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Agenda and minutes

Venue: Digital Meeting Via Microsoft Teams

Contact: Hannah Clark 01392 383000  Email: hannah.clark@devon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

80.

Election of Chair and Vice-Chair

Minutes:

Councillor Davis MOVED and Councillor Drean SECONDED that Councillor Davis be elected Chairman and Councillor Drean be elected Vice-Chairman of Peninsula Transport for the ensuing year.

 

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

81.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 211 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2021 (attached).

Minutes:

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 4 March 2021 be approved as a true record.

82.

Items requiring urgent attention

Items which in the opinion of the Chair should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.

Minutes:

There were no matters raised as urgent items.

83.

Peninsula Transport Update

Presentation of the Technical Lead Authority on the latest progress and activities of Peninsula Transport, including an update on high-level transport strategy and vision.

 

Minutes:

The Board considered the presentation of the Technical Lead Authority on the latest progress and activities of Peninsula Transport.

 

The Board heard that the High Level Transport Strategy and Vision work has been continuing, with a consultation planned to commence prior to the start of the summer holidays. A Transport Forum event would be held early in the consultation to update the business and transport stakeholders. An update on the consultation would be shared at the September Board meeting.

 

A work programme, including indicative reporting milestones, was shared. This demonstrated that parallel working between the workstreams would be required to ensure they can feed into the Transport Strategy work, which is planned to commence following the High Level Strategy and Vision consultation concludes. Members discussed the ambitious work programme and requested further update meetings to be arranged.

 

The Board also received a presentation detailing the work undertaken on the Freight Strategy. Since an inception meeting was held in April, a range of tasks have been completed including a review of other freight strategies, stakeholder engagement, reviewing case studies and analysing freight data. In addition, collaboration with Western Gateway has been explored, with the scope extended to cover the wider south west.

 

 

 

 

84.

Finance Update pdf icon PDF 106 KB

Report of the Finance Lead Authority on the latest financial position.

Minutes:

The Board received the Report of the Finance Lead Authority on the latest financial position.

 

The Board noted that the budget for 2021/22 is £1,000,820, comprising Local Authority contributions of £159,820, Department for Transport contribution of £425,000 and accrual from 2020/21 of £416,000. The planned expenditure of £932,700 is affordable and within budget.

 

 

 

85.

Communications and Engagement Update pdf icon PDF 160 KB

Report of the Communications and Engagement Lead Authority on the latest communications and engagement activity.

Minutes:

The Board considered the Report of the Communications and Engagement Lead Authority on the latest communications and engagement activity.

 

The Board noted that there have been limited activities since the pre-election period, but that the consultation provides an opportunity to increase these activities. For instance, MP briefings will be arranged, and social media activity will be amplified to showcase the consultation.

 

The Board also heard that partnership working with other STBs is continuing, including through co-ordination and planned attendance at the Innovation and Technology in Transport (ITT) event in Farnborough, 30 June – 1 July 2021.

 

86.

Peninsula Rail Task Force Update

Verbal update from Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF) on recent activities. 

Minutes:

The Board received the Peninsula Rail Task Force update from Councillor Andrea Davis, outgoing Chairman of the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF).

 

The Board heard that PRTF met on Friday 18 June and discussed the Williams-Shapps Plan for Rail. It was agreed that the PRTF priorities for improved rail infrastructure in the South West Peninsula remain sound and that there is a need to engage with the emerging Great British Railways. As such, it is planned to hold a stakeholder event this year.

 

Councillor Davis MOVED and Councillor Desmonde SECONDED that Councillor Drean be elected Chairman of Peninsula Rail Task Force for the ensuing year.

 

The Motion was put to the vote and declared CARRIED.

87.

Climate Emergency Update

Verbal update on the Climate Emergency from the technical lead authority.

Minutes:

The Board received the Climate Emergency update from the Technical Lead Authority.

 

The Board heard that work is continuing on a number of studies that will provide insights and recommendations to the Peninsula Authorities on transport decarbonisation, such as the ‘Carbon Transition Study’ and ‘Technology and Zero Emission Vehicle Strategy’. Joint ways of working are also being explored with other STBs, such as Western Gateway, on areas of common interest.

 

The Board also heard that the Local Authorities are continuing to work on their individual responses following their respective Climate Emergency Declarations.

 

Members discussed the importance of the Climate Emergency to all work currently being undertaken, and as such requested that future Peninsula Transport reports include individual climate emergency updates.

88.

Co-Opted Members Update

Co-opted Members to provide updates and feedback from their organisations.

Minutes:

The Board received verbal reports from the Co-opted Members on matters of interest arising from their respective organisations.

 

Western Gateway reported that both STBs are undertaking similar work currently, and opportunities to collaborate are being explored. The Strategic Transport Plan development is continuing, focused on 4 key corridors, two of which overlap with the Peninsula geography.

 

Network Rail advised that Strategic Studies have been developed over the last 12 months, including Bristol – Exeter. This study is now in its final stages of consultation and due to be published this summer. The evidence will be used as a baseline for a Peninsula corridor study.

 

Highways England provided an update on their Route Strategies progress, which will form a key part of the evidence base for the Road Investment Strategy. It was also reported that traffic levels are back to nearly 100% of the pre-pandemic levels.

 

The Department for Transport reported on a range of updates, including the publication of the Williams-Shapps Rail Reform White Paper, the National Bus Strategy publication and advice to prepared Bus Service Improvement Plans, confirmation of funding for the A382 Drumbridges to Newton Abbot MRN scheme, the Levelling Up Fund, Active Travel Fund and Restoring Your Railways Fund. It was also advised that the Transport Decarbonisation Strategy will be published as soon as possible. The confirmation of funding for Peninsula Transport for 2021/22 was also confirmed by Baroness Vere in May 2021.

 

Homes England advised that a new strategic plan is being developed for 2022 onwards, shaping the programme, funding and role of the organisation going forwards.

 

 

89.

Response to National Bus Strategy pdf icon PDF 187 KB

Report covering the response to the new National Bus Strategy: Bus Back Better.

Minutes:

The Board received the Response to the National Bus Strategy paper from the Head of Transport Co-ordination Service at Devon County Council.

 

The Board heard that the National Bus Strategy, published in March 2021, moves buses up the transport agenda and sets out timescales for what Local Authorities need to do to develop enhanced partnerships.

 

The Board were advised that the Local Authorities are looking at what can be done to collaborate across the peninsula, including cross-boundary services. It was noted that several of the Peninsula Transport work packages have cross-cutting issues which would be relevant to strategic bus and coach journeys.

 

It was MOVED by Councillor Drean, SECONDED by Councillor Davis and

 

RESOLVED that

 

(a)  The Board recognise and take into account the contribution improving local bus and coach services can make across the Peninsula when developing its full Transport Strategy

 

(b)  The Board endorse the approach of Local Authorities within the Peninsula Transport area towards the implementation of the National Bus Strategy

90.

Network Rail Strategic Studies

Update from Network Rail on their Strategic Studies, including finalisation of the Bristol-to-Exeter and Bristol-to-Birmingham strategic studies.

Minutes:

The Board received the Network Rail Strategic Studies update as part of Item 10 (Co-Opted Members Update).

91.

Heart of the South West LEP : Blueprint for Clean Growth

Presentation from Heart of the South West LEP on the Blueprint for Clean Growth, adopted by the LEP in May.

Minutes:

The Board received the presentation on the Blueprint for Clean Growth from the Heart of the South West LEP’s Head of Delivery.

 

The Board heard that the plan for clean growth was approved by the LEP Board in May 2021. This includes a set of priorities which aim to grow the economy in a clean and sustainable way, by delivering inclusive economic prosperity whilst protecting the environment, lowering emissions and enhancing natural capital. The six priorities are: leadership, low carbon energy, greening business, sustainable communities, decarbonised transport and natural capital.

92.

Public Participation

Questions or Representations from Members of the public in line with the Board’s Public Participation Scheme.

Minutes:

There was no question from a Member of the public.

 

93.

Dates of Future Meetings

All meetings to be held digitally via Microsoft Teams at 14:00 until further notice –

 

9 September 2021

2 December 2021

 

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings;

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

Minutes:

Board Members noted the dates of future meetings as: 

 

9 September 2021

2 December 2021

 

All meetings to be held digitally via Microsoft Teams at 2.00pm until further notice.

 

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings;

http://democracy.devon.gov.uk/mgCalendarMonthView.aspx?GL=1&bcr=1

94.

Exclusion of the Press & Public

RECOMMENDATION that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely the financial or business affairs of persons tendering for the provision of council goods or services and of the County Council, in both cases, and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

 

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Councillor Drean, SECONDED by Andrew Wiles and

 

RESOLVED that the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972 on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as defined in Paragraph 3 of Schedule 12A of the Act namely the financial or business affairs of persons tendering for the provision of council goods or services and of the County Council, in both cases, and in accordance with Section 36 of the Freedom of Information Act 2000, by virtue of the fact that the public interest in maintaining the exemption outweighs the public interest in disclosing the information.

95.

Finance Update: Itemised Expenditure Estimate for 2021/22 Financial Year

Finance lead authority to report.

Minutes:

The Board received the report of the Financial Lead Authority on the itemised forecast expenditure information for the 2021/22 financial year.


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