Agenda, decisions and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

No apologies for absence had been received.

To confirm the minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 November 2016 as a correct record.

The minutes of the previous meeting held on 3 November 2016 were confirmed and signed by the Chairman as a correct record.

To receive any declarations of interest from Members of the Joint Assembly.

No declarations of interest were made.

To receive any questions from members of the public.  The standard protocol to be observed by public speakers is attached.

No questions from members of the public had been received.

To note that no petitions for consideration by the Joint Assembly have been received.

No petitions for consideration by the Joint Assembly at this meeting had been received.

To consider the attached progress report.

The Joint Assembly NOTED the City Deal progress report.

The Joint Assembly considered the City Deal progress report.

Tanya Sheridan, City Deal Programme Director, in presenting the report confirmed that workshops in relation to the Histon Road and Milton Road schemes were nearly complete, with a report anticipated back to the Joint Assembly and Executive Board in March 2017. 

Regarding the Strategic Risk Register, it had been agreed by the Executive Board to report those risks on an exceptions basis where they had significantly escalated.  Tanya Sheridan reported that the City Deal Programme Board had considered risk 4 on the Risk Register, which comprised a failure to engage effectively across relevant stakeholder groups on the City Deal vision, and in reassessing those scores recommended revised scores of an inherent likelihood of 4 and impact of 4, together with a residual likelihood of 3 and impact of 4.  Actions were being taken to manage that risk.  Tanya Sheridan explained that this issue had been brought to the attention of Joint Assembly Members as this stage inline with the exception reporting approach agreed by the Board.

The Joint Assembly NOTED the City Deal progress report.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

(a)        Notes the responses to the consultation on the Western Orbital bus infrastructure improvement scheme.

(b)        Agrees the next steps as set out in the report for the ongoing strategic assessment of the Western Orbital scheme as part of the City Deal programme to supported related potential Tranche 1 schemes.

(c)        Agrees to take a key role in working with Highways England to establish clear priorities along the M11 corridor and for these discussions to form part of the next report on the Western Orbital.

The Joint Assembly considered a revised version of the report which had been published as a supplement, summarising the outcomes of the consultation on possible future options for bus and cycle infrastructure improvements along the Western Orbital corridor.

Ashley Heller, Team Leader of Public Transport Projects at Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the report and highlighted the following key messages received in response to the consultation exercise:

·         over 64% of respondents supported the need for public transport improvements along the corridor;

·         over 67% of respondents felt it was important or very important that cycling and pedestrian facilities were improved within this scheme;

·         the greatest support was given for option A, consisting of a route on the existing M11, with 61.8% supporting or strongly supporting this option;

·         53.4% of respondents supported or strongly supported option B, east of the M11;

·         the greatest opposition was shown for option C, west of M11, with 43.1% opposing or strongly opposing this option.

·         the majority of respondents supported the concept of Park and Ride, with the greatest support expressed for a new Park and Ride site at the Junction 11 exit of the M11, with 70.9% of respondents supporting or strongly supporting this option;

·         over 70% supported a Park and Ride and/or a Cycle and Ride at Junction 12 of the M11.

Mr Heller reported that the outcomes of the public consultation would form part of the ongoing strategic assessment of options.  He acknowledged that the Western Orbital scheme had a close link with the Cambourne to Cambridge Better Bus Journeys scheme on the A428.  This would be taken into account as part of ongoing assessment work which he expected to be complete by July 2017, at which time the Executive Board was programmed to make a final decision on options for detailed consultation on the Cambourne to Cambridge scheme.

Mr Heller highlighted the ongoing communication with Highways England in terms of its development proposals for the M11 motorway and anticipated that Highways England would provide further clarity on longer term measures to be taken on the M11 during 2017 when its next Route Investment Strategy was set out.  He expected the City Deal to engage at the highest levels with Highways England to influence this process.  In view of the timescales relating to Highways England’s decision-making in this respect, Mr Heller made the point that any significant decisions by the City Deal Executive Board on this scheme at this stage were not essential, particularly given that currently the Western Orbital scheme was an unfunded tranche 2 scheme.

Helen Bradbury, Chairman of the Local Liaison Forum, reported that the Forum had decided not to meet in order to consider this report since it did not put forward any recommendations on preferred options.  The Local Liaison Forum would instead meet on 17 January 2017 and give consideration to the report and, committing to circulate a full statement of discussions and any resolutions passed, asked that its recommendations be given due consideration in shaping the preferred options. 

With  ...  view the full minutes text for item 7.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board agrees that the M11 Junction 11 south bound bus only off slip road concept should be integrated into the Western Orbital project ensuring that any strategic transport and economic benefits may be realised and that a sustainable phased proposal can be developed.

The Joint Assembly considered a report which provided a summary of the further assessment of a southbound bus only off slip road at Junction 11 of the M11.

Ashley Heller, Team Leader of Public Transport Projects at Cambridgeshire County Council, presented the report and explained that the assessment undertaken did not support a standalone bus only south bound off slip road, but confirmed that some options may be deliverable albeit with associated risks.  It was noted that there remained uncertainties as to the long term plans of Highways England for the M11 as well as potential land use planning issues associated with the junction which would require further clarification.  Mr Heller outlined that the proposal reflected a very small stretch of bus priority along an extremely long and congested corridor but recognised that there were issues with this particular junction and that intervention would be necessary in view of employment growth in the area.  In his professional option, Mr Heller felt that it was more sensible to consider the junction in the context of the Western Orbital scheme, with the junction featuring as part of a modular scheme potentially around Park and Ride intervention. 

Councillor Bridget Smith supported the recommendations contained within the report and made the point that no buses currently travelled along the route, calling for the project to be dropped at this stage.

Andy Williams corrected some the of statistics quoted in the report at paragraphs 5 and 6 of the report in relation to Astra Zeneca, Papworth Hospital and the Cambridge Biomedical Campus, which he felt underestimated the size of the problem.  He also made it clear that AstraZeneca had in fact relocated from London, not Chester as stated in the report.  Mr Williams reiterated the significant demand that would be placed on this junction as early as 2018 when Papworth Hospital moved to the site, reminding Members that AstraZeneca would have 2,000 additional employees located on the site and that there would be a further 6,000 employees as a result of growth around Sawston.  He added that 50% of Papworth Hospital employees had indicated that they would use a bus service if there was one in operation.  Mr Williams said that something needed to be in place before 2018 and was therefore keen for something to come back for consideration in the future, particularly around what could be done in respect of Park and Ride. 

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, highlighted that a report on this issue was scheduled for reporting back to the Joint Assembly and Executive Board at their meetings in July 2017. 

Claire Ruskin was interested in the traffic modelling information and felt that this should be made available.  She also made the general point that the City Deal was seeking to make businesses more accessible and practical for people, which should be taken into account as part of considering this specific project.

Councillor Tim Bick was of the opinion that any improvement gained as a result  ...  view the full minutes text for item 8.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

(a)        Agrees that the headline objectives for the Tranche 2 prioritisation exercise are:

·         to prioritise transport infrastructure investments to prepare those which best meet the City Deal’s strategic objectives  for delivery when funding becomes available;

·         to ensure that those investments support the growth strategy set out in the Local Plans and the supporting Transport  Strategy for Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire;

·         to ensure the prioritisation is aligned to wider work by the Local Enterprise Partnership on the Strategic Economic Plan and of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority.

(b)       Recognises dependencies between ongoing Tranche 1 work, the Local Plan examinations, the work of the Combined Authority, the Economic Assessment Panel, the Tranche 2 prioritisation exercise and Tranche 3 and agrees that potential alignment and synergies with the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority be explored;

(c)       Agrees that the previously used criteria and methodology should be reviewed and built on and that the Executive Board, Joint Assembly and other stakeholder input be sought on assessment criteria and methodology and the ‘long list’ through workshops in early 2017.

(d)       Notes existing commitments to consider particular schemes through the Tranche 2 prioritisation process and confirms these.

(e)       Agrees to receive a further report in June recommending the prioritisation methodology and criteria and long list process, as well as the potential for synergies with the Combined Authority and other bodies.

(f)        Agrees officers should explore potential use of a proportion of future City Deal funding to:

·         create a potential ‘rolling fund’ for investment in transport infrastructure/ measures to unlock early growth from which a future repayment revenue stream would follow;

·         create a fund for smaller scale measures (likely to be those costing less than £500 000) that could be bid into to allow delivery of measures that unblock localised barriers to growth and provide strong economic benefits in line with City Deal objectives.

and notes that these options will be brought back to the Executive Board with the proposed long list in September 2017.

(g)       Endorses the outline timetable for recommending transport investment priorities for Tranche 2 and notes the key dependencies.

Consideration was given to a report which updated the Joint Assembly on the work necessary to prioritise transport infrastructure schemes for delivery in the second tranche of the City Deal programme.

Tanya Sheridan, City Deal Programme Director, presented the report which set out the proposed approach and timetable for developing and agreeing tranche 2 transport priorities for the City Deal.  It was noted that a number of changes, most notably the agreement of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority, presented opportunities that should be explored early in the next phase of this work.  Tanya Sheridan reported that the Executive Board was therefore being recommended to add that aspect to the previously agreed scope and approach for the project, together with the undertaking of further work to develop the prioritisation criteria and methodology and a number of other aspects including:

·         to explore the merit of potentially creating a rolling investment fund and/or a small schemes fund;

·         to develop a proposed long list of schemes;

·         to assess those and hence derive a recommended set of investment priorities for the City Deal post-2020.

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, reflected on references made in the report to the Local Plans of Cambridge and South Cambridgeshire and highlighted that they had still not gone through the examination process.  He also acknowledged the moving landscape in respect of the recent commitment by the constituent authorities to sign up to a devolution deal for Cambridgeshire and Peterborough.  He questioned whether this item should be deferred until the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority investment criteria and strategic economic plan refresh were available in February 2017.

Councillor Bridget Smith was unconvinced that it should be the City Deal’s role to set up a fund for transport infrastructure or other measures, citing the highway infrastructure grant as an example of a similar facility already in place.  She questioned how this fund would be managed.

Claire Ruskin was keen to see the City Deal develop its tranche 2 programme through discussion in order that a clear view of people’s priorities could be established.  Andy Williams supported this approach and said that the partnership needed to think about how it could leverage outcomes with other schemes being delivered outside of the City Deal.  He added that a common message would help communicate the City Deal’s objectives to the general public.

Dr John Wells said that the holistic transport plan for the Greater Cambridge area needed to be considered as part of the tranche 2 discussions, with outputs being a priority.

Councillor Tim Bick felt that it was important to start discussing the tranche 2 programme and any potential joined up approaches.  He was broadly supportive of the recommendations but sceptical with the grant based approach that was being proposed.

Councillor Hickford agreed to convey the Assembly’s concerns regarding the grant funding proposals to the Executive Board.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

(a)        Agreed that the headline objectives for the tranche 2 prioritisation exercise are:

·         to  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

(a)        Agrees to submit a City Deal response to this consultation, in addition to the responses that the partner organisations may wish to make individually.

(b)        Agrees that the City Deal response should be framed around the principles set out in paragraph 13 of the report.

(c)        Delegates to the City Deal Programme Director, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board and Cambridgeshire County Council’s Executive Director of Economy, Transport and Environment, responsibility for submitting a full response to this consultation in accordance with these agreed principles.

The Joint Assembly considered a report which set out the principles to be incorporated into a combined City Deal response to the Department for Transport’s consultation on proposed changes to the estimation of wider economic impacts in transport appraisal guidance.

It was unanimously agreed that the word ‘combined’ should be removed from the recommendation contained within the report, to remove any potential confusion relating to Combined Authorities.

The Joint Assembly RECOMMENDED that the Executive Board:

(a)        Agrees to submit a City Deal response to this consultation, in addition to the responses that the partner organisations may wish to make individually.

(b)        Agrees that the City Deal response should be framed around the principles set out in paragraph 13 of the report.

(c)        Delegates to the City Deal Programme Director, in consultation with the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board and Cambridgeshire County Council’s Executive Director of Economy, Transport and Environment, responsibility for submitting a full response to this consultation in accordance with these agreed principles.

To consider the attached report.

The Joint Assembly NOTED the financial position as at 31 October 2016.

Consideration was given to a report on the City Deal’s financial monitoring position for the period ending 31 October 2016.

The Joint Assembly NOTED the financial position as at 31 October 2016.

To consider the attached City Deal Forward Plan.

(Changes to the Forward Plan document made since the previous meeting are purposely highlighted using tracked changes).

The Joint Assembly NOTED the City Deal Forward Plan.

Consideration was given to the City Deal Forward Plan.

Tanya Sheridan, City Deal Programme Director, highlighted that briefing meetings in respect of the Histon Road and Milton Road schemes were in progress, with update reports scheduled to be presented to the March 2017 cycle of meetings of the Joint Assembly and Executive Board.  It was also noted that consideration would be given to the determination of Traffic Regulation Orders in respect of cross city cycle improvements at that cycle of meetings.

Councillor Maurice Leeke pointed out that there was no mention in the Forward Plan of the implications of the Cambridgeshire and Peterborough Combined Authority in terms of its potential impact on the City Deal. 

Tanya Sheridan agreed that this was something that could be brought back to the Joint Assembly, particularly regarding the establishment of the Combined Authority and timings of key events, such as the election of the Mayor for example.

Councillor Roger Hickford, Chairman of the Joint Assembly, agreed to discuss this further with the Programme Director in order to establish the best way of taking it issue forward.

The Joint Assembly NOTED the City Deal Forward Plan.