Meeting documents

Place Scrutiny Committee
Monday, 26th January, 2015 6.30 pm

Place Scrutiny Minutes

Date:
Thursday, 4th December, 2014
Time:
7.00 p.m.
Place:
Johnson Room, Tickfield Centre, Southend
 

Attendance Details

ItemDescriptionResolution
Part I
465 Apologies and substitutions.
 Apologies for absence were received from Councillors D J Jarvis (Substitute: Councillor Folkard), A J Jones, J McMahon, J W Moyies, C A Mulroney, N D Ward and J G StJ. Ware-Lane
466 Declarations of interest.
 The following interests were declared at the meeting:

(a) Councillor Flewitt - Agenda Item No. 4 (Presentation from Abelio Greater Anglia) - Non-pecuniary interest: Rail season ticket holder.
467 Questions from Members of the Public.
 A number of questions had been received from several members of the public. However, as these related to the provision of services by Abellio Greater Anglia, they had been forwarded directly to them for a formal response.
468 Presentation from Abelio Greater Anglia
Business for item 468
Resolved:

That the presentation be noted and that the Council be requested to submit a response to the franchise consultation and the Network Rail route study consultation.
7.00 p.m./8.30 p.m.

Attendance Details

Present:
Councillor M A Flewitt (Chairman),
Councillors L D Burling, N J Folkard*, D G Kenyon, I T Robertson, M Royston
(*Substitute in accordance with Council Procedure Rule 31)
In attendance:
T Row

Business

ItemBusiness
468The Committee received a presentation by Jonathan Denby (Head of Corporate Affairs) and Paul Oxley, (Stakeholder Manager) at Abellio Greater Anglia. The presentation provided:

• an overview of the current franchise and the performance to date;
• a brief context of the rail industry;
• a review of the initial franchise (February 2012 -July 2014);
• an overview of the new short franchise (July 2014 to October 2016); and
• the context and key issues for the renewal of the franchise and the wider strategic agenda.

Members of the Committee took the opportunity to ask a number of questions, which were duly answered by Mr Denby and Mr Oxley.

The Committee noted that the Greater Anglia region was a premium franchise which contributed significantly to government and was one of two regions which contributed to Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Accordingly, it should be entitled to receive a fair share of enhancement investment, particularly in respect of rolling stock. It was therefore essential to make a compelling, business and economic case now for a new high quality, ambitious, transformative franchise contract.

The Committee acknowledged that there was an important opportunity to help shape future service standards and potential upgrades by responding to the franchise consultation, which was due to commence in the next week, and the Network Rail route study consultation. It was also important to maintain and build on the current coordinated approach, which had been established since the launch of East Anglian Rail Prospectus.

The Chairman thanked Mr Denby and Mr Oxley for their informative presentation and requested that a copy of the slides used in the presentation to be circulated to all Members of the Council for their information.

 

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