COUNTY COUNCIL LOCAL COMMITTEE FOR BARROW Paper No. Meeting date: 10 November 2009 From: Corporate Director – Environment 13

COMMUNITY RAIL PARTNERSHIP – LINE

1.0 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

1.1 There are now three Community Rail Partnerships in ; the Lakes Line, the Cumbria Coast Line and the . There is no Community Rail Partnership currently supporting the Furness Line.

1.2 The Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership was formed in February 2006 to support the Oxenholme to branch line and ensure the long term sustainability of the route. The partnership applied successfully to be a designated Community Rail Partnership in 2008.

1.3 The purpose of a Community Rail Partnership is to bring together local authorities, rail users, railway companies and other stakeholders to encourage improvements to services, enhancements of stations and other activities.

1.4 The purpose of this report is to request that financial support be given this financial year by Barrow Local Committee to employ an officer to develop a Community Rail Partnership for the Furness Line. The officer would also support the Community Rail Partnership for the Lakes Line. This support will also assist the Council in promoting Community Rail Cumbria, the overall organisation for Community Rail in Cumbria.

2.0 STRATEGIC PLANNING AND EQUALITY IMPLICATIONS

2.1 The Council’s Local Transport Plan Policy PT13 sets out objectives in relation to the engagement with a number of agencies to develop local rail passenger facilities.

2.2 The report has no equality implications.

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3.0 RECOMMENDATION

3.1 That Local Committee allocate £2,500 for one year towards the cost of employing a Community Rail Partnership Officer to support the development of the Furness Line, the funding to come from General Provision Community grants allocation.

3.2 Conditions for the funding would be

a) Member representation on the board. The committee is invited to nominate a representative.

b) Regular feedback to the Local Committee.

4.0 BACKGROUND

4.1 The Council’s Local Transport Plan sets out its aspirations in connection with local rail. Providing additional support for both the Lakes Line CRP and the development of the Furness Line CRP will offer the opportunity to assist in meeting targets regarding access to employment. In addition the lines will assist the economy of the area by bringing visitors into Cumbria. The Council is keen to encourage the use of rail as a mode of travel and to encourage alternative to car usage in the area.

4.2 Community Rail Partnerships were devised by the government to support local and rural railways. A Partnership is a not-for-profit organisation supported by a committee of stakeholders. The aim of a Partnership is to raise awareness and promote a line, whilst responding to the particular needs of the communities it services. It also acts as a link between the train operator and the local community. The main benefit to being a designated partnership means that certain restrictions on fares and timetabling will be lifted so for instance there could be special rates for people in the local community. Most partnerships employ a full time partnership officer to develop and execute an agreed plan which enables the stakeholders to work together to realise shared objectives.

4.3 Following a report to Barrow Local Committee on 21 September it was agreed that a Task and Finish group meet to discuss the issues raised at the meeting. The meeting took place on 19 October and the notes of the meeting are attached to this report (Appendix 1). Members of Barrow Local Committee were keen that every effort was made to secure funding from other areas and a number of options were discussed including Barrow Regeneration Board and BAE systems. It has since been established that there is no longer any Agenda 21 funding and other options in that area have been explored. In addition the member of Barrow Local Committee were keen that the Community Rail Partnership Officer should work in Barrow and Kendal and it was noted that close working with the Community Unit would be beneficial.

4.4 The composition of the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership is proposed to be the Cumbria County Council, County Council, Barrow Borough Council, , TransPennine, Furness Line Action

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Group as well as representatives from town councils on the route. Both and TransPennine have committed £5,000 towards the cost of the partnership for the current financial year and discussions have taken place with Barrow Borough Council regarding a contribution from them. Lancashire County Council have made a commitment to funding in next financial year of £2,500.

4.5 The Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership has a board with representatives from the following organisations: TransPennine Express, Cumbria County Council, South Lakeland Development Trust, Lakes Line User Group, Lake District National Park, Friends of the Lake District, Windermere Lake Cruises. The funding for the partnership allocated this financial year is £15,000.

4.6 The part time project officer for the Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership recently resigned from the post which has been established in May 2006. The postholder ceased employment as Partnership Officer at the end of June 2009. There is a need to recruit another officer to continue to provide support for the Lakes Line Partnership and this, together with funding to establish the Furness Line Partnership, would enable the recruitment of a full time officer to support both Partnerships.

4.7 The Project Officer will be required to establish the Furness Line as a Community Rail Partnership and develop an Action Plan to take forward improvements to the line. In addition there will be a need to consolidate working relationships with the County Council, Barrow Borough Council and South Lakeland District Council and a range of partners including Trans Pennine, Northern Rail and Lancashire County Council to maximise positive results from the promotion of the lines. Information from the community and the Furness Line Action Group will be shared to ensure that information is provided in an integrated way.

4.8 Whilst an important part of the Project Officer’s role will be to secure continued support for the Partnership from the rail companies, it is hoped in the future to gain sponsorship for the Partnership from the commercial sector. The funding for the Officer post will also provide leverage for delivery work in the local community. Experience of working in other areas has shown that positive results can be achieved and demonstrable improvements to the stations on the lines made.

4.9 The County Council’s Rail Officer is working to develop Community Rail Cumbria and under that umbrella Community Rail Partnerships across the County will be coordinated. The Project Officers will be working with the Rail Officer to ensure that there is an integrated approach in the County to rail services.

5.0 OPTIONS

5.1 Funding is allocated to develop the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership.

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5.2 Funding is not provided to support the Project Officer post to develop the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership.

6.0 RESOURCE AND VALUE FOR MONEY IMPLICATIONS

6.1 The total cost of the Community Rail Partnership Officer is estimated at £30,000. It is indicated that the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership and the Lakes Line Community Rail partnership will contribute £15,0000 each. Barrow Local Committee is being asked for £2,500 to support the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership contribution.

6.2 The recommendation commits £2,500 from the Local Committee’s General Provision Community grants budget. Following meeting of 8 October 2009 there is £60,505 unallocated available from this budget line.

7.0 LEGAL IMPLICATIONS

7.1 The Furness Community Rail Partnership Officer will be employed by the County Council and line managed by the Rail Officer.

8.0 CONCLUSION

8.1 It is concluded that in order to develop an effective Community Rail Partnership for the Furness Line a Project Officer is required. Regular reports on the work of the Partnership will be provided to Barrow Local Committee.

Cheryl Cowperthwaite Acting Passenger Transport Manager

26 October 2009

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APPENDICES

Community Rail Partnership Notes – 19 October 2009

Electoral Division(s): All along both Lakes Line and Furness Line

Executive Decision Yes

Key Decision No

If a Key Decision, is the proposal published in the current Forward Plan? N/A

Is the decision exempt from call-in on grounds of urgency? No

If exempt from call-in, has the agreement of the Chair of the relevant N/A Overview and Scrutiny Committee been sought or obtained?

Has this matter been considered by Overview and Scrutiny? No If so, give details below.

Has an environmental or sustainability impact assessment been N/A undertaken?

Has an equality impact assessment been undertaken? N/A

N.B. If an executive decision is made, then a decision cannot be implemented until the expiry of the eighth working day after the date of the meeting – unless the decision is urgent and exempt from call-in and the Head of Member Services and Scrutiny has obtained the necessary approvals.

PREVIOUS RELEVANT COUNCIL OR EXECUTIVE DECISIONS [including Local Committees]

South Lakeland Local Committee 23 January 2007

CONSIDERATION BY OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY

Not considered by Overview and Scrutiny

BACKGROUND PAPERS

No background papers

REPORT AUTHOR

Contact: Cheryl Cowperthwaite, Telephone 01228 226757, [email protected]

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Appendix 1

Meeting – Community Rail Partnership

Monday, 19th October 2009

Present: Cllr Anne Burns Cllr Jill Heath Cllr Bill Bleasdale Cllr Lisa Hammond Karen Johnson, Area Support Manager John Kitchen, Rail Officer Cheryl Cowperthwaite, Acting Passenger Transport Manager Angela Knowles, Rural Projects Officer

1. Purpose of meeting Task and finish group following Local Committee – Monday, 21st September to discuss issues raised by a request for funding of £2,500 towards the post of Project Officer to develop the Furness Line Community Rail Partnership and continue the work of the Lakes Line Community Rail Partnership. Concern had been expressed by members about value for money for Barrow. An approach is also being made to Barrow Borough Council for funding.

2. Funding secured to date for half the costs of full-time Project Officer:

First Trans Pennine Express £5,000 Northern Rail £5,000 Lancashire County Council £2,500 *South Lakes Local Area Cttee £2,000 CCC office facilities+officer costs In kind contribution TPE office facilities+marketing In kind contribution support TOTAL £14,500

*South Lakes Local Area Committee is contributing £5,000 in total. £2,500 for each Community Rail Partnership on the Furness Line.

3. Benefits of a Community Rail Partnership include:

Developing a community rail partnership provides a link with the Department of Transport which will deliver considerable benefits including more control over timetables and fares and opportunities for further funding.

The Cumbria Coast Railway Partnership has delivered trains on a Sunday and extra services to Whitehaven and Barrow.

Green Road Station Partnership, Drigg and the Settle to Carlisle Trolley Service have won awards

30% growth has been achieved on the Lakes Line through the work of the Lakes Line Partnership

There are 60 Rail Partnerships in the country, a Community Rail Partnership for the Furness Line would complete coverage for Barrow

• After discussion it was agreed that funding will be granted for 1 year. • Regular feedback and monitoring will be undertaken • A Councillor from local committee will be on the partnership group • Future funding will be on the agenda

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• BAE Systems and West Lakes Renaissance (Barrow) could be approached • Post could “hot desk” in the Community Unit • A further paper will be brought to Local Committee on 10th November • Agenda 21 funding to be investigated • Contributions of District Councils on the West Coast will be investigated.

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