Issue - meetings

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides an overview of the West Coast rail franchising process and the Department for Transport consultation on the proposed franchise specification.

This item was considered by the Environment and Economy Scrutiny Committee at its meeting held on 4 August 2016.

The Area Committee is requested to comment on the Council’s proposed response to the consultation.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

A representative of the Democratic Services Manager reported that this item had been placed on the agenda at the request of Councillor Philip Harding.

A representative of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the West Coast rail franchising process and the Department for Transport consultation on the proposed franchise specification. The Council’s response to the consultation was required to be submitted by the deadline of 2 August 2016, but could be amended subsequently.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

•      Stockport Rail Station was one of a number of rail stations on the west coast mainline which was managed by the franchisee in the existing franchise (Virgin Trains) and the inter-relationship between Network Rail and the franchisee had limited the investment in station facilities. This contrasted with the amount of money recently spent on upgrading Manchester Victoria rail station. The Council needed to put increased pressure on Virgin Trains to improve the facilities and the impression that the station gave to visitors to the borough. Officers would ensure that the Stockport Rail Masterplan went into detail on future investment in the station’s facilities, irrespective of who the franchisee was for the West Coast mainline.

•      Members supported the recommendation urging the Department for Transport to set a length of franchise and a sufficiently ambitious Residual Value Mechanism that, taken together, would be sufficient to incentivise infrastructure investment on a scale that would support the Council’s ambitions for a new central station. The new station should be as ‘environmentally friendly’ as possible.

•      A Member expressed concern that there was no ticket office at the Edgeley side of Stockport railway station meaning that passengers approaching the station from that side could not take advantage of different ticket prices and offers available.

•      It was important that the underpass remained as an important route to the town centre despite the introduction of barriers last year.

RESOLVED – That the Council’s response to the consultation be amended in line with the comments of the Area Committee.

To consider a report of the Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration

The report provides an overview of the West Coast rail franchising process and the Department for Transport consultation on the proposed franchise specification.

The Scrutiny Committee is requested to comment on the Council’s proposed response to the consultation.

Officer Contact: Sue Stevenson on 0161 474 4351 or email: sue.stevenson@stockport.gov.uk

The Corporate Director for Place Management and Regeneration submitted a report (copies of which had been circulated) providing an overview of the West Coast rail franchising process and the Department of Transport’s consultation on the proposed franchise specification. The Council’s response to the consultation was required to be submitted by the deadline of 2 August 2016, but could be amended subsequently.

The Executive Councillor (Economy and Regeneration) (Councillor Kate Butler) attended the meeting to respond to Members’ questions.

The following comments were made/issues raised:-

·         The Council’s response to the consultation needed to emphasise the importance of upgrading Stockport railway station given that the investment that the Council was making in the nearby Stockport Exchange development and the importance of the railway station in raising the profile of the borough and providing an initial impression of the town.

·         A Member expressed concern that there was no ticket office at the Edgeley side of Stockport railway station meaning that passengers approaching the station from that side could not take advantage of different ticket prices and offers available. The introduction of barriers had, however, improved the safety of pedestrians from cyclists using the underpass.

·         It was important that the underpass remained as an important route to the town centre despite the introduction of the barriers last year.

·         A Member requested that the report be referred to the meeting of the Central Stockport Area Committee on 11 August 2016.

RESOLVED – That the Council’s response to the consultation be amended in line with the comments of this Scrutiny Committee.