To consider the above report

Members considered support for a draft proposal to Government agreed by the Transport for the South East (TfSE) Shadow Partnership Board in March 2019, setting out the powers that TfSE wished to secure should it be offered statutory status.

Councillor Johnson explained that TfSE was a sub-national transport body that would take forward strategic, integrated and sustainable transport schemes for the south east.

Councillor Werner commented that it was good to see the council embracing regional government. He asked whether there were any powers the council would lose in moving to the proposed new body. He welcomed a more integrated approach for all forms of transport. He asked if the key measures would be whether it would save people time and money and what were the environmental impacts.

Councillor Johnson confirmed that the criteria were correct. The south east was one of the key economic powerhouses for the UK but also one of the most congested and with a generally unsustainable transport structure. No powers would be lost but it was an opportunity to work with LEP partners and other bodies in the region.

Councillor Hill welcomed the proposals but highlighted that the borough would not have a vote in the new body. Councillor Johnson explained that the borough technically did not get a vote on its own but did so through the Berkshire Strategic Transport Forum which worked on a cross-party, collegiate basis.

Councillor Knowles commented that it was common sense to get involved in the project however he was nervous of the delegation of authority to proceed at a later stage.

Councillor Cannon commented that strategic joined up thinking was the way forward. The proposals were modelled on structures in London and the north to benefit residents.

Councillor W. Da Costa highlighted that residents and businesses wanted simple, affordable transport that would get them to anywhere they wanted to in the region, when they wanted to quickly and efficiently, boosting mobility and footfall, whilst also improving the environment, health and wellbeing. He could not see the inclusion of those objectives in the report. There was a need for the creation of a wide and extensive network of integrated, ecofriendly transport solutions including road, rail, cycle, walking and emerging solutions. It would be important to consider the role of a transport authority versus private ownership and the need to invest in technology to achieve the objectives. If Councillor Johnson agreed, he asked how could the council lead the way and push the authority to create the holistic solutions that businesses and residents needed.

Councillor Johnson explained that the principle role of the organisation was to support a regional framework for ‘big ticket’ transport infrastructure items.  The role of transport authorities remained the same, to devise a localised transport solution. It would be important to be ambitious at the Berkshire level to secure funding for projects. He welcomed Member suggestions to be fed in via the Lead Member for Transport.

It was proposed by Councillor Johnson, seconded by Councillor Cannon, and:

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Full Councilnotes the report and:

i)             Agrees to support the consultation draft of the Proposal to Government (Appendix 1) including the powers and responsibilities requested by TfSE and the proposed governance arrangements; and

ii)            Agrees to delegate any final changes to the TfSE proposal submitted to Government to the Interim Director of Adult Services and Deputy Director Strategy & Commissioning in conjunction with the Lead Member for Infrastructure, Transport Policy, Housing and Property