Agenda for Joint Committee on Strategic Planning and Transport on Friday, 21st March, 2014, 10.00 am

Agenda and draft minutes

Venue: Ground Floor Committee Room - Loxley House, Station Street, Nottingham, NG2 3NG. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Minutes:

Councillor Jane Urquhart  )  other authority business

Councillor Kevin Greaves  )

 

Jim Bamford, Sue Flack, Sally Gill and Matt Gregory.

 

The meeting was chaired by the Vice-Chair, Councillor Jim Creamer.

 

2.

DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

Minutes:

None.

 

3.

MINUTES pdf icon PDF 71 KB

Last meeting held on 13 December 2013 (for confirmation)

 

Minutes:

Subject to indicating Councillor Alan Clark being marked absent and Councillor Jane Urquhart being marked present, the committee confirmed the minutes of the meeting held on 13 December 2013 as a correct record, and they were signed by the person presiding at the meeting.

 

4.

JOINT COMMITTEE - TERMS OF REFERENCE (PROTOCOL) REVIEW pdf icon PDF 493 KB

Report of Joint Officer Steering Group

Minutes:

Dawn Alvey, Growth Point Commissioning Manager, introduced a report of the Joint Officer Steering Group.  The report suggested that, rather than undertake the biennial review of its Terms of Reference (Protocol) at this time, the Committee may prefer, instead, to await the outcomes of parallel governance discussions regarding other bodies such as the Greater Nottingham Joint Planning Advisory Board (JPAB) and D2N2 Local Enterprise Partnership (D2N2 LEP), before proceeding further.

 

RESOLVED to note the current position and make no changes to the terms of reference of this Committee until further details on the proposed working of the JPAB are reported and a report is submitted to this Committee at its meeting, provisionally scheduled for 20 June 2014.

 

 

5.

GREATER NOTTINGHAM JOINT PLANNING ADVISORY BOARD UPDATE pdf icon PDF 80 KB

Report of Joint Officer Steering Group

Minutes:

Dawn Alvey, Growth Point Commissioning Manager, Nottingham City Council, introduced the report of the Joint Officer Steering Group updating the Committee on the work of the Joint Planning Advisory Board (JPAB) on the aligned Greater Nottingham Core Strategies considered at its meeting on 13 February 2014.

 

The following matters were referred to:

 

(a)  Councillor Workshop

 

On 23 January 2014, a councillor workshop had been held, which prioritised a three-year work programme for the JPAB which will be developed and, together with proposals for revised Terms of Reference, will be considered at the next meeting of the Board in April 2014.

 

(b)  Partner Authority Progress

 

  Ashfield District Council: following submission of the Local Plan, the Inspector held an exploratory meeting on 11 March 2014 to address concerns regarding the duty for partners to work together, the plan period and housing supply levels.

 

  Erewash Borough Council: an examination had concluded that the Core Strategy was sound, subject to main modifications.

 

  Rushcliffe Borough Council: at the end of the six-week representation period on Proposed Modifications (7 April 2014), the Examination will be re-convened to prepare a programme of Hearing Sessions.

 

  Broxtowe, Gedling and Nottingham City: Hearing Sessions on the scale and timing of growth around Toton and increased housing at Teal Close, and Gedling Colliery/Chase Farm had concluded on 13 February 2014.  An additional Hearing Session had convened to consider a legal opinion on behalf of the Home Builders Federation on elements of Policy 2 of the Core Strategy.  Agreed Main Modifications will be consulted upon and the outcomes used to inform the Inspector's Final Report.

 

RESOLVED to note the progress achieved.

 

 

6.

TRANSPORT ISSUES UPDATE pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Report of Joint Officer Steering Group

Minutes:

(a)  Local Authority Infrastructure Schemes

 

Chris Carter, Transport Strategy Manager, reported on a programme of activities to support proposals produced by the D2N2 LEP in its Strategic Economic Plan to use infrastructure schemes funded by Local Growth Fund monies to raise growth rates, increased prosperity and levels of employment in its area, achieve its vision for the area to create 55,000 additional jobs by 2023.  An initial programme of schemes was considered by the D2N2 Local Transport Board on March 2014.  The deadline for final submission of the Strategic Economic Plan is 31 March 2014.

 

(b)  Local Sustainable Transport Fund

 

  (i)  2011 – 15

 

  An evaluation indicated a successful pilot trial year offering half price travel in the city for approximately 5000 jobseekers and the long-term unemployed.  A smart card retail network of ticket vending machines (100) and Payzone outlets at shops (175) is expected to be completed during 2014.

 

  Grants to GNTP - RideWise Ltd and Sustrans have provided a further four Neighbourhood Smarter Travel Coordinators (NSTCs) for City Central and South localities and in Broxtowe and Gedling.

 

  Implementation of 20 mph speed limits to improve safety and create walking/cycling environments in the city are continuing.  An NSCF financial award means that a joint City/County initiative to introduce 20 mph speed limits outside schools in the County will also begin during 2014/15.

 

  The greater Nottingham transport partnership and Gedling ECO Stars continue either to support local businesses with sustainable travel guidance or advice on fleet management practices and eco-driving skills.  City Car Club will develop a local car club to be launched from city-centre, on-street locations, from April 2014, with further expansion of locations planned over the next three years.

 

  Ucycle Nottingham, a partnership project between the University of Nottingham, Nottingham University Hospital Trust, New College Nottingham, Central (South Notts) College and Bilborough College is continuing to deliver increased something levels.  Planning for other active travel events including Cycle Live on 21/22 June 2014 is already underway.

 

  (ii)  2015 - 16 Funding Update

 

  It is understood that the current total of Department for Transport (DfT) funds available for new or extended Fund projects in 2015/16 is approximately £78.5 million, of which, approximately £64 million is likely to be made available for the LSTF Programme.  Following preliminary discussions with partners through the LST have steering group, a continuation partnership bid is being prepared for the Nottingham urban area on the following basis:

 

  Over-arching theme: access to employment, skills and learning, primarily targeted at young people to support local economic development and skills in the urban area to complement the City's £3 million Youth Contract Programme.

 

  Continuation of delivery on existing LST have projects focusing on two areas:

 

  (a)  Core offer of travel support packages for low-income groups, including jobseeker and further education SmartCard offers delivered through a community-based approach to the promotion of travel options to individuals and households through the Community Smarter Travel Hubs e.g. personalised journey planning and cycling support; and

 

  (b)  continuation of the Worksmart Business Travel  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

7.

RAIL ISSUES UPDATE pdf icon PDF 50 KB

Report of Joint Officer Steering Group

Minutes:

Kevin Sharman introduced a report of the Joint Officer Steering Group which provided an update on rail issues affecting Greater Nottingham and the surrounding area.

 

(a)  High Speed 2

 

Both the City and County Councils had made submissions by the close of the consultation deadline on 31 March 2014.  The Government's response to submissions was expected by the end of 2014.

 

Broxtowe Borough Council and East Midlands Councils have proposed a strategic level HS2 Programme Board with Working Groups to provide political leadership for implementation of HS2, Phase 2 in the East Midlands region.

 

(b)  Nottingham Station Re-opening

 

With the near completion of upgrading of passenger facilities the station was expected to re-open by April 2014, with an official opening taking place during the Summer period.

 

(c)  Line Enhancements

 

  (i)  Market Harborough

 

  Network Rail has established a Stakeholder Group.  The company will assess the business case for a full programme works, the results of which will be reported to the next meeting of the Joint Committee.

 

  (ii)  Nottingham - Newark - Lincoln

 

  A Stakeholder Group, chaired by East Midland Trains, has been established to promote and fulfil the ambition to upgrade the service frequency and timings between Nottingham and Lincoln, in a four stage process.

 

  Stage 1:  increase train frequency to 2 trains per hour by extending the current Matlock to Nottingham services.  Cost (three years): £700,000 per annum (£2.1 million) funded by local stakeholders.  Proposition: 50% DfT, 25% each D2N2 and Lincolnshire Local Growth Funds.  Issue: DFT contribution to be via contribution from East Midlands train franchise extension to 2017 - discussions not yet concluded.

 

  Stages 2 - 4: infrastructure enhancements leading to service improvements.  To be funded by network rail (Nottinghamshire County Council has provided £120,000 towards development costs).Issue: wholly dependent on stage one success.

 

RESOLVED to note the updated position.