To consider the recommendations from the Corporate Policy Committee.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
Consideration was given to the recommendations of Corporate Policy Committee on 28 November 2024 in relation to the Cheshire East Council’s support for proposed future rail schemes.
RESOLVED: That Council
1. provisionally supports:
a) the proposed Liverpool to Manchester Railway section of NPR; and
b) the use of the High Speed Rail (Crewe – Manchester) Bill to deliver the Liverpool to Manchester Railway provided that the conditions set out in paragraph 31 of the report are met.
2. remains a member of the Liverpool to Manchester Partner Board, acting at all times, under the agreed positions set out above.
3. welcomes the progression of alternative options to HS2, to improve rail connectivity and capacity between the Midlands and the North West, but the Council would only lend its support to schemes that put Crewe at the heart of the solution and deliver:
a) enhanced connectivity from Crewe with improved direct services to key conurbations including London, Birmingham and Manchester;
b) enables, facilitates and delivers the necessary capacity, upgrades and rationalisation at Crewe Station to enable any new services on an alternative north-south link to call at Crewe;
c) supports and enables investment and growth in Crewe including the regeneration of Crewe Town Centre and provision of high quality links to the Crewe Station, and
d) provides appropriate and sufficient mitigation against the negative impacts of the scheme, and its construction, on the borough, its residents and business and on the local environment.
4. only support the use of existing powers secured via the HS2 phase 2a hybrid bill to deliver part of any alternative north-south rail link if the scheme delivers the conditions set out above.
5. agrees the re-establishment of the HS2 Member Reference Group and that it be refocussed to support the Council’s strategic rail priorities and positions.
6. approves the revised Terms of Reference and membership changes for the Member Reference Group, as proposed in Appendix 2 to the report, subject to the membership being extended to include Councillor Stewart Gardiner.