Agenda item

To consider the recommendations as set out in the report.

(During consideration of this item, reference was made to an area of land in Worsley, situated in the Cheshire West and Chester area. The Leader of the Council, Cllr Rachel Bailey, declared an interest in respect of this matter, by virtue of being a friend of the owners of the land).

Consideration was given to a report concerning petitioning in respect of the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill(HS2 Phase 2a).

On the 17^th July 2017, the Government had deposited the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill (“the Bill”) in Parliament. The Bill was a hybrid Bill and included proposals for the HS2 line between Fradley and Crewe and provision to bring HS2 services to Crewe in 2027. The scheme was sometimes referred to as Phase 2a of HS2 and followed on from Phase 1, which concerned the route from Euston to Handsacre in Staffordshire, with a spur from Water Orton in Warwickshire to Curzon Street, Birmingham.

     The proposals for Crewe in the Bill included the interventions needed to support 2 stopping HS2 trains per hour at Crewe and reducing journey times to London from Crewe to 55 minutes. The current plans did not support additional HS2 services from Crewe when phase 2b opened in 2033.

The Bill could have its second reading in early December 2017, with a 25 day petitioning period commencing the following day. Any individual, group of individuals or organisations “directly and specially affected” by the Bill had the right to petition against it.

           It was reported that petitioning provided the opportunity for the Council to formally raise its concerns regarding the Bill before the House of Commons Select Committee.  If a petition was not deposited it would not be possible for the Council to appear before the Select Committee. There would be a further opportunity to petition against the Bill in the House of Lords in due course.

The report sought Council authorisation for Cheshire East Council to petition against the Bill during the relevant petitioning periods in the House of Commons and the House of Lords, in relation to those aspects of the Bill that prejudiced Cheshire East Council.

In November 2017, the Council had appointed Sharpe Pritchard, a firm of recognised Parliamentary Agents, through a Council procurement framework, to provide specialist advice and support in relation to the Council’s options and position with regards to petitioning. The Council was working closely with these agents and it had been concluded that the most appropriate approach was for the Council to petition against the Bill.

All Members would be provided with updates as to what representations the Council was making in the petitions process.

RESOLVED

1.     That it is expedient for the Council to petition the High Speed Rail (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill, introduced in the 2017 – 19 session of Parliament.

2.     That the Executive Director of Place shall have delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council and Director of Legal Services, to take all necessary and expedient steps to give effect to the resolution above.

3.     That the Director of Legal Services shall have delegated authority to seal any necessary documents and confirm that Sharpe Pritchard LLP (Parliamentary Agents) be authorised to deposit and, if necessary, sign the Petition of the Council against the Bill.

4.     That the Executive Director of Place shall have delegated authority, in consultation with the Leader of the Council to withdraw any aspect of the Council’s Petitition against the Bill, if this is no longer the approprite course of action.