(Public Pack)Agenda Document for North East of Scotland Transport
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Public Document Pack Councillor Peter Argyle, Chair, Dr Margaret Bochel and Councillor Sandra Macdonald Vice Chairs, Councillor David Aitchison, Colin Allanach, Stephen Archer, Gale Beattie, Councillor Philip Bell, Councillor John Cox, Mr Gerry Donald, Mr George Mair, Councillor Alex Nicoll, Councillor Colin Pike, Mr Ian Ross and Councillor Jennifer Stewart Aberdeen City Council Substitute Members:- Councillors Ross Grant, Brett Hunt, Michael Hutchison and Ian Yuill. Aberdeenshire Council Substitute Members:- Councillors George Carr, Martin Ford, Ian Mollison and Gillian Owen Please note that a substitute member may only participate in the meeting when a substantive member is absent. Should you require further information regarding the Agenda, please contact Rab Dickson 01224 346680 NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP Meeting of Board (Committee Room 2, Woodhill House, Aberdeen) WEDNESDAY, 19 JUNE 2019 at 2.00 pm. AGENDA 1a Declarations of Interest 1b Minute of Board Meeting, 17 April 2019 (Pages 3 - 10) 1c Non Councillor Members (Pages 11 - 14) 2 Presentations - Not taken up 3 Strategy 3a Director's Report (Pages 15 - 24) 3b Regional Transport Strategy Progress and Update (Pages 25 - 30) 3c Annual Monitoring Report (Pages 31 - 94) 3d Annual Nestrans Performance Indicators (Pages 95 - 100) 3e Cumulative Transport Appraisal (Pages 101 - 106) 4 Projects 4a Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen Strategic Transport Study - Further Rail Work (Pages 107 - 110) 4b A96 Dualling (Pages 111 - 114) 4c Roads Hierarchy Study (Pages 115 - 130) 4d Cross City Connections (Pages 131 - 134) 5 Action Plans 5a Bus Action Plan (State of Network) (Pages 135 - 192) 6 General 6a Progress Report (Pages 193 - 230) 6b Publications and Consultations (Pages 231 - 238) 7 Budget Matters 7a Annual Audit Plan 2018-2019 (Pages 239 - 252) 7b Unaudited Annual Accounts for 2018/19 (Pages 253 - 306) 7c 2019/20 Budget Matters (Pages 307 - 312) 8 Information Bulletin (Pages 313 - 318) 9 Conferences and Presentations (Pages 319 - 320) 10 Pending Business and Reports for Future Meetings (Pages 321 - 322) CONFIDENTIAL 11 Staffing Matters (Pages 323 - 326) Should you require any further information about this agenda, please contact Mark Masson, email [email protected], or telephone 01224 522989 Agenda Item 1b NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP Minute of Meeting of the North East Scotland Transport Partnership Board Aberdeen, Wednesday, 17 April 2019 Present: Councillor Peter Argyle (Chairperson); Dr Maggie Bochel (Vice Chair); Councillors Philip Bell, Alex Nicoll and Ross Grant (as substitute for Councillor Macdonald, Vice Chair); Councillors David Aitchison, John Cox and Colin Pike and Mr George Mair and Mr Ian Ross. In Attendance: Alex Hynes (ScotRail/Network Rail Alliance) and Ewan Tait (ScotRail); Councillor Ian Mollison (Aberdeenshire Council); Jenny Anderson, Louise Calder, Kirsty Chalmers, Rab Dickson and Kelly Wiltshire (Nestrans); Gale Beattie, Elena Carlisle and Mark Masson (Aberdeen City Council); and Paul Finch, Ruth Taylor and Ewan Wallace (Aberdeenshire Council). Apologies: Councillor Sandra Macdonald, Councillor Jennifer Stewart, Mr Gerry Donald, Mr Stephen Archer and Derrick Murray. Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST 1. There were no declarations of interest intimated. MINUTE OF BOARD MEETING OF 13 FEBRUARY 2019 2. The Board had before it the minute of its previous meeting of 13 February 2019, for approval. With reference to article 7(ii) of the minute, Rab Dickson advised that following receipt of the draft report from Consultants, a report in relation to the Fraserburgh and Peterhead to Aberdeen - Strategic Rail Study would now be submitted to the Board meeting in June 2019. The Board resolved:- (i) to approve the minute as a correct record; and (ii) to note the information provided. Page 3 2 NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP 17 April 2019 PRESENTATION BY ALEX HYNES, MANAGING DIRECTOR SCOTRAIL/NETWORK RAIL ALLIANCE 3. The Committee received a presentation from Alex Hynes, Managing Director ScotRail/Network Rail Alliance. Mr Hynes made reference to current train service performance and acknowledged the public’s frustration in terms of the number of delays and train cancellations, but intimated that they were working hard to improve the situation in the coming weeks and months. He advised that additional funding (£18M) had been invested in operational issues to quickly address the situation, which included the recruitment of 55 new train drivers and the introduction of three additional trains to mitigate the impact on customers in terms of the delays and cancellations and to ensure that similar problems would not occur in future. Mr Hynes provided information on future timetabling, train stock and station improvements and the following was noted:- First phase of additional services delivered in December 2018; Improved cross rail services and reduced journey times between Aberdeen and the central belt to be delivered from May 2020 using all 26 new and refurbished high-speed trains; £16M for Aberdeen Railway Station improvements, including new roof, improved customer access, ticketing and waiting facilities, cycle and taxi accessibility, replacement flooring and increased retail options; £330M for the upgrade of the route between Aberdeen and Inverness will provide a better commuter service; Aberdeen to Inverness route will operate a new improved timetable with regular services to increase seating at peak times; 15-week closure of railway line to install 16 miles of new track between Dyce and Inverurie commences next week; Construction of Kintore Station will be completed in May 2020; and Consultation to take place in relation to new timetable which will be introduced in December 2019. Mr Hynes responded to a number of questions from members of the Board. The Board resolved:- to thank Mr Hynes for attending the meeting today. DIRECTOR'S REPORT 4. The Board had before it a report which provided an update on liaison activity with other RTP’s, the Scottish Government and other organisations. The report recommended:- Page 4 3 NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP 17 April 2019 that the Board note the progress on liaison arrangements with other RTP’s, the Scottish Government and others and the arrangements for future meetings. Rab Dickson highlighted amongst other items, the following areas for members’ attention:- Strategic Transport Appraisal Members’ workshop, Aberdeen, 8 February 2019; Business Alliance Board, Aberdeen, 28 February 2019; Visit from the Active Nation Commissioner, Aberdeen, 26 March 2019; and Aberdeen to Central Belt Reference Group, Dundee, 1 April 2019. The Board resolved:- to approve the recommendation. REGIONAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY PROGRESS AND UPDATE 5. The Board had before it a report which updated members in relation to the development of the next Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) and recommended future actions. The report recommended:- that the Board – (a) note the progress being made in regard to the development of the RTS to 2040; and (b) authorise officers to develop discussion papers for the purpose of engaging with stakeholders and the public through the website. The Board resolved:- (i) to approve the recommendations; and (ii) to circulate discussion papers to Board members prior to publishing them on the website. RAIL UPDATE 6. The Board had before it a report which provided information on the progress of a number of matters in relation to railways in the north east of Scotland. The report recommended:- that the Board – (a) note the content of this report, including progress made regarding the new station at Kintore and the upgrade of Aberdeen-Inverurie; (b) note the efforts to publicise and engage with passengers regarding the potential disruptions due to the works scheduled for this summer; (c) instruct officers to continue dialogue with Transport Scotland and ScotRail in regard to timetable changes with a view to encouraging adjustments which will mitigate some of the perceived loss of service; and Page 5 4 NORTH EAST OF SCOTLAND TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP 17 April 2019 (d) instruct officers to develop a bid to the Local Rail Development Fund to undertake an assessment into the potential for new stations between Aberdeen and Laurencekirk. Rab Dickson highlighted the following items for members’ attention:- work had commenced on the construction of Kintore Station, which was anticipated to be completed in 12 months; the Aberdeen to Inverness upgrade would entail a period of blockade over the summer with replacement buses operating; timetable and performance considerations due to ScotRail’s proposals for ‘Revolution in Rail’ and difficulties in delivery of new rolling stock and the knock- on effect in terms of driver training; Insch accessibility study – AECOM appointed to undertake study which will include consultation with residents, local MP’s, MSP’s, Councillors, access and disability groups and the local Community Council; Department of Transport announced additional £300M of funding to improve access to stations across the UK, with six selected in Scotland; Local Rail Development Fund – assessment of potential for new railway stations to the south of Aberdeen was agreed to be taken forward by Nestrans previously, applications for funding support require to be submitted to Transport