13.12.16
Councils publish plans for Transport for the South East statutory body
The south east is seeking to gain its own statutory transport body, newly released board papers reveal.
Papers from an East Sussex County Council board meeting say that plans for Transport for the South East (TfSE) are developing “in parallel” with the region’s devolution deal.
Although they are not dependent on each other, if both are established the combined authority will represent the relevant transport authorities.
TfSE’s membership would consist of East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Kent and Surrey county councils, Brighton & Hove City Council and Medway Council, as well as their equivalent LEPs.
Discussions are also due to begin to allow Hampshire County Council and Solent LEP to join TfSE. This would create an area large enough to allow for genuine strategic consideration and planning of transport infrastructure, which would fulfil the requirements for creating a sub-national transport body under the Cities and Local Government Devolution Act 2016.
The councils aim to gain the Parliamentary order establishing the TfSE by 2018. They will work with the Department for Transport, Highways England, Network Rail and port, airport and bus operators.
The board paper asked East Sussex council to approve plans to create a shadow transport body ahead of creating the TfSE, in order to demonstrate commitment to the idea and prove to the government that the authorities have a strong strategic partnership.
The shadow body will be accompanied by a draft transport strategy for the region, including plans to establish TfSE and a sub-national transport body leaders’ board, which will ensure governance reflects the aspirations of local authorities.
The papers noted that “subject to discussions with partners in Hampshire”, the board will include representatives from Portsmouth City Council, Southampton City Council, the Isle of Wight Council and their LEPs, as well as the member councils.
They described TfSE’s purpose as developing “a single, strategic transport infrastructure framework” which would align the investment programmes and priorities from Highways England, Network Rail and LEPs.
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