Agenda item

A Forrest presented a report which set out the key outcomes of the Government’s Integrated Rail Plan for the Midlands and the North that impacted on South Yorkshire and how the MCA proposed to respond to the plan to maximise the benefits for the region. 

The Board was informed that following publication of the IRP, MCA officers had been assessing the implications for the region and discussing a proposed response. A table had been produced showing the expected and actual IRP outcome, which was attached at Appendix A.  Work was now focusing on next steps.

The report contained details of press releases, media interviews and meetings by the Mayor, Leaders and the MCA since the publication of the IRP.

The next stage of the MCA response would be to develop a response to Government.  This would focus on schemes that were already funded or in the pipeline and deliverable and were ‘no regrets’ i.e. they would provide shorter term benefits whilst not ruling out major longer term investment.  The response would be discussed with MCA Local Authority Leaders, business groups and other key partners.

Members noted and discussed the summary of expected and actual outcomes of the IRP for South Yorkshire which were detailed at Appendix A.

P Kennan commented that he thought it was important that the business voice was heard during the process of formulating a response to Government.

From a LEP point of view, the concept of protecting a route was understood but a definite timescale was needed as to when the areas concerned would be out of blight.

Within the IRP there was a promise of investment of £3.5bn in the East Coast Mainline but no clarity as to how this would be spent – there was a need to push for investment in Doncaster to remove the existing bottleneck.

There was little mention of freight which was really important to the region’s inter-modal logistics sector which was also a concern, and the levelling-up agenda should also be included in the response.

It was noted that there would be further discussion in the new year with the LEP and business groups before going back to Ministers.

The slides from a recent Business Advisory Group would be circulated to TEB members.

Cllr Lamb commented that the lack freight within the IRP was concerning especially given the region’s carbon ambitions which could not be achieved without the use of rail freight.

He also expressed concerns that taking out the Dearne Valley Parkway station would have an extremely detrimental effect on the plans to invest £100s of millions in the Goldthorpe area.

A Forrest replied that the Dearne Valley Parkway Station Board was continuing to meet and that the work that was funded for this financial year was continuing but would cease at the end of the year.  A decision would have to be made as a City Region as to whether further funding could be found locally to continue the work.  Discussions would continue in the new year.

Mayor Jones made comments around the problems blighting was causing in Mexborough and other places on the route.  Pressure needed to be exerted to get a decision as to when, or if, it would be removed.

Furthermore, the East Coast Mainline was not guaranteed to be part of early interventions.  Improvements around Doncaster station were crucial to remove the current bottleneck. This was an issue that needed to be highlighted.

The Chair commented that it was important to make the key issues extremely clear and home in on the crucial interventions that would invigorate South Yorkshire.

It was agreed that an update would be brought to the next meeting.

RESOLVED – That the Board note the report and agree to the proposed next steps as set out in the report.