Agenda item

Launch of ‘A Rail Strategy for Lancaster District’

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Reynolds)

 

Report of  Director  for Economic Growth & Regeneration  (report published on 5 June 2020)

Minutes:

(Cabinet Member with Special Responsibility Councillor Reynolds )

 

Cabinet received a report from the Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration to present the recently-drafted Rail Strategy for the Lancaster District for formal endorsement.  Subject to Cabinet endorsement for the Strategy, it was originally envisaged that a formal launch event would be arranged.  The nature of this launch event will require further consideration as a consequence of the Covid-19 pandemic, and this is discussed in the report. The Strategy would be used as a basis for influencing key stakeholders and decision-makers within the rail industry.

 

The options, options analysis, including risk assessment and officer preferred option, were set out in the report as follows:

 

Option 1: To endorse the Rail Strategy for Lancaster District

 

Advantages:

 

The Strategy can be used by the City Council, working with the County Council, to advance the case for improved service provision for long-distance trains including HS2 services; improvements to the regional and local services; and improvements to Lancaster, Morecambe and Carnforth stations.

 

Disadvantages: There are no recognised disadvantages arising from the endorsement of the Strategy.

 

Risks: There are no recognised risks arising from the endorsement of the Strategy.

 

Option 2: Do not endorse the Rail Strategy for Lancaster District

 

Advantages: None.  

 

Disadvantages: The case being made for HS2 services serving Lancaster would continue to be made by the County Council and the LEP, but without the addition of the local context provided by this Rail Strategy and without the local economic modelling that has been undertaken to inform it. In the absence of this data, HS2 service decisions (in particular) will potentially be made without due consideration of the social and economic implications for the Lancaster District.

 

Risks: Whilst the failure to endorse the Strategy does not carry direct risk for the City Council, there would be significant financial risks associated with the loss of direct London services to/from Lancaster, which has greater potential to arise as a probable scenario if Lancaster City Council does not formally establish its position and seek to advance its case. 

 

 

The officer preferred option is Option 1.  This action will enable the City Council to establish its’ formal position regarding HS2 and regional and local services, and will lead to Officers working with partners, stakeholders, service providers and Central Government to advance the district’s case. Whilst it is intended that the priorities listed within the document will remain unaltered, the Strategy may be updated by the inclusion of the most-recent economic data, to help support the district’s case.

 

 

Councillor Reynolds proposed, seconded by Councillor Brookes:-

 

“That the recommendation, as set out in the report, be approved.”

 

Councillors then voted:-

 

Resolved unanimously:

 

(1)   That the Rail Strategy for Lancaster District is formally endorsed and used thereafter to positively influence key stakeholders and decision-makers in the rail industry, for the benefit of the district’s residents, businesses and other organisations and groups.

 

Officer responsible for effecting the decision:

 

Director for Economic Growth and Regeneration

 

Reasons for making the decision:

 

The proposals accord with the ambitions of the Council Plan and the Local Plan. The Council Plan includes ambitions to create strong conditions for growth so that businesses thrive and jobs are created; ensure that growth is good for all; work with partners to drive growth and achieve major investment across the Region; and to use innovation, technology and partnership with other to reduce our impact on the environment.  The Council Plan also aims to enhance community cohesion. The emerging Local Plan for Lancaster District includes a strategic objective (within the Strategic Policies and Land Allocations Development Plan Document) to capitalise on the accessibility of the district, maximising the opportunities provided by its location on the main strategic rail (and road) network.  It also seeks to improve transport connectivity around Morecambe Bay through improvement to rail services at Morecambe and Carnforth.

 

Policy SP10 (Improving Transport Connectivity) establishes an expectation that there will be greater promotion of a variety of sustainable transport modes.  Policy EC5 discusses the potential for improving rail links from Carnforth.  Policy T4 reinforces this ambition, by explaining that the Council will work collaboratively to investigate opportunities to improve regional rail linkages from both Morecambe and Carnforth.

The emerging Development Management Development Plan Document Policy DM64 references the Lancaster District Highways and Transport Masterplan, and the ambition to improve rail services.

 

 

Supporting documents: