Issue - meetings

That this Council:-

(a)       regrets the Government’s decision to scrap plans announced in 2012 by former Deputy Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon Nick Clegg, to electrify the Midland Mainline to Sheffield;

(b)       believes that the decision by Transport Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Chris Grayling MP, to announce his support for Crossrail 2 adds insult to injury and demonstrates that this Government has abandoned its commitment to the Northern Powerhouse;

(c)        is disappointed that research by Institute For Public Policy Research (IPPR) North shows Yorkshire and the Humber will get £190 per head of transport spending from 2016/17 onwards compared to £220 in the North East, £680 in the North West and £1,940 in London;

(d)       believes that investment in transport connections across the north of England is vital to the goal of rebalancing the economy and bringing more investment and jobs to the north;

(e)       further notes Transport for the North’s independent research published in 2016 in the Northern Powerhouse Independent Economic Review which shows how new investments including ‘HS3’ could unlock up to £97 billion and create 850,000 new jobs by 2050;

(f)        notes that, to date, 85,000 people have signed a petition calling on the Government to boost transport spending in the north;

(g)       notes delays to the Hope Valley capacity scheme, which was due to commence in May 2017 for completion by September 2018;

(h)       calls upon the Transport Secretary to:-

(i)         reverse the decision to scrap the electrification of the Midland Mainline;

(ii)        approve the commencement of the Hope Valley capacity scheme;

(iii)       pledge his immediate backing for the Northern Powerhouse Rail programme; and

(iv)       give Transport for the North the same powers as those enjoyed by Transport for London so that it can also raise private finance towards its own transport priorities; and

(i)         directs that a copy of this Motion be sent to the Secretary of State for Transport.