(time limit 15 minutes).
Councillor Moores to MOVE and Councillor Hibbert to SECOND:
This Council was dismayed to hear, that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin had announced that electrification work on the Transpennine route between Leeds and Manchester was being "paused".
This Council is extremely concerned that any delay in progressing plans for electrification and the introduction of faster and more reliable trains linking Manchester and Leeds will hamper economic recovery. Transport connections and infrastructure are the foundation on which an economy is built; the north already loses out substantially in terms of investment, now it will see this vital project fall even further back in the queue. This decision is bad for regional growth and jobs. How can the government expect to build a northern powerhouse if it is unwilling fund vital transport links and infrastructure? This decision is another example of the inequality that exists when it comes to regional investment, it will have a negative impact on the residents of Oldham.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary and Hon George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking them to remove the “pause” that was placed on the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
Also to write to Debbie Abrahams MP, Angela Rayner MP and Michael Meacher MP to ask them to support the motion and to use any other parliamentary means available to remove any further delay to the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
Minutes:
The Mayor informed the meeting that there was one item of Outstanding Business from the last Council meeting.
Councillor McLaren MOVED and Councillor Hibbert SECONDED:
“This Council was dismayed to hear, that Transport Secretary Patrick McLoughlin had announced that electrification work on the Transpennine route between Leeds and Manchester was being "paused".
This Council is extremely concerned that any delay in progressing plans for electrification and the introduction of faster and more reliable trains linking Manchester and Leeds will hamper economic recovery. Transport connections and infrastructure are the foundation on which an economy is built; the north already loses out substantially in terms of investment, now it will see this vital project fall even further back in the queue. This decision is bad for regional growth and jobs. How can the government expect to build a northern powerhouse if it is unwilling fund vital transport links and infrastructure? This decision is another example of the inequality that exists when it comes to regional investment, it will have a negative impact on the residents of Oldham.
This Council resolves to instruct the Chief Executive to write to Patrick McLoughlin, Transport Secretary and Hon George Osborne, Chancellor of the Exchequer, asking them to remove the “pause” that was placed on the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds.
Also to write to Debbie Abrahams MP, Angela Rayner MP and Michael Meacher MP to ask them to support the motion and to use any other parliamentary means available to remove any further delay to the electrification of the TransPennine route between Manchester and Leeds”.
AMENDMENT
Councillor Harkness MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED:
“Insert after the word “paused” in paragraph one, the following wording and paragraphs:
‘Less than half of the British rail network is electrified. Since 1997 roughly 60 miles of existing track were electrified; 50 of them during the period of the 2010 – 15 Coalition Government.
The Coalition Government supported the electrification of the Transpennine line as Government technical reports estimated that electrification would be “self-financing, paying for itself through lower train maintenance, leasing and operating costs. This means that this investment can take place without reducing already planned infrastructure enhancement work”.’
Original second paragraph becomes fourth paragraph.
Insert after “Oldham” in the fourth paragraph, the following wording and paragraphs:
‘In March 2015 the North of England Electrification Task Force published its final report. This identified the electrification of this line as bringing ‘Tier One’ economic benefits to the region (i.e. the highest possible).
‘In a 2009 Network Rail report, electrification was described as having a “significant role to play in reducing carbon emissions. Electric vehicles, on average, emit 20 to 30 percent less CO2 emissions than diesel counterparts and tend to be quieter in operation”.
Council therefore believes that the decision to “pause” the work by the new Conservative Government is illogical on:
- Finance
- Economic and
- Environmental grounds’
Original third paragraph becomes eighth paragraph.
Original fourth paragraph becomes ninth paragraph”
Councillor Briggs spoke on the motion.
Councillor McClaren did not exercise his right of reply.
Councillor Harkess exercised his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on the AMENDMENT
On being put to the VOTE, NINE votes were cast IN FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT, with FORTY SEVEN votes cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
AMENDMENT 2
Councillor Heffernan MOVED and Councillor Sykes SECONDED:
“Insert a final paragraph:
‘Also to write to the Interim Mayor of the new Greater Manchester combined authority Mr Tony Lloyd asking him to support the efforts of local MPs and local authority leaders in overturning this decision’.”
Councillor McClaren did not exercise his right of reply.
Councillor Heffernan did not exercise his right of reply.
A vote was then taken on AMENDMENT 2
On being put to the VOTE, NINE votes were cast IN FAVOUR of the AMENDMENT, with FORTY SEVEN votes cast AGAINST and NO ABSTENTIONS. The AMENDMENT was therefore LOST.
A vote was then taken on the ORIGINAL MOTION. On being put to the VOTE, the meeting UNANIMOUSLY voted IN FAVOUR of the MOTION, which was therefore CARRIED.