Agenda and minutes

Venue: Microsoft Teams

Contact: Jamie Hulland 01392 383000  Email: jamie.hulland@devon.gov.uk

Items
No. Item

169.

Minutes of the previous meeting pdf icon PDF 106 KB

To approve the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2022.

Minutes:

It was MOVED by Philip Heseltine (representing Cllr Drean), SECONDED by Cllr Davis and RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 6 October 2022 be approved as a true record, with the exception that it incorrectly stated that Cllr Rigby was absent.

 

It was also noted that the list of members seemed outdated, and therefore would be updated.

170.

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.

171.

Peninsula Transport Update pdf icon PDF 371 KB

Report of the Programme Lead on the latest progress and activities of Peninsula Transport.

Minutes:

The Board considered the Report of the Programme Lead on the latest progress and activities of Peninsula Transport.

 

The Board heard that, as per the report, further discussions are taking place with the Department for Transport (DfT) regarding progress of the 2022/23 Business Plan. As a result, it has been decided that the following projects be prioritised for the rest of the year:

-        EV infrastructure

-        Decarbonisation

-        Scoping work on rural mobility

-        Freight

-        The transport strategy and the strategic implementation plan

 

The Board heard that the STB is working with the DfT to develop a permanent staffing structure to ensure continuity and permanent resource going forward. As one of the last STBs to form, nationally, Peninsula is understandably behind others in developing this.

 

The Board were told that the March board would see a number of programmes brought forward:

-        WP07 Tech and EV Strategy

-        WP08 Rail Strategy

-        Draft Transport Strategy

-        Draft SIP

-        Draft 2023/24 Business Plan

 

The Board questioned when the draft SIP would be circulated to allow board members to input and heard that it was anticipated that an informal draft would be circulated in January for informal comment. These comments would then be incorporated into the document in February allowing a developed draft to be formally presented to the Board in March before going out to consultation.

 

It was PROPOSED by Philip Heseltine (representing Cllr Drean), SECONDED by Cllr Davis and RESOLVED that this information be noted by the Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

172.

Finance Update pdf icon PDF 111 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 heard that funding provision for the current financial year is £1,200,000, subject to final approval of the Department for Transport contribution. The year’s forecasted expenditure of £1,020,300 means that the expenditure is affordable.

 

This information was noted by the Board.

 

 

173.

WP12 International Gateways pdf icon PDF 624 KB

Minutes:

The Board received the report on Work Package 12 International Gateways.

 

The Board heard that this work explores the current and future roles of international gateway in the southwest, and how this may be useful for the Transport Plan and local transport plans. It was explained how the southwest can create vital links for manufacture routes, target investments and can capitalise on the benefits presented by the freeports in Plymouth.

 

It was PROPOSED by Philip Heseltine (representing Cllr Drean), SECONDED by Cllr Davis and RESOLVED that this report be passed.

174.

WP25 Alternative Fuels for Freight pdf icon PDF 958 KB

Minutes:

The Board received the Report of WP25 Alternative Fuels for Freight.

 

The Board heard that this work, jointly commissioned by Peninsula Transport and Western Gateway, identified that the major challenge for adopting alternative/sustainable fuels in freight is the cost, and resistance resulting from the possibility of things changing in the future. It was also found that there is a negative opinion of the relevant infrastructure and planned infrastructure.

 

The Board discussed the growing proportion of LGVs which need to be considered and the unintended consequence of inducing traffic where charging infrastructure may be.

 

The Board suggested that the title of this work be altered to reflect that this is only focussed on road freight. It was also noted that the map shows there will only be charging points along the Strategic Road Network, alienating much of the Peninsula. It was therefore requested that the maps be reworked and then be subject to the approval of the Chair and Deputy Chair, who will update the Board on this matter at a future meeting.

 

The Board suggested that additional work be undertaken to work out whether additional charging sites may be required to reflect the needs of the peninsula and its rural nature. It was therefore PROPOSED by Mike O’Dowd-Jones (representing Cllr Rigby), SECONDED by Philip Heseltine (representing Cllr Dreane) and RESOLVED that:

 

(a) that the members approve the recommendations from the study and request that further work be undertaken to identify the additional charging infrastructure required away from the Strategic Road Network and provide consistent coverage across the Pensinsula.

 

 

175.

Communications and Engagement Update pdf icon PDF 140 KB

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

Minutes:

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

 

The Board heard that activity has been limited since the last board meeting, aside from the Business Plan being published to the website and sent to key stakeholders.

 

The Board heard that work has been ongoing in the background to focus on forward planning and to improve brand consistency. Within this, the website content is being reviewed and has undergone some changes, and areas where content changes will be necessary have been identified.

 

Looking forward, the LinkedIn page is being finalised and will be signed off soon.

 

The Board noted this information.  

176.

Peninsula Rail Update

Verbal update from the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF) Chair and Network Rail on recent activities.

Minutes:

The Board heard a verbal update from the Peninsula Rail Task Force (PRTF) and Network Rail on recent activities.

 

The Board heard that the PRTF held a meeting last week and their Rail Strategy is progressing. The Board heard that there is a need to reflect the dispersed population of the peninsula, as well as the aging population and other demographic factors which are driving rail demand. The Strategy being developed also considers the peninsula’s distance from London and the North, and how this affects productivity.

 

The update from Network Rail focused on the industry position and industrial action, as well as giving details on the Restoring Your Railway fund, the South West Rail Resilience Programme, Southwest Mobile Connectivity and the West of England Line. Some Strategic Studies, and the development of strategic recommendations, were also mentioned.  

177.

National Highways Update pdf icon PDF 536 KB

Report and presentation from National Highways on the Route Strategies and RIS3 process.

Minutes:

The Board received a verbal update from National Highways about their recent and upcoming activities.

 

The Board heard that there are updates to be published in January followed by swift consultations.

 

The Board heard that the Trulefoot to Carkeel route announcement is due in the spring.

 

178.

Co-Opted Members Update

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

Minutes:

The Board received updates from the Co-Opted Members covering matters of interest arising from their respective organisations.

 

Department for Transport shared a verbal update (following a written report circulated to board members). The Board heard that there is a new ministerial team in place but no change to the Autumn statement. The Board additionally heard that the active travel fund is subject to the post-autumn review and the levelling up fund is to be announced before the end of the year.

179.

Public Participation

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

Minutes:

The Board received multiple questions from one member of the public, regarding buses, bus shelters and the BSIP. The Chairman offered to give a written response to all the questions received.

 

The Chairman thanked the member of the public for their participation but reiterated that within the public participation scheme only 1 question may be asked per person.

 

 

180.

Dates of Future Meetings

All meetings will be held digitally via Microsoft Teams until further notice:

 

Thursday 1 March (10:00)

 

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: 

 

1 March 2023

 

All meetings to be held digitally, via Microsoft Teams.

 

Please use link below for County Council Calendar of Meetings;

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

181.

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     , SECONDED by Councillor      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.

182.

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

Finance Lead Authority to report.

Minutes:

It was decided that Part II be deferred to a future meeting.