To receive and consider the recommendations of the Cabinet (Minute 391(b)) as an amendment to the following Notice of Motion submitted previously to the Council by Councillor Hannaford and referred thereto in accordance with Standing Order 8(2), namely;
Council is concerned that the £56 billion HS2 rail scheme has little or no direct economic, social or infrastructure benefits for the South West region.
Council considers that the existing rail links between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are already good, if not excellent, and in stark comparison to the far South West, that has dated and frail rail connections, that badly need new substantial strategic investment.
Council notes the recent report by the New Economics Foundation “A Rail Network For Everyone – Probing HS2 And Its Alternatives”, that includes rerouting the current HS2 funding to other regional rail improvements to improve local connectivity across the UK.
Council further notes other recent professional reports, representations and cross party discussions at Parliament, that have also recommended this move to invest in alternative railway investment away from HS2.
As part of this process Council supports that reallocation of HS2 funds for the following local projects;
· Improve connectivity to Bristol Temple Meads - to boost this transport hubs rail links - £125m
· Rebuild Cullompton Station – lost since 1964, connecting the town to Exeter and Bristol, in tandem with the proposed 5,000 new homes at the garden village - £15m
· Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton - to improve sustainability, resilience, and green travel, in line with the ongoing substantial new housing developments - £500m
· Cross Cornwall Rail Link – to improve links between East and West Cornwall - £125m.
· Reopen the Bodmin to Wadebridge railway line – to convert the community line back into more active service - £125m.
And the national scheme to build cycle paths next to motorways and A roads, to create 7,600 miles of new routes to boost cycling - £1.82bn.
Council resolves to make formal representations to the Parliamentary Transport Committee, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Chancellor, the Prime Minister and all local Members of Parliament to support this reallocation of strategic infrastructure investment, and work with other key regional partners to move matters forward.
Having had regard to the aforementioned, any factual briefing/position statement on the matter set out in Report (CSO/19/20) and other suggestions or alternatives considered at that meeting the Cabinet subsequently resolved:
(i) that with a new Secretary of State for Transport and a new Rail Minister in post, the PRTF be asked to reemphasise its prioritised list of strategic rail asks as set out in ‘Closing the Gap’; and
(ii) that Council remains focused on its own ambitions for rail and lobbying our Peninsula MPs through forums such as the all-party parliamentary groups or via direct correspondence with Ministers that has proven successful in the past; and continuing this positive engagement with Government is the most effective way to secure rail improvements for the South West and realising our true economic potential.
Minutes:
Pursuant to County Council Minute 224 of 25 July 2019 relating to the Notice of Motion set out below as previously submitted and formally moved and seconded by Councillor Hannaford that:
Council is concerned that the £56 billion HS2 rail scheme has little or no direct economic, social or infrastructure benefits for the South West region.
Council considers that the existing rail links between London, Birmingham, Leeds and Manchester are already good, if not excellent, and in stark comparison to the far South West, that has dated and frail rail connections, that badly need new substantial strategic investment.
Council notes the recent report by the New Economics Foundation “A Rail Network For Everyone – Probing HS2 And Its Alternatives”, that includes rerouting the current HS2 funding to other regional rail improvements to improve local connectivity across the UK.
Council further notes other recent professional reports, representations and cross party discussions at Parliament, that have also recommended this move to invest in alternative railway investment away from HS2.
As part of this process Council supports that reallocation of HS2 funds for the following local projects;
· Improve connectivity to Bristol Temple Meads - to boost this transport hubs rail links - £125m
· Rebuild Cullompton Station – lost since 1964, connecting the town to Exeter and Bristol, in tandem with the proposed 5,000 new homes at the garden village - £15m
· Exeter to Plymouth via Okehampton - to improve sustainability, resilience, and green travel, in line with the ongoing substantial new housing developments - £500m
· Cross Cornwall Rail Link – to improve links between East and West Cornwall - £125m.
· Reopen the Bodmin to Wadebridge railway line – to convert the community line back into more active service - £125m.
And the national scheme to build cycle paths next to motorways and A roads, to create 7,600 miles of new routes to boost cycling - £1.82bn.
Council resolves to make formal representations to the Parliamentary Transport Committee, the Secretary of State for Transport, the Chancellor, the Prime Minister and all local Members of Parliament to support this reallocation of strategic infrastructure investment, and work with other key regional partners to move matters forward.
and having had regard to the advice of the Cabinet set out in Minute 391(b) of 11 September 2019:
Councillor Hart MOVED and Councillor McInnes SECONDED that the Cabinet’s advice be accepted and
(i) that with a new Secretary of State for Transport and a new Rail Minister in post, the PRTF be asked to reemphasise its prioritised list of strategic rail asks as set out in ‘Closing the Gap’; and
(ii) that Council remains focused on its own ambitions for rail and lobbying our Peninsula MPs through forums such as the all-party parliamentary groups or via direct correspondence with Ministers that has proven successful in the past; and continuing this positive engagement with Government is the most effective way to secure rail improvements for the South West and realising our true economic potential.
The amendment in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
Councillor Greenslade then MOVED and Councillor Way SECONDED that the Cabinet recommendation be amended by the addition of (iii) as outlined below.
(iii) that direct rail services from Barnstaple to London be included as per previous support given by Devon County Council
The amendment in the name of Councillor Greenslade was then put to the vote and declared LOST.
The Motion in the name of Councillor Hart was then put to the vote and declared CARRIED.
(in accordance with Standing Order 32(4) Councillor Greenslade asked that his vote against the Motion be recorded)