Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Samiya Akhter, Adrian Andrew and David Welsh.

(i)            TfWM awarded City Region Transport Authority of the Year 2019

The Chair reported that she was pleased to announce that TfWM

had been awarded City Region Transport Authority of the Year for the third time in five years at the National Transport Awards last week. The committee conveyed their congratulations to TfWM for this fantastic achievement.

(ii)          Outcome of West Midlands Trains (WMT) Strike Ballot

The Chair referred to the email that had been circulated to members informing them of the decision by RMT members of WMT to commence strike action later this month and reported that the committee would receive a briefing on the matter from the Executive Director, West Midlands Rail Executive, Malcolm Holmes, following today’s meeting.

(iii)         Christmas and New Year Travel arrangements

The Chair reported that the committee would receive details of the transport services operating during the Christmas and New Year holiday period as soon as the information becomes available.

(iv)         TfWM Transport Budget

It was agreed that a special TfWM Transport Budget briefing would be held on 16 December 2019 from 11.30am-12.30pm to provide members with the opportunity to put forward their views on the draft TfWM Transport Budget prior to consideration and approval of the budget by the WMCA Board. An email would be sent to committee members to confirm the arrangements for the private briefing on 16 December.

Councillor Lawrence reported of need to begin budget discussions earlier in the budget planning process in future and to look beyond a one-year budget to consider a medium-term budget for transport.

The Director of Finance, Linda Horne, agreed to take forward Councillor Lawrence’s comments.

The minutes of the meeting held on 9 September 2019 were agreed as a correct record.

The action tracker was noted.

Minute No.25 Rail Business Update Report

Councillor Huxtable reported that he had received information from Tom Painter on the community engagement consultation exercise for the Camp Hill Line but wanted to be advised of the issues raised by residents with regards to the lack of park and ride facilities on the line and the impact this would have on Kings Norton  park and ride when the Camp Hill Line opens.

The Director of Integrated Network Services, Pete Bond reported that the three locations on the Camp Hill Line would be reviewed for the Park and Ride Strategy and this would also provide feedback on Kings Norton.

Councillor Worrall submitted a petition in support of a marked safe route down the existing National Cycling Route 5 which would link Pelsall with Walsall Town Centre.

Resolved: That the petition be referred to Customer Relations to be dealt with in accordance with the WMCA’s Petitions Protocol.

·         To note the minutes of the Bus Shelter Appeals Decision Group held on 11 September 2019

The minutes of the Bus Shelter Appeals Decision Group held on 11 September 2019 were submitted for information.

Resolved: That the minutes of the Bus Shelter Appeals Decision Group be noted.

The committee received a presentation from Colin Knight, Coventry City Council on Very Light Rail (VLR) Projects.

The presentation included information on why Very Light Rail is being taken forward, its objectives and benefits, details of the research and development that is ongoing, funding opportunities and major milestones.

It was noted that four routes were being targeted and the first part of the route in Coventry could be open in Winter 2024 or early 2025.

The Chair thanked Colin Knight for his informative presentation.

Resolved : That the presentation be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Metro Programme Director that provided an update on matters relating to the Metro Investment Programme in the West Midlands.

The Head of Projects, Chris Haworth, outlined the key highlights in the report with regards to Metro schemes for the Westside Extension (Centenary Square and Edgbaston), Wolverhampton Extension, Wednesbury to Brierley Hill, Birmingham Eastside and East Birmingham Solihull and also outlined progress with regards to the third generation trams and catenary free trams.

In relation to the an enquiry from Councillor Alden as to whether the tram stop names proposed by this committee on the Westside Extension have been taken forward, in particular with regards to sponsorship from relevant stakeholders, the Chair reported that the tram stop names have been agreed by the WMCA Transport Portfolio Holder, Councillor Ward, but she did not think sponsorship opportunities had been explored with stakeholders such as Calthorpe Estates.

Councillor Alden expressed his disappointed that this sponsorship opportunity had not been taken forward.

The Director of Integrated Network Services, Pete Bond reported that the comments from this committee on tram stop naming including sponsorship had been fed back to Councillor Ward and undertook to find out more on the matter from Metro colleagues.

The Chair asked that any feedback on tram stop naming and sponsorship be circulated to all TDC members for information.

Resolved: That the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Finance Director that set out the financial position as at 30 September 2019 with regards to the Combined Authority’s Transport Delivery Revenue and Capital Budgets.

Councillor Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and highlighted the report’s recommendations.

Resolved:

1.    That the year to date net revenue expenditure to the end of September 2019 shows a favourable variance of £0.145m compared to budget and the forecast position shows a favourable movement of £0.037m from budget be noted and

2.    That the capital expenditure to the end of September 2019 for the overall transport programme was £55.0m which was £14.6m below the year to  date budget of £69.6m and the annual forecast position shows a favourable movement of £14.7m from budget be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Development and Delivery that provided an update on the approved TfWM led  2019/20 programmes and projects.

Councillor Akhtar, Lead Member for Finance and Performance introduced the report and highlighted achievements during September and October.

The Director of Development and Delivery, Sandeep Shingadia, reported that Bradley Lane Metro Park and Ride was on schedule for completion in December 2019.

In relation to the official opening of Bradley Lane Park and Ride, the Majority Vice-Chair, Councillor Worrall, asked for TDC members to be invited to the opening ceremony along with the Mayor of  Walsall.

In relation to an enquiry from the Minority Vice-Chair, Councillor Huxtable regarding an update on Snow Hill Third Access, the Director of Development and Delivery undertook to provide a more detailed programme.

Resolved:

1.    That the achievements since the 9 September meeting of the Transport Delivery Committee be noted;

2.    That progress of deliverables and the outturn of the 2019/20 Capital Programme be noted and

3.    That the variation to the baseline programme with regards to Longbridge Connectivity Project in Appendix 1 of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Network Resilience that provided an update on the performance and operations of the Safer Travel Partnership, an overview of the development of the TfWM Control Centre and an update on a number of projects and programmes and operations carried out within the Safer Travel Partnership.

The Lead Member for Safe and Sustainable Travel, Councillor Holl-Allen, introduced the report and outlined the key highlights.

The Head of Safety, Security and Emergency Planning, Mark Babington provided an update on bus byelaws, crime statistics and the TfWM Control Centre (TCC) including those local authorities who have relocated their CCTV operations to the TCC.

Resolved :

1.    That the details of the report be noted;

2.    That the overall crime trends as outlined in paragraphs 3.1 to 3.3 of the report be noted and

3.    That the overall crime analysis as set out in section 4 of the report be noted.

The board considered a report of the Director of Integrated Network Services that reported on matters related to the performance, operation and delivery of bus services in the West Midlands.

The Chair and Lead Member for Putting Passengers First introduced the report and highlighted key areas.

The Head of Network Delivery, Jon Hayes and the Network Development Manager, Edmund Salt, provided updates on areas of interest to the committee. This included bus operational matters with regards to Kinghurst.

Resolved: That the contents of the report be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Integrated Network Services that provided an update on the Enhanced Partnership Plan and associated scheme being developed for the West Midlands and set out the Engagement and Consultation  Strategy for formal (public) consultation on the Enhanced Partnership. 

The report also sought approval from the committee to undertake formal consultation in the development of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Scheme subject to the preparation of the Enhanced Partnership Plan and Enhanced Partnership Scheme and the successful outcome of the operator objection mechanism.

It was noted that the committee had recently received a pre-TDC policy briefing on the Enhanced Partnership for Sprint from the Network Development Manager.

The Chair and Lead Member for Putting Passengers First introduced the report.

The Network Development Manager, Edmund Salt,  informed the committee that the engagement and consultation strategy was developed by consultants, Jacobs, with input from operators; a draft engagement and consultation strategy document was attached to the report in Appendix A.

The Network Development Manager advised the committee that the Enhanced Partnership and Scheme would complement the Advanced Quality Partnerships that were already in place in Birmingham and Solihull and together, the partnerships would seek to bring about the best journey experience for customers.

Resolved:

1.    That the Enhanced Partnership Plan (EP) and associated Enhanced Partnership Scheme Consultation Strategy be approved and

2.    That approval be given to TfWM proceeding to formal (public) consultation, subject to the preparation of the EP Plan and EP scheme and the successful outcome of the operator objection mechanism.

The committee considered a report of the Head of Sprint that provided an update on progress on the Sprint Programme.

The Minority Vice-Chair and Lead Member for Sprint, Councillor Huxtable, introduced the report.

The Head of Sprint, Angela Hosford outlined key highlights in the report which included an update on the status of Sprint schemes that would be delivered for the Commonwealth Games; A34 Walsall to  Birmingham; A45 Birmingham to Airport and Solihull and Sutton Coldfield to Langley via Birmingham. The Head of Sprint also advised the committee of the focus of activities for the end of 2019/early 2020 and proposed site visits over the coming months.

Resolved:

1.    That progress on the Sprint Programme be noted;

2.    That local authority Cabinet decisions are required to support the delivery of schemes be noted and

3.    That the relationship between Sprint and other local schemes be noted.

The committee considered a report of the Director of Integrated Network Services that set out progress to date with Save-A-Space and the proposed next steps regarding a booking payment service trial.

It was noted that the proposals for the Save-A- Space booking payment trial had been considered by the Putting Passengers First and Rail and Metro Lead Member Reference Groups.

The Director of Integrated Network Services, Pete Bond, outlined the report that set out the background and rationale for the trial development, proposed booking charges, review and next steps. He emphasised that the trial was not a change to policy regarding customer charging at park and ride sites but was a trial around a discretionary booking payment service to reserve a space that could potentially improve the customer offering at up to six TfWM sites.

Councillor Huxtable considered that charging for spaces would encourage people to park on-street in nearby side roads causing problems for residents. He also felt the initiative would be of benefit to the few (who could afford to pay) not the many.

Councillor Richards reported that he concurred with Councillor Huxtable and expressed concern regarding female drivers having to park further away from stations and feared the trial could lead to charging on a wider scale.

The Director of Integrated Network Services advised that the impacts of charging at the trial locations have been considered and less than 1% of parking spaces would be subject to the trial. He added that he believed the trial would be of benefit to shift workers and other customers who are currently unable to secure a parking space when needed as most car parks were full by 8.00AM.

The Director of Integrated Network Services advised the committee that monitoring would be undertaken throughout the trial to enable decisions to be made where necessary, to react to customer demand.

Following a request from the Minority Vice-Chair, Councillor Huxtable, for a vote on the report, a vote was undertaken, and it was agreed that the report recommendations would be taken forward.

Resolved:

1.    That the implementation of the next stage of the Save-A- Space trial as set out in the report be endorsed.

2.    That as part of the next stage of the trial, customers will be able to pay for the added convenience of booking a premium product which is above and beyond the free to use spaces provided at selected sites be noted;

3.      That a report detailing the results of the trial, including a review and next steps, be submitted to this committee following the completion of the trial.

To consider any notices of motion by the deadline of 12 noon on 31 October 2019.

None submitted.

To consider any questions submitted by the deadline of 12 noon on 31 October 2019 for written questions and 12 noon on 1 November 2019 for oral questions.

None submitted.

The committee considered a report on the agenda items to be submitted to future meetings.

Resolved: That the report be noted.