor's fares.
also be a verbal update on the df 2 funding announcement. You'll be aware of that was made last week, as the papers were going to press heads, we were unable to get the information into the papers with sufficient intelligence behind him, I think, is fair to say and also wanna briefly reference. The decision was made yesterday around bus reform as well, which which is relevant in the context relevant in the context of the bus industry. Generally, I think that relevant new and constant what we're doing, as as an Authority and our partners.
I'll point out there's no approvals directly as a result of this paper itself, but there will be some financial approvals being sought as part of item 11, which I'll cover in a broader sense here, and then we'll see if that's sufficient detail, when we get to Item 11, which I can cover again and happy to return to, not because we will need to to ratify those through through the approvals process, firstly, by way of background, I'm sure you're aware
I following Covid recovery of the bus bus market has up to about 85% at the moment. it seems to be levelling off or have levelled off recently, but that remains to be seen.
one government visa is really around trying to push this forward further again and to
help stabilise the bus market and and bring a return to the patronage that was lost over that time, but also grow patronage over time as well, so we rewarded 70 million pounds of DCYP in revenue funding over three years. It was, it was a lot less than what we asked for, but it's it's a lot more than lots of other authorities have got to in that context. It's a positive
and the remit of this really of what we're doing is
prioritising, cheaper fares and increase service frequencies and new routes, obviously, as I've said, all this against a backdrop of low patches and service cuts.
three elements to be set, this report focused on the first two and is the mayor's fares, which is about 36 million pounds at the new services, has come in the broad sense of 31 million pounds, which is a combination of
a new routes or enhanced routes, but what we call enhanced bus services, previously known as super bus, which is still a little area of confusion in the naming, but we will get there in the end and the other areas, as is a small amount of money, a couple of million on past partying and safety
couple of million a year. on Thursday on those fans very, very briefly on those phones before I got onto the announcement last week, as you are aware, that's been capped at 2.00 pounds single and for our 50 for four what called them card ace over
and the analysis we've got to date shows about half million pound half a million journeys. Sorry, we could be made under this initiative and saved about 3.6 billion of public
passenger saving of about 20 pence or 20% on fares has an average of that as well.
We all look at it in more analysis, more oxygen in train to understand the impacts in more detail.
It's fair to say it is a very complex area because it's been looked at nationally. Against this backdrop of recovering patronage
so clever people and me will need to be involved in that process to disentangle what's been, what the growth is as a result of people coming back as opposed to people using that where been of real benefit, particularly during the year, the cost of living crisis as well,
so moving onto the workaround what we're doing as part of PCEP in terms of the networks we're currently working through what's called tranche 1, which is about 3 million pounds of investment to get a short list of around 10 services in West Yorkshire. and we've been working closely with the district partners, working with our own officers, been working with district partners, but also had bus operators to find a way of prioritising down from a list of about 450 routes originally down to this initial 10, but within that there are lots of other routes which can form parts of tranche 2 and tranche 3 which are 9 million pounds with 25 services and 6,000,015 services respectively
when we were acutely aware of the fact that service cuts have taken place already in some cases
and Wakefield indeed who have, through through a river or have suffered in that respect, but also thinks that a wider were also aware of,
and I'll come on to it around potential future cuts have been highlighted to operators which may be coming into play or being talked about come into play before too long, so some some key challenges are and how we work through to get to that shortlist, which I will come back to
on enhanced bus services or super bus. As I said, three routes were initially proposed. detention being for the Combined Authority through PCEP to fund for the first three years in a in a kind of reducing way and after the operation to the commercial risk in years 4 and 5, with the aim to be making fully sustainable services and those three services are as one in the key for the area and has Shipley to lead service and Halifax Huddersfield service and obviously within that, there were discussions with Arriva to try and establish services in that area, which we're not we're not fruitful in respect of, particularly with tranche 1, but will probably go back for another bite of the cherry on that one.
and there is a further 5.7 million pound available in the pot once an initial 4.2 5 million has been allocated those routes.
so we need to look at how how we, how we allocate it, whether it is on more superb bus routes or whether it is around supporting services as well, so some key decisions to be made over time, I think in respect of that before sorry I have to I'll touch next on the bus reform announcement, one of them on to the and the government's announcement last week so intend to push reform.
at a Combined Authority meeting yesterday and committee members approved the progression of what's called the assessment, thought for audit and it's a bit complicated, but it's a statutory requirement set out under the Transport Act 2000 and linked to the the Bus Services Act 2017. so that assessment concluded concludes that franchising is the preferred option for the Combined Authority to progress with subject to the audit which will take place over the summer and subject to the outcome of the statutory consultation, which will flow from that in the autumn as well and this will inform a report and recommendations to the mayor coming forward in spring next year
and it's also proposed as part of that to continue engaging with local bus operators understanding more detail what can be achieved and what's called the enhanced partnership announce partnership plus option which could be considered which which will be to consider serious and any part of Meryl decision going forward.
turning to the issue of the announcement last week,
I'm I'm hoping I believe it happened, a briefing note has gone out to Transport Committee members which sets out, in broad terms.
what that and what that announcement actually said. and again, it's thought they talked about the have governed have been providing support, supplement revenue lost a bus system as real to us as a result of reduced actions during pandemic and governance, also as local governments continue to pay bus operators at pre pandemic rates. this was subject. last year to a short time extension and the that funding was due to expire at the end of June this year and continued uncertainty. It has has proved to be quite unhelpful to local transport authorities and bus operators. As I'm sure you're all aware, and the government introduced the 2 pounds national fare cap in January for three months and then extended it to June, so, as part of the announcement they've agreed to provide up to 200 million continue capping the single bus fares to pound outside London. Obviously, domestice initiative was introduced ahead of a national scheme and was funded through its funded through the bus service improvement plan as to give an announcement on fares does not therefore apply to us in West Yorkshire, where separate decisions can be made on fares, timescale and cost
in terms of the wider picture,
116 billion has been provided to local transport authorities, improve our services and infrastructure, 140 million go direct
to bus operators to help spread and protect to help protect essential services and that's spread over this financial year and next financial year. So from our perspective in West Yorkshire,
as I said already, they were poised to reduce services commensurate with the loss of funding area they're expecting to that wallet welcome the certainty that funding comes from government but there is no revising it still less no receiving and to be honest, we were not as hundred percent clear on what they were receiving, so it's hard for us to get that absolute clear picture they've indicated a still need to reduce costs and cut services in response to this and we're awaiting confirmation from bus operators as to what if any, actions will flow from that.
and that that announcement, then makes it more relevant in the context of the basic services I was talking about, and the intention is that, following this transport committee that the transport committee members hope will be holding a workshop in early June to work through the ramifications of these announcements and to talk through how we see the prioritisation of routes and how we can protect services going forward. The intention is to bring a report back to the 7th of July Transport Committee. Whether we'll get to the full answer on that by then remains to be seen, but we're looking to work collaboratively and quickly to work through that process.
I know there's a lot there of covered. There's probably a lot of questions as a result of that, and I'm happy to go the route to a date to try and answer that.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:06:17
Thank you very much. Dave so are quite a lot in their adversely sought. Some good news in that we've got in here.
The three plentiful come superbugs some are not allowed to come through, but it's such an easier brand name, isn't it, but anyway, three new services
across West Yorkshire,
benefiting particular Keighley Leeds, should play their and had his Huddersfield to Halifax, which is great. I do have some sympathy, of course, with our Wakefield colleagues who have strongly campaigned for better use of bus services in Wakefield and have not been rewarded with cooperation from Aretha there in terms of improving services and not cutting them so much. So I do have some sympathy and obviously we will work through the bus service improvement plan that we've got to try and support their ambitions in that area
but the bus announcer has been made this week, it gets been hand to mouth all the way through hasn't it's are we still, I think you're still figuring out all the ramifications of it, but it sounds like the money that the bus operators have been given is not enough, and therefore further cuts will be
implemented by the operators, which is not way. Wannabe will be in a position where we grow in the network and are funding more routes, making sure there's a simpler integrated ticketing, etc etc so it is particularly disappointing and frustrating.
We we've still got to have. That workshop was to move very important in that rarely, and is it's an awful situation for us to be in where we have to start and decide priorities, and it's all priorities now and I'm sure we'll all find it very difficult side which part in which is not priority, because actually we all know that a comprehensive network leads to better patronage, better buses and are more people using those buses and getting people off the road. So
the bus reform progress that was made, yes, a Combined Authority, I think, is welcome as we look to how we can craft a future bus network which serves the people of West Yorkshire better, but I think within all that it needs more money, doesn't it if we need people to have a better bus service than its best and money found to support them to use them. So m albums questions comments now anybody wish to say one thing, Councillor Salam Councillor Firth and Councillor Caffrey I've got thank you,
thank you to thanks for that.
I think
one of the things that we've got to keep in mind I mean I know the assessment has gone to the order
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 1:08:41
position now, and we will await the outcome of that work, things that we also got the keeping minded to enhance partnerships, have them have
dinner, that's evident,
they haven't worked, we
provide bus services cut back.
phase would all over the place until the metaphors and yet came in, and I think the metaphors have actually worked, the reduced fares for poem 15 to poem very simple fares the only thing that hasn't worked and I think needs some more work on it is the tap on top of I think that's something that needs more work on it.
people are still not sure how that works, so that might be something that we need to do a bit more on to make sure that people understand.
how we work, because that would actually then speed up journey times, whereas now people are stood there, asking how it works, and what can I do and then physically asking for tickets, so that might be so, therefore, for me
you know whether is enhanced partnership or enhanced partnership plus,
I don't think it's going to work, I think you know if we're going to go for something we will have to be franchising, I think that's what would be cried out for.
we need to put proper control as to how the networks of public transport is going to work, and for that, for me, it is is is only one way forward.
I mean, we're not going to talk about the
the subject of public ownership, that's something that we haven't talked about a public control, but I think
not franchising would actually give us public control in semi way, so therefore,
whatever the decision is, I think in our view we need to be mindful that I don't think the public the enhanced partnerships have worked.
thank you, Councillor slam as a long history of partnership working
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:10:43
in West Yorkshire is one that and you're right, we are where we are today and that's a illustrative point. have have it as not really delivered results so far.
as it had been
well, combined authorities cannot own bus companies, as so that that's as illegal.
legal barrier to what you suggest there, but I understand where you're coming from, I've got a Councillor Firth, Councillor Catherine and Councillor Carla.
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 1:11:15
I don't want to labour the point about enhanced partnership, all about the network in West Yorkshire, but without a major partner Areva
coming to the table
we can't we can't have an effective network to prove that via not
negotiated, not working, not playing with Wakefield, and without them
Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council) - 1:11:41
we can have an effective partnership, so can I just expressed my disappointment. on behalf of Wakefield at the Arena that haven't come to the table
thank you, Councillor Firth, Councillor Caffrey.
this year
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 1:11:57
McNish's just about the subsidised bus fares to 2 pounds and things I mean, I'm a great believer in in I've always thought that buses were price sensitive about and rival to anything else, then you know about
Cllr Peter Caffrey (Calderdale Council) - 1:12:11
a lot of yourself so expensive and I'm just I'm just sort of questioning whether this has worked in terms of numbers.
in paragraph 2.1 9 there's lots of stats.
St 7.2 million journeys, etc people say, 3.6 million saving 20%, but I sentences. The data also suggest growth in patronage, which is not precise, so it is precise about the group which I thought was crucial to having this scheme in the first place, and then it says he's 85% of pre pandemic levels. Still, I don't know what that was in terms of numbers and what seven points in willingness because it doesn't work. It's been compared to. I mean, obviously I'm I would. I would hope that this is getting more people on the bus. I know it says here, the you know, let's wait two years and then see if it's working, but that seems an awful lot because this is costing 1 point, nearly 1.3 million a month, so I think we ought to know is, is it working in terms of numbers
because I've just gone a bus from Halifax there's only one an hour now and it was about 20 people, so I'm I'm not convinced I'd like to think it would work because I was out and about the too expensive and non-thinking also talking rubbish, I don't know George
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:13:27
thank you for the Gulbis anything's is gonna work because they're carrying on with it from the national programme, but Davis yeah, yes,
I can
understand the frustration in terms of of
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:13:37
putting a finger on whether or not this actually is is growing, perhaps new-age,
I think. the couple of things to think about release Thursday, and we have had quite a volatile sort of period with the pandemic, so to watch it comparing it to to
to to to before it's quite difficult, because before it was a lot less in terms of numbers of people using her think the the the the data suggests that am receiving so the single digit growth in terms of numbers of pupils using it. number one, we need to be ready to have all sorts tingled to any square, three and in terms of. Over people using it, but we need to be really careful in terms of how we compare that to before the we make judgments. I think this is Councillor intricate said yet the government is pressing on with a similar sort of principle. So I think that the general view is that, by keeping bus or bus fares
cheaper and
and easier to understand, the the long game is that actually they'll bring back their passengers back, but I think it's quite difficult to compare at this particular point,
but I think we yeah we we we also are seeing different path impacts in different journeys, as well as so in urban areas, the savings relatively modest in terms of what people paid before the people, making longer journeys, serving speaker and console, that's probably going to change the pattern of people using buses as well
thank you to Councillor Colell.
thank you, I would just gonna come back with the really to touch his
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 1:15:18
point on the tap on tough off, because it's. one issue that Councillor Thomson raised on behalf of her residents. The one thing I do want to remind people is the tap on tap of on an operator doesn't at the moment, if you use in cross operator, support the mayor's fares, so were you to take
a chancellor bus, then a First Bus, then Arriva bus, you would not find a journey capped at the four and 50, and that's the real difficulty that the tap on tap of is just what the operators have got on their services. It doesn't work with the fares we have, so that's one of the confusions we've got the moment we've obviously put in the simple affairs. Operators are able to offer their own fares as well. The tap on top of makes another confusion. Obviously, we have the ambition to have a single tap on top of the as one system like an Oyster card type system. Unfortunately, that isn't in at the moment, so just to raise that concern, if people are using two buses because I've ever on them hearing your point in their local of Councillor Thompson's constituent pay and 8 pound, I think, for a journey they thought was going before about 50
so it was really on that point, but I guess overall.
this is getting to that point, where at least we are seeing some fine final numbers of what bus operators will have, which is great good, I think we have been in a series of flux operators of not knowing what's coming from three months to the next and that's been a real difficulty. we are, unfortunately, at the point where.
bus operator seemed to be clearly saying to us that this is a lot less than they were getting previously and they will be looking to make decisions based on that, unfortunately, as we know about British decisions on that, that is to reduce the services in order to try to make sure that the network is affordable within their
that their company's profit margin so that's the one difficulty. that's why I think just to clarify that we've got the superfluous proposals in there, but we have also got other services in
and we're asking for some money to put towards enhancing other services as part of the approvals later. correctly when we've been round the district district and said, Well, how can we say, what services we'd like you to spend the money on now, when we don't know what services are going to be offered in two months' time, and so that's why we're asking for that workshop, then to come up and have that discussion where we can see whatever operators might change in in the near in the coming weeks and we can then look at where that might have impacts, take into account those impacts that are already been felt in a river areas in Wakefield, but unfortunately that may now be felt in other areas and we can decide what we'll do, but the one thing I'll say we have got that 3.8 million pounds in here. I am.
I would be amazed if that would cover the amount of services that, unfortunately we're going to be seemed to be lost, because the way operators are talking as if the loss that they have is significantly more than that and will wait for them to confirm obviously because we haven't seen sight of necessarily what had been had but but that's just one point of caution I did what but in there the money is welcome to both of us and the certainty is welcome but unfortunately it certainly isn't enough money as you mentioned here.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:18:14
not enough to cover the network we've got in regard to SIF wanting to grow it so absolutely. Councillor Buckley,
thank you Chair.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 1:18:25
all the discussions about outcomes enhance partnerships and
suchlike
would really be apart from the politics
of it would
be beside the point if passenger numbers were higher,
you know going back to 2019 admitted at the Venice low decline, but passenger numbers once a given point lockdown came along and wrecked everything included in this particular industry.
and
given that the numbers are back to about 85% of what they were before lockdown.
but they seem to be levelling off and I've got another draft report here which
yeah, you know about.
this it's mentioned here that is very much thought of that, that is
a levelling
off now, given that are we officially abandoning the pre 2020 2019 target of 10% improvement, because that was that, with 10% improvement on 100%, so not really should be gone and I haven't seen in documentaries and this I'm assuming that's quietly being varied.
but that is the is the problem, isn't it?
secondly, the bus service improvement plan.
I'm sure that Dave said when this first came along that this wasn't to be used for subsidising services, which will otherwise be cut,
and I just wondered whether he could

9 Passenger Experience Update

tell us about that, because I get the impression now that it is good to be.
government cells originally were allowed, so, and then they sort of
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:20:17
made it a bit of a grey area, I'm not sure I've clarified since of the day.
as cover that is data they have yeah yeah indie crack they have
Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:20:27
suggested a relaxing that an account can be used to support services now, to some extent, and that's what we're gonna be working through.
I think just come back on the other. The other point there and be set targets were to increase 15% patronage on 2019 levels, which is which is accepted as challenging now I think it's fair to say, but that is that is a target we're committed to working towards and the measures we're doing or seeking to to improve patronage and the be factors outside the control of of occupiers of itself which may contribute towards
increasing bus patronage going forward, including, you know there is a continued increase in re return to people working commuting as well which at which you can see over time but overall the pattern the figures have levelled off
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:21:11
so there's lots of variables into this, as well as a if all the buses were arriving on time and the service and the passenger experience was good, then actually, that would also contribute to increase in patricidal accept, were at the top of where we need to be yet I think we can go a lot further if our services were working brilliant less, I've got Councillor Clarke Hayden, thus,
thank you for just a quick one, on something I remember from quite a previous meeting of the Authority and response from both book
Cllr Peter Clarke (Bradford Council) - 1:21:39
providers on the so-called ghost buses, and it's not something I've had
on for a while,
so if he wants to that can we just go
to Councillor Hayden
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:21:48
Councillor first and then we'll come back to officers for answers, thank you.
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 1:21:53
thank you. It's moral comment, but I really welcome the mayor's fares. I mean it was a year ago that I was getting
correspondence from residents really upset that their bus fares would go up, particularly on a reefer, without them being in a informed to have that certainty, whether it does grow patronage or not,
people can budget in in a very where food is running at 20% inflation. They know that this week and next week and next year they can get on a bus and home again for 4 pounds 5 pounds off. You know to to away, or if they're getting more buses for 4 4 pound 52. I really welcome it in an age where we have so little certainty that
the mayor has as put money into this and provided that certainty for people, thank you,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:22:41
Councillor Firth, and then.
not sure
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 1:22:46
I'm just wondering about the stats mark 85%
written purpose.
we identified the missing 50% is it concession refers, is the on labour are not coming back in buses as all officers, any idea where this 50% come from and we get them back,
I think it's good, really good question because it's quite a
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:23:11
complicated sort of picture because
on the positive side we are actually seeing more under 19 s travelling on buses and then we saw controlled at the pandemic and I think that's sort of testament a little bit to the policy that this committee brought in.
in 2021, in terms of simplifying affairs for younger people.
and so we're seeing a bit of growth there,
the
that the main issue really is is is in, firstly, in the fact that,
and you can see it in this building and inserting in in other workplaces across. across West Yorkshire is that and people don't.
particularly people who work in offices aren't coming to work five days a week, so there are they're travelling to three times a week perhaps but not five days when that's impacting we see that particularly in the the peak numbers and you can see that even just looking at how quieter a bus might look on a Friday than it does on a Tuesday or Wednesday and that then so that say and that's that's really coming through in the numbers and that comes through in terms of things like the m cards that we sell season tickets people are buying less season tickets because they're not travelling characters or weeks other buying journeys and on a more individual versus the other area is in.
in the concessionary bus passes and that is sort of tracking something around about 70% about 10% lower than the adult fare paying passengers,
and I think there's probably a lot of factors involved in that in terms of of people people with a free bus pass as no cost issues for them just making fewer journeys, there's probably lots of reasons for that I think that that's broadly
some of getting underneath the 88% is probably not helping.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:25:03
Thank you, Dave and wash your only feet Ghostbusters I mean goes buses
I well, yes, Yes, girls will see this just very very Elsad benefit.
That's where a bus appears to be on its way to a bus, stop I and the
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:25:18
real-time information and then either disappears from the screen or the information system, or just doesn't turn up, and we have had
quite a few issues with people reporting that that there are a number of reasons for that. We set a working group with car with the Combined Authority, colleagues and bus operator, colleagues, to work through the reasons for that and that is still still, while doing that, some of that is because bus operators might have cancelled at journey whilst the bus was out on the street and the system hasn't caught up with its those that are an issue with the at the bus operator reporting it, as it is a real issue with the system and the error there probably, but both in that and so so there's a lot of work done to try to minimise and reduce that that happening, because obviously I think, as as as Members this committee said in the past and that that's another example of where people might lose confidence in bus service if they think buses coming in, it doesn't turn up so lots of activity, lots of technical activity to try and address that
thank you as Councillor Emma Thompson indicating.
Cllr Eric Firth (Kirklees Council) - 1:26:25
thank you Chair, and just yet the simplicity of those is really important, I had an interesting conversation last week with a young woman about your diversity and use of public transport and feeling pushed by drivers to use tap on top of which leaves one with no
Cllr Eleanor Thomson (Leeds City Council) - 1:26:39
receipt and an uncertainty of hammers they'll be paying.
which was then reinforced by the other case that Councillor Carlo referred to and wished Dave kindly helped to resolve
of the mystery of the tap on top of costing somebody 8 pounds before journeys.
yet Justin if we're wanting people to access public transport, the simpler the fare structure, the better, but if you know this the mouse for, but then the bus driver tells you've got to tap on top of
people, don't quite know what they're doing and it's important we address that where we can please thank you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:27:14
thank you very much as Councillors Lamb.
sort of terror.
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 1:27:21
I just wanted to actually come back very quick.
I think one of the things that we've got to actually look at Councillor Buckley is that if you compare the package from 86 to 96 to 2006 and 2016.
and about two years of do not mean pandemic, and I think that's where we've actually stopped at 2019, and now we're looking at patterns from 2019,
I'm not really sure whether the pandemic has played that much of a path because if we look at the 2019 and 2023 I think we would have been at the same situation because of the declining passengers and the pill fact is is that for far too long, public transport, especially buses, have actually been neglected, is hand to mouth every three months. Do not mean there's an announcement that we will actually give. It needs a long term investment strategy because what I said at the beginning was
we need people to have confidence in public transport that that was one of them going to be standing in rain or at night for that was dice. Gonna turn up. That's what people need confidence in and if they don't have that confidence they're going to make all the plants they can either get or catch a taxi or get somebody to pick them up or use their own car and will never be able to get to the point where we want the people that we want back on buses will never get them back on buses or on trains unless they are confident in the in the
the public transport, and I think that's where we are at 15%, I'm sure, working in the industry for the last 37 years we would have been sat here talking about that 15% if the pandemic didn't happen, because it's been on a decline ever since.
thank you very much, Councillor Sam Councillor McLoughlin.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:29:12
thank you, Chair yeah. I just think I saw a quick pointed kind of build on what's been said,
Cllr Matthew McLoughlin - 1:29:18
losing that 50% as Councillor Slap says is more of a long-term trend, but I think we can maybe miss the trick if we're concentrate on trying to get back people who we have is to try to get more people who were on there before, because, as they have yes and said,
some people's work as and life paths have just completely changed and not necessarily for the worse, the abolition of the community is not a bad thing.
It's all from an environmental point of view or mental health point of view or a family life point of view,
what we need to concentrate on, perhaps instead of trying to get back those people who were probably never going to get back is getting the finding out who is still driving their car persistently and how do we get them out of it and into public transport and of costs the solutions we've talked about endlessly are we need cheaper and simpler affairs as well, we are trying to do, but we need a government that will provide us the money to run a reliable and secure service. So we're not going every three months saying what's going to happen, what's going to happen? We don't know what cuts we're going to get, because ultimately, that unreliability is frustrating for us, and it's just confusing for four members of the public and
speaking personally and on behalf of the Committee, and I agree with Councillor while again, franchising is the best we can do at the moment, I think, pushed towards a better service, but public ownership or control and all we can't do it, but that's certainly what I'd like to see ultimately,
thank you very much, everybody for that quite rich discussion.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:30:41
particularly about how how far we can go with patronage.
I think
you absolutely right, Councillor McLoughlin, that we need to think about new markets and actually leisure is something that we've all talked about round this table for isn't it that the bus services we've got might not actually be serving the leisure market as well as they might be and therefore having a bit more control over our bus network might enable us to grow the the the patronage. In that respect, I think that some of the the concessionary fare reviews going down, I think numbers looking at a little bit further doesn't if you've got a lot of elderly people just been on their own at home now, whereas before they were getting out and about that's not good from a social care point of view, and I think that that's probably worth worth looking at again.
I just want to point out that in this paper, with also approving the 6 million pounds and DCYP which is in item 11 as an agenda point,
but it's also out Lane here with she's some of the mayor's fares and the enhanced bus service scheme, so that's what we're going to image recommendation now, noting the DCYP programme updates and approving that funding approval request. So anybody else anything to say before we move to that recommendation
they did you want to come in brief, with analysis
of I could see witching.
although I was going to say, was that Transport for considered some interesting research, which we should be able to come back to the next
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:32:08
meeting on on why?
the older people with the free bus passes are. I want to travel it and I think would be quite useful to bring that back and into to reflect on how that works in west York.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:32:21
thank you, that was good value for money and I thank you very much Dave so let's have a look at that report and consider bringing back to their transport committee meeting, thank you very much, so with that then I'm I'm happy to recommend the recommendations regarding the report and said Councillor Cowell can second that and all those in favour please show,
thank you very much that is carried, thank you.
so now, moving on to the next item on the agenda, which is passenger experience updates and is a bit uninspiring title, but is actually quite a lot in this report. So should to discuss including a transparent express and the fact that DFC is determined. The operation of TP should now transfer to the government owned operator of last resort alongside Northern Melania. So I think there appears in your speech to this item. I
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:33:11
am not, I want, I'll go over the detail of the report, this was a report we we bring to you, which is basically an update as to as to what's happening out. I'm unable written support network pose as since the last meeting, so we've had a long discussion around punctuality, reliability and patronage in the previous item, and just to try to pull one or two things out, because this report deals with rail issues as well as bus issues,
clearly there the rail,
its service has the still impacted by by industrial action, it's it's, it's also.
had specific issues at times been an espresso being experienced and discussed at these meetings previously and in 3 x 3 4, the decision regarding the this, a termination of the trans Pennine Express franchise and bringing it back into the the operator a last resort provision that the government have
clearly that the the performance figures aren't showing any impact of that yet,
and that's probably something that need to work through in time.
I think the other thing the report points out in terms of bus, which I think we've covered in a lifestyle item is we still, I think, Councillor Carl Ellis has pointed this out as we still in a position where there could be further reductions of off and services that come out of the funding announcement. So I'm still a little bit of choppy waters really in terms of rail and bus, quite sort of looking forward
lots of detailed reports are happy to to answer any specific questions,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:34:44
thank you very much, any questions or comments on this report,
Councillor Firth.
and just like to mention the, though the still abysmal service, while 2 p
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 1:34:56
I
I will are mimicking Swenson
and I thought I'm going to train.
so I turned up for the 11 27 only to find.
gets cancelled again.
so if you have to make
an immediate sort, Sir shall rank real trouble to me just is almost like the
the last resort, if, because she Davies mentioned it, you can depend on them any more, and that's why
pattern it is still not climbing as it your step every time I go save another traditional stairs going back. Council, council, council and, and it will be the same throughout with regard to when they are going to get their act together, I know it's going to be transferred or is being transferred from ownership, but it's then people remain and the same drivers. and and it's the same timetable and the same cancellations, sorry who to our little on, but it's, but it's a fact of life, I'm afraid many until next result we're going nowhere.
that's a putt.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:36:04
thank you, Councillor, for the costs or for any pan regular passages on TP and Councillor Kaushiq is better this quite many times. it is deeply frustrating that they cannot rely or properly on a service which is so vital is the only route we've got really across lines,
and we cannot tolerate that. I am hopeful that obviously, with change of operating model then it might lead to better relationships with trade union. Colleagues, so that it can get to a better accommodation there and then we might get to see some improvement, so I'm an optimist and hoping that that will actually bear fruit or any other comments questions
no OK, Love Lane well, in that case we note the report

10 Review of MyBus Primary School Services

and I think that there's no approvals required on that report, so it go now, onset review of my bus primary school services now it's important to note I think that we've been sustaining the services as a Combined Authority for some years without government support government ouster
fund the services, but stop doing so several years ago now,
given the all the financial conversations we've been having throughout this.
meeting
you will understand that it is difficult for us to continue funding this without government support, particularly when you look at the table, I think, which was in here, which showed that one service was 23 pounds per passenger, something which is obviously very steep.
so
there's been a consultation, Dave Johnson or bets on yes.
back in 2019, the Committee approved a set of guidelines
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:37:51
and what bus services school bus services, that Combined Authority would provide and set a value for money, sort of measure which has been updated in light of recent sort of economic changes,
and so what this reports doing is saying we're actually applying that value for money assessment to, to
a number of of services that are value for money
is applied all the time, as well as each, but as each school bus services is so reviewed, particularly around the change of the academic year, we do look very closely at most the secondary schools services are pretty full and we try and optimise service provision but we do some run some specific services to primary schools which, whereas Councillor initially said originally publicly, funded by government
and with sustainable services and them and are given the increase in costs of provision across the piece. We need to look very carefully at a which of them are still offering value for money, so the 39 of these services, of which 17 were unaware that sort of meeting the 2 pounds target. So what what happened earlier in the year and I think we notified members of the committee at the time,
what we, we started at public engagement, process on on whether or not the services were actually used and valued by the schools, but the communities by their users and what options might be available, and this report really sets out what the outcome of that was in terms of the engagement in terms of the the actions to be taken so in in paragraph 2.6 and 2.7. It sets out the services where the that the analysis and the engagement and and the Sir interaction with the school which suggested that services should be withdrawn from the end of the academic year and in 2.8 and those services were asked and continued action to to maintain journeys and to to to
address the sort of funding gap and in some of them, particularly with with the school and
and with the
with the soften of funding partners in terms of deem denominational schools, so so that the report sets out basically, that Aviva process to apply the guidelines which you you've approved in 2019 and is there for fear of sort of information in terms of how that's been done and I'm happy to take any questions around that
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:40:23
thank you any questions comments Councillor Catherine.
yes, Torres you make zaps was in fact a lie that has got you you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:40:35
may, if you obviously fine, thank you very much for your attendance this morning as the clock.
thank you Chair,
it's just quite disappointing to see the number of
Cllr Peter Clarke (Bradford Council) - 1:40:44
services to be cut from this one and, as I should say, it's as one of the Ward members affected by these cuts, I would like to say some, it is very disappointing to see this the slurring and I hope that the committee will be able to review that decision and obviously changes its policy if funding is permitted.
I think it's just the lack of funding that we've got as an authority,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:41:07
and I have got every sympathy, Councillor Clarke,
but it is just we don't have the money in a day no,
and I think we would probably consider these sketches replying quite an expensive solution to a fairly,
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:41:20
not very well used to sorts of problem if, if like in terms of the year, the levels are used to these services were were quite low, and that's why they are. the cost per passenger was quite high, what we have sought to do is is to adapt to the services where we can to to maintain the journeys for for those people who were particularly adversely affected, but a lot of as, as we know, a lot of primary schools are by their nature within some relatively easy walking distance of of off. the catchment areas that this.
and that, in in some of these cases, the people, the children, using the services we're within a mile of of the school, in other cases, we were able to adapt to the services to meet them, so we're trying to make the best of it if we, as as Councillor Hussain said if we if we had
unlimited resources then it might justify putting I effectively or a bus it carries.
30 40 50 people to carry today, threes and fours and five sixes, and that sort of what's been post been done with these services in the past.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:42:32
thank you very much, any Councillor clutching briefly come back.
I think I completely understand the scarce resources, but I think the committee might need to take a more pragmatic approach, certainly
Cllr Peter Clarke (Bradford Council) - 1:42:44
wards such as mine with very rural
in its very brief, to apply a uniform policy, and so that's how they think, but I think in terms of incredibly rural areas I think a more pragmatic approach that needs to be taken but again that's just my view.
do you have anything that's about the state, an issue and the
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:43:01
consultation do you know she remember?
Steven,
because that's the cat. That's the ward that Councillor Clarke is we
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:43:09
yeah, so that the p 31 I can get back to Councillor
Capita, some 23 23
right that one, and I am come back to you on the detail of that I'm happy to to to give you some background, like my colleague can could probably make contact with you, as she has done with quite a few
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:43:25
councillors, and we have actually work quite closely with the with
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:43:29
ward councillors and with the schools to that or identify the issues that come from that. I ask her to to to give your ring one contact and and talk through the issues has merged with that on, I think generally there are one or two these, it's situations in in 2.8, where
where there has been some recognition of the fact that, whilst some of these these are areas there are other bus services in the vicinity that it could be used or within walking distance and there's a few examples in 2.8 where
the there aren't and where rural areas an annual disbursement population has been taken into consideration.
thank you very much any more comments or questions on this item, no,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:44:19
in that case the recommendation is being notes the actions being taken kind of see all those in favour, please show.
thank you very much that is carried.

11 Project Approvals

so moving now to the final item, but this is not a project approvals
we're going to have a few people actually going to be on this depend on which item we've got for, so first one is Rachel, I believe, so about
the
bus network bus service improvement plan
I'll actually pick up
this this this this flows ready from the report that I introduced around bus service improvement plans, I won't go over the detail
Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:44:55
again, but in effect disapproval is seeking to
yeah so strong, it's just to confirm we joined annually and if so, are you happy with that I'll be part and parcel good.
and we are OK with that because we did dig that.
yeah, the committee agrees that we're
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:45:13
just checking and just checking on legal on the, I think that as a player I haven't slept for that year as part of the other item.
so moving on then, David Gill, combine services and assets database.
WYCA Officer - 1:45:42
always look at my summary,
so this scheme.
is regarding the procurement implementation of a replacement system for the Combined Services. an asset's IT system,
which is approaching 25 years old,
this system will provide public transport information, and so on, and support management of the public transport network, which is a statutory obligation for the Combined Authority.
the new system will enable the CA to continue to create and manage but turntables, manage and plan public transport, provide journey planning tools for the public and provide scheduling of taxi transport for young people with special educational needs.
It will enable access to education and training via the system
in terms of the impact. It will never see eye to continue to meet its statutory obligations. It will put the organisation in a good position to improve and meet future transport needs with a modern transport system that is flexible and will enable the organisation to deliver its future plans.
For example, the says Biscayne support to the transition to future bus franchising by replacing a single outdated system with various interactive solutions which are more suitable for the future.
The system to which this system coder, will replace will make the Authority's technology standards. This means that LB cloud hosted secure, accessible from remote locations, mobile device compatible and have appropriate supplier support arrangements in place. We're seeking to put in place systems which enable efficient processes and will allow the organisation to make a step-change in utilising digital technology has to have a more modern back office system which can provide better services.
this news, these new set of systems, will place a hive
degree of importance on value for money, accessibility for our diverse staff force and intelligent reporting.
the total scheme cost is 6 comma 15,000 and is can be funded by the city region sustainable transport settlement
and was seeking approval to go through decision Point 2 to 4
and the funding recommendation is 615,000, of which 50,000 can has previously been provided.
thank you.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:48:26
thank you very much, for that said, will this make the an information on the bus stops more accurate?
WYCA Officer - 1:48:34
at that is the the real-time system which this week the ecosystem integrate with it, so it won't provide
any different source data for the real-time system,
the real-time system is a separate system to the cosy system.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:48:55
thank you very much.
So
this Aussies new system to make things, work and back office that doesn't really seem to have an awful lot of
public of obvious public benefit, although it is in the cloud and I told the cloud is a wonderful place variety to be these
days, it did just to build on what they're saying. What happens to the
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 1:49:17
system is that Oliver's timetables are put into a database and an database and feeds the real-time information system. It creates the the the on paper timetable, it goes on the bus, stop and sort of thing, the it's an existing system that needs to be replaced and updated so that we can and hopefully can improve the accuracy of that system, so every bit of public a bus service information flows through this system and then out into the various different ways in which the customer sort of experiences it so a new system should actually make that process slicker, but it should also,
it should also improve some of the and the the accuracy of the information,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:49:59
so it's like I'm in a car and you replace the engine but not given every spray, and there is the engine, and the engines are important any more questions or comments on this bit
know or cannot in that case can I say all those in favour of this Diglot of approval, please show,
thank you very much, that is carried, thank you
next one is Vicky Dumbrell, talking about Leeds city, bikes, leaks,
thank you,
WYCA Officer - 1:50:27
I'm so this is the full and final approval for the Leeds city bike scheme and it was given an approval at the early stage of development by the Combined Authority and the approval route that was agreed then was that the project would come back and for consideration at full business case rather than outline
it's funded through the pot of funding that's ring fenced for the additional carbon mitigation measures within transforming cities fund. All the promises that before casting it were presented during the early stages and they have now been met and surround the funding from the Combined Authority, the number of bikes, the timescales and that kind of thing
all the bikes in the fleet will be electric and which makes them much more viable for more journeys and for a lot more people, and particularly if you haven't cycled for a long time or if the new new to using a bike
though be over 100 years old over 650 bikes available and 140 docking stations around the city centre and also 10 electric tricycles,
so a full equalities assessment has been undertaken and the tracks are a pilot offer that's been provided by the operator,
a thorough assessment of the carbon impacts has been done and that shows that even when taking into account the carbon from producing the bikes, there is a net reduction in carbon
and there's an experienced operator who is on board now a dedicated scheme Manager in post and working through all the operational aspects, so identifying the docking station sites around the city centre and working through the approvals and the permissions, and so so all of that is really ramping up now towards the initial launch at the end of the summer.
the full fleet will be in place by the end of March next year and part of the arrangement with the operator is that 25% of any profits go do go back to Leeds, this has to be ring fenced though, and it will be ploughed back into the scheme and to make sure that it that it is continue to be a success.
all of the equipment will be owned by Leeds head at the end of the contract at the end of the contract with the operator,
and it's not without its risks, and these are set out in the report, so there is a commitment from the operator and from Leeds to ensure that any shortfalls in revenue are covered. and the operator is very experienced, there remain a number of schemes around the country now, so they bring all of their learning around dealing with risks around vandalism and theft into that into this scheme and an order has been placed for a portion of the bikes now
and Leeds has a lot of the safe cycle infrastructure on the road, so there is a lot of confident that confidence that, despite the risks it will be a success
so the request today is for a full approval of the scheme the operator is providing much funding of around 110
860,000, so the recommendation for today's full approval of 1.7 million Combined Authority funds, so including the 300,000 that has already been approved that gives a total funding from the CIF of 2 million.
thank you very much for your service as a very good idea, it is a
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:53:36
model that we can therefore roll out into other districts,
WYCA Officer - 1:53:44
yet really keen to do that, and we've got agreements in place with Leeds and with the operator that we will learn lessons things around the procurement and how it's being rolled out all of that will absolutely be taken forward into to how this can be brought further into other districts here.
Councillor Aslam cast.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:54:00
TRA has
active travel champion for breakfast thick and out was the question
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 1:54:07
that I was going to ask, is it possible, but that's been answered, I made myself imagine of actually gonna try and trial the bikes, the electric bikes we've taken for a ride and be found.
other than some of the obstacles happening, there were very many yeah go to actually use.
I think, while the question of the I was going to ask is that you know I've been asking for combined authority to have
a pool of banks for officers up elected
members to actually
use but putting forward to two other districts, so if I want to come from Bradford I should be able to go to reference to the
City Hall get a bite from the and then come and dock here
or take it back, if I need to go back on on the bike, I think that would actually be.
a good incentive for Rose to actually get some of our own of the cars and put them on on on bikes, just as Keith had to go to the train and it was cancelled three to jump in his car if he was to be able to go to
the city all and get a bike from that and right here if it were saved the car journey and the
pollution that is actually caused. So therefore is that something that we we could consider wearing forward chair,
these kinds of scheme, because this
these people that are going to be provided in the Bytes and so could actually be receptive to this kind of request.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:55:46
he says a questionnaire about offering all districts, and also whether we have, as as
pioneers of transport, should actually be showing the way between authorities,
our other champion cyclists is Councillor Bolt.
thanks for and echo a lot of work, Tarja said particularly with a
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Kirklees Council) - 1:56:06
Roland in the cover report, it talks about Leeds city centre and surrounding areas.
from
former
look?
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 1:56:24
yeah, because when we shot with the rabid backs or Tracy tracks, or whatever they the tag is,
you can use it
yeah, the key thing is, as Tasha said, how far out of the city centre can use them to commuting, which will help and again a point well made by Tosh, particularly when we talk about trikes is there are so physical barriers on the network, and if officers want, I've still got a picture of Tosh, and I when we were when we went out when you have to lift a bike over a barrier
which was fortunate, it was able to do, but obviously we're looking for people who may not be as physically able,
so we need to have a look at that.
I'm slightly concerned about the practicalities that the the batteries are going to be taken out and charged somewhere else. How will users know if these are a docking station? The level of battery cover that you've got, because the worst thing you could have into terrain that would go round areas Sunday takes a bike out and finally, the batter goes flat on the journey, so the practicalities, I think,
another thing that we need to look at and
again, a key question, echoing what's been said, is how soon will the decision be made either to roll out to other authorities or to extend it, because yet again, coming from our areas you could have park and ride at Tingley Gildersome and places like that coming from Kirklees where people can then get on an e-bike and come into into Leeds and further reduce the cabin for the areas to say exciting scheme, but we need to be really seeing it extended much further.
as the height.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 1:58:03
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 1:58:07
them, I can then answer a couple of those questions if that's all right,
so first of all it's going out quite far out later centre today, so we're looking at Meanwood.
the Shaftesbury junction near where I am is the nearest in East Leeds, so that kind of circle
and then going round Westley, so it's not just the city centre, it's not what I consider Leeds city centre, any age
or civilisation that it is yes Kirklees.
now we don't go that far.
now in terms of Leeds, it's not going to the outer outer area, so if you look at Cannon like
yeah going out as far as a a 64
yeah yeah can of that area which is not Leeds city centre, it's to my mind the Shrewsbury is about three miles you know, it's no longer there anymore, it's on a nursing home, but it's just be probably, but if you if you go out there is it's a good two and a half three miles and Meanwood as well, so it we're looking at that circle around Leeds, it's quite far out of the Leeds city centre, I would like to see it rolled out further interlude, I'd love to see docking stations in you know, Crossgates train station areas, you have to have those sort of areas and on be very parochial here, but you know it's
but I can't accuse Councillor Bolt of that ever so.
in terms of the batteries and the battery life that will all be on the app about how
you know what the kind of level of battery is,
the they operate, a very experienced and very excited to come to Leeds.
and
and we got a lot of them confidence in the in the operator in that, and I'm really pleased that we're having docking stations, I don't like it when I go to London and bikes are drawn here there or anywhere these bikes will have to go into a docking station, they will be need, they will be contained in in an area so that the not proven it will include tracks
so yeah, we can call on case, and, by the way, I came up with braben bags before
yeah Jay-Z, drags,
and so it will be, it will him
him involved, there are excitability areas outside of
and anything you know.
outside of kind of Leeds centre
them as you get further, so they will have to be addressed as it as it's rolled out
the other, there was another thing, but what something?
paragragh.
I would love to see it, I'm really excited about this. I know that those a lot of my colleagues in Leeds are really excited or want to say thank you to
the actively active travel officers in the highways department in Leeds, who weren't really one of whom has gone to up to travelling, bund, I'm not holding there against, not hold it against Schillings',
but they were really really hard on getting this scheme and getting it to fruition,
and we're how you know hoping in the next hour, especially with the students coming back, you know,
it's great to see so many people travelling on bike through the city centre as it is, I never thought were growing up in Leeds and even in my 20 s and 30 s, I'd ever see anybody on a bike in Leeds, so you know it's fantasy anyway, so this is really welcome. Thank you,
thank you
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:01:42
because I don't
Councillor Buckley,
thank you sure, sorry, it's not going to all would live on.
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 2:01:49
or for now, to your
right right.
My question is about where they're going to be allowed to go and all the things going to be allowed on pavements or in pedestrianised areas.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:02:11
so Auburn, councillor Callil CCs, have an immediate answer to that question and then I'll go back to the officer thing.
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 2:02:18
there are allowed where a bike goes, because their bike buckled, so they're on a louder than the cycle way or in the highway
that they are allowed where a bike is, you do then park them on the dock, there are allowed, if you had, I imagine, under 12 isn't allowed to ride one of these because it would be a full-sized bike under 12 s are the only people that can ride on the pavement leak they are. There are bike, they are allowed in any place. A bike is normally allowed to go
through, like a bit of experience and the first the the some of the first families to have them within a couple of miles radius of the Leeds City Centre docks, and that's the kind of journey we can expect the majority of people to replace. I think the next one is looking at other hubs that may our new Pudsey train station could have a dock there. That takes you two miles out of that. We wouldn't necessarily expect immediately everyone to start cycling eight miles on one of these, as the first thing they do, but a mile between Chapeltown and Leeds would be very easy to do especially so this then there's the infrastructure, but here they are only allowed whereby normally, as at the moment, so somebody wouldn't be expected to ride a bike on a on or off a footway at the moment.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:03:27
yeah, I think cataclysmic policies were using common sense and the law, which is a frustrating I know I get it has only just
occasionally down to the
Cllr Neil Buckley (Leeds City Council) - 2:03:35
not very often, but sometimes
doesn't come later,
this thing about pedestrianised areas is a serious question because it on a busy day full of pedestrians and old age pensioners are we gonna get incidents, potentially where there could be knocked down.
I think what they're saying is actually that happens now whether or
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:03:58
not this isn't that little, so it's a wider question about cycle use and pavement use. Isn't it really and I think we've all probably got instances and or districts where you know electric scooters and all this kind of thing a sudden come at no worse, I think it's a, it's a wider question that I don't think it is relevant to this item. Is it really but it? But it is a wider wider issue that we're all coming across now in our wards Councillor Firth, and then I'm going to go back to the office
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 2:04:25
to note the report of Bhutan again for some time after the third place and if somebody does get flopped.
by a matrix
and drag
whose libel, who owns them, always ensure,
if you're, if your plot in Surrey, when you're gone, you're drank, Councillor Buckley, owes us libel.
when asked a question, the officer Councillor Hayden,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:04:49
I am just coming back to appoint the
Cllr Sinead Engel (Bradford Council) - 2:04:53
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 2:04:58
Councillor Ball when he asked me, do I I know I don't Atalay I can ride a bike
principally for safety reasons,
and I'm really hoping that this scheme will encourage people like me to actually trial.
electric bikes are them and give them that confidence, because I haven't got that confidence at the moment to.
to ride a bike and you know from my journey from home to leisure centre, which is about five miles. I've got the superhighway that goes to Bradford, but very near my home, but then
it's not completely yet connected up in later. If I'm going to the Civic Hall, I will have to go on highway. That is not, I don't feel safe and confident at the moment, so I'm hoping that this will give me the confidence. I need to start riding
start cycling and and people like me will replace Mark journeys that would have been done with more carbon emitting
vehicles. So yeah, that's another reason round, really, really excited, because I'd love to site cycle, have that confidence to cycle
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:06:03
more often reflects. I'm going to get to the office of Atash the law, council slams say so very, very short
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 2:06:10
just keep in mind chair to be 600 people riding a bike.
the 600 journeys do not mean that's to say if, if they had just made a single single trip and that I don't assume that people are going to just make a single trip, so could multiply over so many to so I think it's a no-brainer do not mean not to have these.
like you say London, you go Europe, people are actually riding around on bikes and scooters all over the place all over the place,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:06:41
thank you so much, let's come back on some of those questions.
WYCA Officer - 2:06:47
thank you, yes, just a tad to what's already been said, so the operator is very experienced, so though they have dealt with a lot of these issues in other parts of the country, some of what they do is around Kenneth training and kind of rewards through the app and that's the thing so
they are able to use a bit a bit of a cannabis, a carrot and stick approach to encourage people to use the bikes and to you know make use of them safely so so they do they bring that experience.
the other thing to add is that the part of the feedback we've had from the operator is that the safe cycle routes that have been constructed in Leeds, but what they see from other parts of the country as the data, and that's gonna be a really important part of monitoring and evaluating the scheme and and the and its success is that a lot of the journeys are on the segregated cycle routes and that that's where you know people are feeling more confident and comfortable to to ride, so
the monitoring evaluation as I say there is,
upon that has been developed around that, and that is gonna be really important part of the scheme and that learning the lessons and how it can be rolled out to other districts and where where you know improvements need to be made and making sure that it is. It is a success so that that is a key part of it too.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:08:02
quite briefly, please.
thanks for your sacrifices if CityConnect still offers cycle training
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 2:08:09
fop by by Councillor Hayden and others, so that, as we are rolling this out Way, if people have that issue, if we still have that within CityConnect just locally, still on the website that we can do sort of one-to-one cycle training and give people the confidence we need to be putting that alongside the capital investment.
as a Celtic adds to that,
yes, we do, but as
well as at least,
Cllr Peter Carlill (Leeds City Council) - 2:08:29
but in some movie tone, it's got its own staff then are running a lot more based on this scheme coming in as well, so so that the and addition of that in Leeds as well as as well as what the City finance team already gets.
Councillor
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:08:46
yes, insurance to GPs or if they have an accident is it's whose pulse is it
while
out in in terms of that question, I think it needs to just check that,
WYCA Officer - 2:08:56
rather than giving out information, that's not correct and just come back to you on that point after after the meeting if that's OK.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:09:01
it is on.
why?
WYCA Officer - 2:09:06
so we'll get that answer that question answered Councillor Firth, but
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:09:12
as I think the officer said that we we, it's as like as an experienced operator, will have come across these incidents before, so that'll be a clear and
legal answer ready for that. I'm sure, but I think on the whole of had very positive comments around the scheme. If it were, we've asked lots of questions because we're all interested in it in our own area, for example. So that's why I solicited so many questions today.
I am happy to recommend that for approval can I see those people in favour? Please show,
yeah, that's that's carried. Thank you very much and we look forward to seeing how that works, Councillor Hayden,
so next one is
bus service improvement again
clear and simple affairs metaphors.
hoping to very briefly an open assumption that we like to think we rate our handsets before, but we did cover all the territory around
Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:10:03
this one before, in simple terms, it is drawing down or requesting a further 11.2 7 8 5 9 0
pounds to continue to fund amounts for during the period through to the end of March 2024,
and obviously it will be subject to any decisions we make downstream around what weight will be given to those first
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:10:24
so notwithstanding a sly government's programmes etc we need to make sure we keep keep things going for members of the public whilst we consider that so I'm happy to recommend that gonna see all those in favour, please show.
thank you that is carried
next height of and is thought part rail station, and we have Alexander carpenter and Peter Connell.
yes, I'm going to present today hello, everybody, I'm Alex Carpenter
WYCA Officer - 2:10:53
from the Combined Authority. I'm here to present Thorpe Park rail station. I'm a scheme which will deliver a new rail halt on the Leeds to York. Section of the Trans-Pennine railway, located immediately south-west of the junction, between Manston Lane and the newly constructed East Leeds Orbital rate. The station general form and level of provision has been guided by passenger demand and will comprise the following two platforms, with four railway tracks to accommodate the trans-Pennine rail upgrade, capable of accommodating six Cartrain's connected with a covered footbridge, a station building with waiting areas, ticketing facilities, information points and staff facilities, cycle facilities and bus drop-off points and ground level. Car parking with circa 500 spaces and electrical vehicle charging points. The scheme aims to attract new users to the rail market, improving access to labour markets for employers, reducing contraction and improving air quality on the data-heavy all roads. It will support housing growth in the area, in particular the East Leeds extension, which is used to deliver up to 5,000 new homes by providing access to employment and leisure opportunities in the West Yorkshire urban centres, and it will improve access to the strategic long list and trail market for residents and businesses in East Leeds City region. The scheme cost is currently 31.6 4 million and is funded through a combination of West Yorkshire Transport Fund Lipton and new stations fund and is also a potential for developer contributions, including the wider economic benefits. The benefit Cost ratio for the scheme at OBC was 1.8 7, which represents a medium or e for money.
The scheme has obtained OBC approval and has in secured GRIP 3, which is a governance for rail investment projects. Approval.
the request today is for the release of 7 million pounds of new stations fund to progress the scheme forward integrate phase 4 and 5, with a programmed entry into service of December 2025,
the snapshot of the top three primary risks for the scheme, as the funding strategy is still to be confirmed with discussions ongoing between the Combined Authority Network Rail and the private developer. there is a risk that the funding gap could further increase if the release of the new stations fund is not approved due to the March 2024 committed spend deadline and there is a risk that planning consent and other required approvals are not given which could impact the programme.
So the decision I am looking to seek today is the approval of the change request, which is to increase the combined authorities contribution to 20.9 million, an increase of 7 million pounds, the release of the additional new stations from development funding of 7 million pounds to continue to progress the scheme and carry out early works and to request the delivery timescale to decision. Point 5 is extended to the 30th of July 2025
thank you,
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:13:31
thank you very much, any questions comments, Councillor Bill,
the registrar re, the funding is all public sector funding.
Cllr Helen Hayden (Leeds City Council) - 2:13:37
there's a lot of industry and new development, particularly coming on through EU law, and things like that is there any section 1 0 6 are, I
Cllr Martyn Bolt (Kirklees Council) - 2:13:45
think, elated softening.
is there any developer contribution, it's gonna come into this?
the loss in here, I will be wrong for that wrong.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:13:55
WYCA Officer - 2:13:59
Now I think that has a been queried. I am a new project managers, I'll have to double check, but it is something that has been queried. I think it was redacted
by the council, but I have to double check on that one and I can come back to you with a more succinct answer.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:14:12
Passing of White Rose white recessions. Cannot
I'll just go in briefly on. That will mean the work is ongoing in
WYCA Officer - 2:14:16
terms of discussions with the developer on that in terms of capturing
Dave Haskins, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:14:23
contributions to use of Leeds, Ella obviously has already captured a number of contributions from is relating to future housing developments in the area, which will be funding, funding the law that's already gone in
there are discussions ongoing right, locally around, where more development can take place where there would be scope to capture that that money those moneys.
this is ongoing, I think, is the answer to that Councillor Ball, able other questions, comments on this.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:14:49
now, in that case, I am happy to recommend approval, as all those in favour, please show,
thank you, that is carried,
so the final one is Halifax bus station and that's his skin's with Mark August.
WYCA Officer - 2:15:19
yeah, thank you, yeah, my name's Mark over here to present the change report
on Halifax bus station.
for a project that's well underway,
it started on site in September 2021
is due to be complete in October this year, but we have a partial opening in July, when we opened the new passenger concourse and half of the bus stands.
so talk a bit about the objectives and then get on to the detail of what's changed,
it was an old bus station over 30 years old on a slope. with all sorts of potential safety issues of buses and passengers, mixing
difficulties for people on their own night in remote shelters, things going on there, so we had objectives to make it safer, to separate pedestrians, from us movements to make it more secure and everybody in a single concourse making self-police and in Britain see everybody else accessible rather than passengers going up and down the slope and we've turned the concourse 90 degrees like a level.
so much more accessible.
reduce carbon with solar heat pumps
green roof will help and help with biodiversity as well, and also increasing bus use horse is good for carbon reduction. and create more income, this this base for a cafe and an office space that we can rent out.
this complex site, busy town centre site, which is on the same site as an existing bus station, and the first thing they had to do was move two thirds of the buses, two thirds of the passengers into the town centre do existing stops and that's a challenging thing to do but that left a third on site
so we had to build a temporary bus station at the bottom of the site
to cope with without we've built a 6 stand bus station that had been operating for over a year as part of this project.
there's other constraints on site, the three listed buildings that we're tapping into
which we had some knowledge of, but we have found in doing the work on those buildings that there's been more to do,
more issues have arisen as we've gone along.
we found things in the ground, busy town centre site has been used over many years for many things we found asbestos we found human remains, we've had to deal with that,
stood out there with CSI one day, pointing at the bones was an interesting interesting day the over 300 year old so we don't need to worry and they will be reburied with them.
due respect.
utilities, there are a challenge working with BT and Virgin moving the stuff, particularly when you're in a pandemic, and they're prioritising other things in power, delayed works and cost us money, they were busy doing other other important work at the time.
certain challenges have come along early on, some of you will have seen the big hole we had to put in for attenuation, it was planned,
but to slow the water up bigger than Olympic swimming pool, we had to dig down six metres from rock, so this is what we find things in the ground.
as timescales I gave you
indicate that we started work in a pandemic, we started working locked down, so I've been on this five years and this has been designed in the bedrooms of many people across West Yorkshire
quite a challenge.
one of the main issues came up with this courteous more time and money was there are more minibuses in use, now
we designed some of the stands to accommodate minibuses and even the small transits that are used round Calderdale for the more remote services but now we've had to design for all bus down to be able to accommodate these minibuses
which was quite a big change.
and inflation. at the start of the project,
the budget, the contractor will have priced in some inflation, not necessarily all of what's happened, but some of that was their risk, but when things change and you make new requests such as please read designed for minibuses the prices are quite high, inflation has
really pushed up the cost of construction so certainly whenever there's something new certainly something we've asked for it costs more money.
we have been able to mitigate some of the things as we've gone along,
for instance. Virgin were due to come and move their fibre, they didn't come,
but we were able to you help with Dave, who's gone debut, our IT people to put in a route or hotspots and stuff I don't understand the men, we can do cash transactions. without the fibre Link for a while not great, but we did it,
we put sim cards in the ticket vending machines so they could work without the connections.
when we found the asbestos, the contractor was out very reasonably early in the programme and was able to reprogramme and effectively no cost,
so that was good.
and there are other projects going on in Halifax and the contractors been up to bits, adopting across some entrances to help with CityFibre that are coming
and we are in discussions with yes, six to nine projects and have done a few early early bits for them, re lamping of lights and things
so we've been able to mitigate a lot of it but not all of it.
in this change, report requests an additional 2.8 million and an additional three months to get us to the end of the project.
a good chunk of that is for things that have already happened, because we are well into this project, but another big chunk of it is to ensure we're covered for any more risks that are coming out as we go along.
we are still working on the listed buildings, we are still digging in the ground.
we are still working with difficult levels on a sloping site that are difficult due to work with.
Even with that extra cost, we still have a benefit Cost ratio of 2.1, which is high,
so it still has high value for money, even with these additional costs.
I think I've covered everything I wanted to there so yeah, that's it, that's our recommendation, give us some more money and we'll get on to the end.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:21:39
thank you very much and it has been my pleasure in previous years to actually come visit the site myself when you
earlier on in the construction, of course, and I saw the massive attenuation tank you got there and obviously the plans look great and I have to say Combined Authority officers are very passionate about Halifax and that project and that was great to see the ownership that officers had of that project, so anybody any questions comments Councillor salon,
WYCA Officer - 2:22:07
to just one observation in the question.
only one of the were worth bus stations that are I've never driven in, there were more scrapes and collisions, because you had to go in and then we knocked, so the back of the bus always actually struck the platform.
so and the sloping up of the bus station I don't know, you know whoever took the decision
then to build on the I'm not really sure how do you know how it got past?
are they going to be, I mean currently the the temporary station that we've got, I mean there's no driving reverse of,
is there any reversing of policy in the
yes, the so diversity stance that all of them, all of them, or at least like Huddersfield
yeah, it's a long concourse double-sided and the buses come into the concourse so like Leeds like Bradford,
yes, or tried in reverse out
OK, yeah.
thank you, could anybody any further questions?
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:23:10
no, and in that case I'm happy to recommend that, can I see all those in favour, please show,
as she's carried. Thank you very much that the only other thing to note on the agenda is that, as decisions being made at the Combined Authority 16th March, which you and your papers, which couldn't quite wait until this meeting, so those those are noted that,
but otherwise I think we've done a thing on our agenda, so I thank you very much for your attendance every today and suet well, can I say before we go. This is the last meeting that Dave Pearson is going to attend
Convener Transport Committee, so Dave we just wanted to say thank you vote, we've done a card, we've said thank you very much indeed for all your help and wise words of wisdom in today, provided information that nobody else knew as I'm not quite sure how we're going to manage without you, but you have been brilliant and your knowledge is massive and we've all been beneficiaries of that of the year, so thank you very much for that Councillor slam, did you
Cllr Taj Salam (Bradford Council) - 2:24:17
just wanted to ask the good luck in your and your retirement David, and all the best you're not being investigated for the human remains are all fabulous.
are
you suggesting I know where all the bodies?
Dave Pearson, Director (West Yorkshire Combined Authority) - 2:24:32
On that note, I think we'll close the meeting by area.
Cllr Susan Hinchcliffe (Chair) (Bradford Council) - 2:24:36
Webcast Finished - 2:24:43
the notion you're on good wishes that, as you exit meeting
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Rachel Jones
Interim Head of Transport Policy
West Yorkshire Combined Authority
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