To consider the Motion on Notice received from Councillor Matthissen:
This Council notes that
Accordingly, Council calls on Suffolk County Council and the West Suffolk councils to join Mid Suffolk in approaching Greater Anglia to propose that work begins to launch a Mid Anglia CRP next Spring.
Proposed John Matthissen
Seconded Sarah Mansel
Minutes:
39.1 On the proposal of Councillor Matthissen and seconded by Councillor Mansel
It was MOVED that: -
This Council notes that:-
· Community Rail Partnerships (CRP) are a useful way of promoting tourism without generating road traffic.
· Abellio Greater Anglia offers start-up grants of £20,000 and continuing financial and practical support
· Greater Anglia supports 8 CRP’s at present, and 4 of its 8 intermediate stations are in Mid Suffolk
Accordingly, Council calls on Suffolk County Council and the West Suffolk councils to join Mid Suffolk in approaching Greater Anglia to propose that work begins to launch a Mid Anglia CRP next spring.
39.2 Councillor Matthissen briefly explained that CRP’s were a good way of promoting tourism and therefore bringing money into the economy without increasing road traffic. Secondly Abellio Anglia did offer start up grants to help with this. There were already eight of these community rail partnerships who were already a long way through the process of setting them up and Councillor Matthissen were concerned that Mid Suffolk would be left behind. He suggested that there were three potential CRP’s that remain and looking at the railway line of the intermediate stations between Ipswich and Cambridge out of the eight stations four were actually in Mid Suffolk. Councillor Matthissen went on to say that he would like the Council to call on the County Council the lead authority on transport matters and also the West Suffolk Council to approach Greater Anglia to suggest this.
39.3 The Chairman invited Mr Feeney, an expert witness to speak on the motion.
39.4 Mr Feeney informed Council that a Community Rail Partnership (CRP) was an association between a public transport operator primarily the train operator Greater Anglia, the local authorities covered by the area and the local communities, Councillor Matthissen had mentioned the potential impact on tourism and Mr Feeny, thought it was also right to mention a wider impact on local business through businesses having the opportunity to use some railway resources in terms of developing small businesses in railway linked properties along the line. The other value of a CRP was the fact that it actually promoted public transport. Not something for tourism but for commuting further forms of travel. So from that point of view it was really about time the Mid Anglia line had a Community Rail Partnership. Mr Feeny thought this was long overdue as there was between 90 to a 100 of them throughout the country already. The line from Cambridge to Ipswich which goes through Mid Suffolk was one of a minority routes served by Greater Anglia which it had not yet got the Community Rail Partnership. The Community Rail Partnership in East Suffolk serving Felixstowe and communities through to Lowestoft had been an immense success. It was a model of what can be done with public transport both in terms of increasing passenger numbers, in terms of promoting tourism, in terms of using redundant station buildings for cafes and other businesses so there was a real template in the county that we can hopefully learn from. Mr Feeney thanked the Chair for giving him the opportunity to speak in support of the motion, he also underlined the importance of the huge benefits and thought it was a genuine win-win. There were huge benefits to having a Community Rail Partnership. There was funding. Cllr Matthissen mentioned that this comes from Greater Anglia but actually comes from the Department for Transport and the Department for Transport who through the years had been a consistent advocate for the development of Community Rail Partnerships so hopefully this will meet with the support of Council and can progress. There is a funny kind of choreography to these things, the train operator has to set things up and get it going but the impression that we have is that the train operator has to have the vibes from the local authorities that they are keen to participate and to help it to happen and hence the notion of working in collaboration with the County Council and with partners at West Suffolk to try and expedite this as quickly as possible really. Thankyou.
39.5 In response Councillor Brewster stated that having discussed the matter with officers and noting the potential financial and resource implications associated with this activity he proposed an amendment to the Motion as follows:
“this Council notes that the Community Rail Partnerships (CRP’s) are a useful way of promoting tourism without generating road traffic. Abellio Greater Anglia offer start up grants of £20,000 and continuing financial and practical support, both of which are dependent on third party contributions. Greater Anglia supports 8 CRP’s and have just launched a ninth for the Southend line. The Mid Anglia CRP is one of three remaining CRP’s and 4 of its 8 intermediate stations are in Mid Suffolk. Accordingly Council calls on Suffolk County Council and the West Suffolk Councils to join Mid Suffolk in exploring the benefits and implications of a Mid Anglia CRP”
39. 6 Councillor Gowrley seconded the amendment and reserved the right to speak.
39.7 Councillor Matthissen accepted the amendment.
39.8 The amendment was PUT to the meeting and AGREED.
It was Resolved:-
That this Council notes that the Community Rail Partnerships (CRP’s) are a useful way of promoting tourism without generating road traffic. Abellio Greater Anglia offer start up grants of £20,000 and continuing financial and practical support, both of which are dependent on third party contributions. Greater Anglia supports 8 CRP’s and have just launched a ninth for the Southend line. The Mid Anglia CRP is one of three remaining CRP’s and 4 of its 8 intermediate stations are in Mid Suffolk. Accordingly, Council calls on Suffolk County Council and the West Suffolk Councils to join Mid Suffolk in exploring the benefits and implications of a Mid Anglia CRP”