Agenda item

To consider a report seeking approval of a work programme following the announcements by the Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Transport on HS2 and a proposed HS2 Hub Station in Crewe.

Cabinet considered a report seeking approval of a Council response and work programme following the announcements by Chancellor George Osborne and Secretary of State for Transport Patrick McLoughlin on HS2 and a proposed HS2 Hub Station in Crewe.

The report outlined progress with the establishment of a Northern Gateway partnership to successfully deliver the scale of change envisaged within Crewe and South Cheshire. It also proposed a Regeneration Company, supported by a governance structure involving local and national stakeholders, to develop a plan for growth across this part of the Borough. Further details were set out in the report.

The Leader suggested that an advisory board could be set up involving local members, among others, to consider the implications and opportunities arising from HS2. He went on to express his thanks to Caroline Simpson, Andrew Ross and their colleagues for their work in relation to HS2.

RESOLVED

That Cabinet

1.    authorises the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder in consultation the Leader of the Council, Executive Director of Growth and Prosperity, Head of Legal Services and the Chief Operating Officer, to  consider and approve any option appraisals and detailed business case to establish a Regeneration Company to deliver an economic growth strategy for Crewe and South Cheshire and seek Council approval for its plans, and to enter into all necessary governance arrangements, such authority to include entering into all necessary contractual arrangements including but not limited to operating agreements, buy back agreements, leases, licences and guarantees, and all TUPE provisions, together with undertaking any necessary staff engagement;

2     approves the release of £0.5m of reserve funding from within the existing Council budgets established to deliver the HS2 work programme;

3     authorises the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council, to undertake a dialogue process with town and parish councils and other key stakeholders to ensure that local communities have an open opportunity to participate in the potential that HS2 will bring to the area;

4     authorises the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council, to commission a Masterplan for the proposed Crewe Hub Station area working in consultation with DfT, DCLG, LCR and NR which, once established, the Regeneration Company will lead on behalf of the Council;

5     notes that the Council and the Regeneration Company will seek to ensure that the decision on the preferred HS2 Hub Station for Crewe is secured in Autumn 2016, and that this aligns with the ambitions of the Growth Strategy for South Cheshire and the wider Northern Gateway;

6     notes that the impact of HS2 on the Borough and the development of the Growth Strategy will require commitment and resources and engagement from across the Council’s services and functions;

7     authorises the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity in consultation with the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder to respond to HS2 Ltd on the Property Compensation Consultation on Phase 2A, which runs until 25 February 2016, it being noted that all properties affected by the Phase 2A Line of Route have to submit a response form to HS2 Ltd by this date;

8     notes that the Government has issued safeguarding directions along the Phase 2A route which, through the planning process, will require the Council to consult HS2 Ltd prior to determining planning applications in the safeguarded area;

9     authorises the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council, to ensure that the negative impacts of the HS2 infrastructure on residents, businesses, farms, local highway networks and the environment are minimised and mitigated against to the greatest potential extent and to provide support to local residents and their representatives and local businesses in this respect and submit a response to the Property Compensation Consultation;

10  notes that the current proposals will not affect the delivery of the current Local Plan Strategy; and

11  authorises the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Prosperity, in consultation with the Regeneration and Assets Portfolio Holder and the Leader of the Council, to undertake all necessary and consequential action arising from the above recommendations including, but not limited to, entering into any necessary documentation.