Agenda for Environment & Economy Select Committee on Thursday, 18 October 2018, 6.30pm

Agenda, decisions and draft minutes

Venue: Autun Room - Daneshill House, Danestrete. View directions

Contact: Fungai Nyamukapa - 01438 242707 

Items
No. Item

1.

APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE AND DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

To receive apologies for absence and declarations of interest

Decision:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting.

 

Apologies were received from Cllrs M Hurst, J Fraser, L Kelly and S-J Potter.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes:

The Chair welcomed everyone to the meeting. There was representation from Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR), Network Rail, Hertfordshire County Council (Transport Unit) and the Rail Users’ Group for Stevenage.

 

Apologies were received from Cllrs M Hurst, J Fraser, L Kelly and S-J Potter.

 

There were no declarations of interest.

2.

MINUTES - 1 AUGUST 2018 pdf icon PDF 56 KB

To approve as a correct record the Minutes of the Environment and Economy Select Committee meeting held on 1 August 2018

Decision:

It was RESOLVED that Minutes of the Environment and Economy (E & E) Select Committee meeting of 01 August 2018 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

The Chair informed the Committee that items relating to the Licence to Occupy procedures and the review of the Direct Services Business Unit (Item 2 – paragraph 2) had been deferred to the November  E & E Select Committee meeting.

Minutes:

It was RESOLVED that Minutes of the Environment and Economy (E & E) Select Committee meeting of 01 August 2018 are approved as a correct record and signed by the Chair.

 

The Chair informed the Committee that items relating to the Licence to Occupy procedures and the review of the Direct Services Business Unit (Item 2 – paragraph 2) had been deferred to the November  E & E Select Committee meeting.

3.

STEVENAGE RAIL STATION pdf icon PDF 436 KB

To establish how the implementation of the new rail timetable and service are running and to attempt to reach out to rail users and offer support for a user group for Stevenage

 

To consider the following issues:

 

·         May Timetable update

·         Rail Users Group update

·         Post-May Timetable Developments

·         Plans for Fifth Platform at Stevenage, the Hertford Loop and Replacement Bus Service

·         Future consultations with stakeholders

·         Support for Stevenage Rail Users Group

Additional documents:

Decision:

The Chair informed the Committee that although Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) did not have direct responsibility for rail, the Council has a responsibility to look after the welfare its residents including regular rail commuters and more casual rail users. This was why this issue was being considered by the Committee. The long term objective was to establish improved communication between the Council, rail users and rail companies.

 

It was RESOLVED:

 

1.             That the following reports are noted:

 

      GTR Presentation covering May 2018 lessons, interim measures and December 2018 timetable preparations

      ORR Independent Inquiry into Timetable Disruption in May 2018

      The role of Hertfordshire County Council

      Rail Users’ Group Issues and Questions

 

2.             That the Committee considers holding a follow up meeting for all stakeholders in the spring of 2019, following the December 2018 timetable changes (February/March)

3.         That GTR and other operators provide statistics about the number of Stevenage commuters at peak times

 

4.         That train operators be encouraged to consult on key changes with the Rail Users Group

 

5.         That Rail operators be encouraged to include Rail Users’ Group for Stevenage and other stakeholder groups in consultations prior to the construction of the fifth platform for Stevenage and timetable changes in May 2019 and whilst the temporary bus service between Hertford and Stevenage is in operation

 

6.         That GTR be encouraged and advised to provide a reliable service and good quality buses for the replacement bus service

 

7.         That ahead of the May timetable changes in 2019, Stevenage Borough Council and Hertfordshire County Council assist with local communication and be provided information regarding the changes

Minutes:

The Chair informed the Committee that although Stevenage Borough Council (SBC) did not have direct responsibility for rail, the Council has a responsibility to look after the welfare its residents including regular rail commuters and more casual rail users. This was why this issue was being considered by the Committee. The long term objective was to establish improved communication between the Council, rail users and rail companies. 

 

Govia Thameslink Railway (GTR)

 

GTR offered an apology for the massive disruption caused by the May 2018 timetable change. The company was now focussing on improving and stabilising the service. GTR concurred with the Office of Rail and Road (ORR) report’s conclusion that the May disruption was a reflection of industry-wide problems. The problems emanating from the May timetable change had to be resolved by the major stakeholders including the Department for Transport, Network Rail and rail franchise companies such as GTR and London North Eastern Railway (LNER).

 

GTR tabled a document containing Stevenage morning and evening peak and high peak vehicle, seats and capacity statistics for May 2010, May 2017 and May 2018 and projections for December 2018 and May 2019. Morning peak times are 0700hrs to 0959hrs and evening peak is 1600hrs to 1859hrs. Morning high peak times are 0800hrs to 0859hrs and evening high peak is 1700hrs to 1759hrs.Members were informed that under normal circumstances, a new rail timetable would be signed off by Network Rail at least twelve (12) weeks before the timetable launch date. This new timetable would then be followed by three to four iterations (using a computer program and manual interventions) to develop the most efficient use of drivers and trains and to ensure the reliability of the new timetable.  On this occasion, due to the late sign-off, there was time for only one iteration which showed a requirement for 50 more drivers than we had available GTR had been recruiting and training new drivers since the start of the franchise in anticipation of the new May 2018 timetable but due to the late sign off, there was not enough time to ensure the most efficient use of the new drivers which would match their particular track knowledge.. Following the issues caused by the May timetable an interim timetable was introduced in July 2018 which brought in a degree of stability. Forty (40) additional peak time services were introduced in September 2018 and these have significantly contributed to an improved performance.

 

GTR was now working with Network Rail and other stakeholders to introduce the previously planned May weekday timetable in December 2018 and further improvements in May 2019 so as to ease passenger congestion and the disruption of services. The Committee was informed that services on the East Coast Mainline would benefit from the introduction of more services on the Cambridge to Brighton Route.

 

Members were informed that the late May 2018 timetable sign off was a direct result of the industry-wide problems that were highlighted in the ORR Report. It was pointed out that Network  ...  view the full minutes text for item 3.

4.

URGENT PART 1 BUSINESS

To consider any Part 1 business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

Minutes:

None.

5.

EXCLUSION OF PUBLIC AND PRESS

To consider the following motions –

 

1.  That under Section 100(A) of the Local Government Act 1972, the press and public be excluded from the meeting for the following items of business on the grounds that they involve the likely disclosure of exempt information as described in paragraphs1 – 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act as amended by Local Government (Access to Information) (Variation) Order 2006.

 

2.  That Members consider the reasons for the following reports being in Part II and determine whether or not maintaining the exemption from disclosure of the information contained therein outweighs the public interest in disclosure.

 

Decision:

Not required.

Minutes:

Not required.

6.

URGENT PART II BUSINESS

To consider any Part II business accepted by the Chair as urgent.

Decision:

None.

Minutes:

None.